I’d be willing to bet a considerable sum that it’s going to be Jason White from Oklahoma. He has the best overall statistics. But here’s why he shouldn’t win:
He was on the best team in college football, meaning that he may not actually be as good as he seems to be. That is somewhat borne out by point 2…
He choked in the Big 12 Championship game. Oklahoma got spanked, and he proved that he couldn’t play from behind and get it done. He basically gave up, or maybe his teammates did, in which case it still falls on him since he’s the field general and therefore responsible for keeping up the morale.
Larry Fitzgerald had a better season, all things considered.
I think Larry Fitzgerald had a much better season, given how disappointing Pittsburgh’s season turned out to be. He made the big plays when he had to, he caught a touchdown pass in every single game this year, and he was really let down by his teammates this year. In addition, the voters will be reluctant to vote for him because he’s only a sophomore.
Eli Manning? Name cachet, that’s for sure, excellent season for Mississippi, but not Heisman caliber. I put him at #2 on my list.
As a Michigan Guy I really, really, really want to say Chris Perry. And I think you could make a good argument for him, Basically he showed up big time in the big games against good defenses, And had all aspects to his play is those games, Tough short runs, cutbacks, long breaks for touchdowns, and good on screens.
But, It’s Fitzgerald’s to win, he was the best player in college football this year, still kicking ass when always double or triple covered.
Philip Rivers of North Carolina State. He won’t win, but he carried that team on his back to a 7-5 season.
[ul]
[li]4,016 yards passing[/li][li]71% completion percentage[/li][li]Better than 4:1 ratio of TD:INT[/li][li]Threw 4 TD’s against each FSU and OSU (also a combined 737 yds. NCST lost both of these games in OT due to poor defensive play)[/li][li]Averaged 9.2 yards per attempt (better than Jason White)[/li][li]Ran for 3 scores[/li][/ul]
I think Eli Manning will win. Voters want to make it up to the Manning family after not giving one to Peyton. As far as I know Eli is the last chance for Archie’s boys.
I agree that Fitzgerald should win. Of course I think his chances are doubtful. The media will hold it against him that he’s a sophomore and that he didn’t return kicks.
The only justice is that he’ll be drafted in the 3rd or 4th round and be out of football within 4 years while Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers have long careers. Huzzah.
If I was a player, I wouldn’t want it. Look at all the Heisman winners that had less than stellar success in the NFL- Archie Griffin, John Cappellitti, Andre Ware, Jim Plunkett, Ron Dayne to name just a few. I’d rather have a long and prosperous NFL career than a jinx of a statue.
White? Are they smoking crack? The only reason Fitz didn’t get it is because he’s a sophmore. How anyone could see a highlight reel of Fitzgerald and not vote for him is beyond me. This is a travesty.
Sure but what about the ones that DID have stellar careers, or at least above average ones:
1954: Alan Ameche, great running back for the Baltimore Colts, famed for his winning touchdown in the first sudden death game ever, the 1958 NFL Championship.
1956: Paul Hornung, great player for the Packers in the 1960s and Hall of Famer.
1961: Ernie Davis, could have been great but died of leukemia two years after winning the trophy. Broke all of Jim Brown’s records at Syracuse.
1963: Roger Staubach. 'Nuff said.
1968: The Juice. Again, 'nuff said.
1970: Jim Plunkett. I disagree that he’s overrated. He had a lousy start to his career, but IIRC he won an MVP award and a Super Bowl ring. Not too shabby.
1976: Tony Dorsett. He needs no elucidation.
1977: Earl Campbell. Great rusher for Houston, Hall of Famer.
1978: Billy Sims. Above average rusher.
1979: Charles White. Above average rusher.
1980: George Rogers. Again, above average NFL rusher.
1981: Marcus Allen. Like I need to tell you what he did. Hall of Famer.
1982: Herschel Walker. Great player, declined in skills later but nonetheless the greatest player Dallas ever had due to what they got for him when they traded him.
1983: Mike Rozier. Decent back.
1984: Doug Flutie. Still around. Not bad for an undersized quarterback who had “no chance” to play in the pros.
1985: Bo Jackson. You may not know diddley, but he was spectacular when he wasn’t dicking around with baseball, at least until he jacked up his hip.
1986: Vinny Testaverde. Still around. Pretty good quarterback, probable Hall of Famer based on stats.
1987: Tim Brown. Great NFL receiver, should make the Hall.
1988: Barry Sanders. Best back ever, and that’s including Emmitt Smith. Soon to be in the Hall in a romp.
After that stretch, it gets disappointing:
1995: Eddie George. Great back, probable Hall of Famer IMHO.
1997: Charles Woodson. Excellent DB.
1998: Ricky Williams. Always one of the league leaders in rushing.
2002: Carson Palmer. Time will tell. He has all the tools.
It’s only been in the past ten years or so that the picks have been dogs. That’s because it’s usually the quarterback or running back from the best team, or one of the best teams, rather than the actual best player.
So, what does that tell us? Historically, the Heisman was a fairly good indicator of future talent, but now it’s lost some of that lustre. I only hope they can get some of it back. They can start by not picking this year’s “Gino Torretta” candidate every year, and picking the real best player. This year it was Larry Fitzgerald.
We all know who the winner was, at this point. A few thoughts.
I’m no sports fan, but because of my work I stood there in a t.v. studio this morning at 10:00 am, eyeing that boy’s Heisman Trophy.
This kid is badly damaged goods, the NFL defensive lines are going to eat him up and spit out the big bones, swallowing the rest raw. He’ll never get drafted, IMHO, because he simply is not big enough to handle it. The injuries are damning as well.
He’s poorly spoken, and presents himself as a kid who is completely out of it. I’m thinking Steve Young-out-of-it. Too many violent blows to the skull out of it.
I know last night was a big deal, he probably didn’t sleep much. However, he was as poorly spoken last evening. Mumbling your way through a cardboard acceptance speech is humiliating to all concerned.
Somebody who went to college and studied something besides playbooks, should have written something in the way of a real acceptance speech for that kid. I know this sounds harsh, but I know what I witnessed this morning.
The boy doesn’t have the chops. He does have a 2 year old daughter, but he doesn’t have the chops. I sure as heck hope he finished college and gets a degree in something.
Manning won the Maxwell Award, at least, and that award seems to me to have a little more credibility. They actually have chosen a few players who were purely defensive!
I already knew that the Heisman was biased toward offensive players, but I just called up the list and was surprised to see that NO purely defensive player has ever won the Heisman. A couple of two-way guys in the early days and, of course, Charles Woodson, the cornerback-slash-wide receiver-kick returner. That’s it.
