# Who's winning the Heisman this year?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 8, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669 "2003-12-08T01:59:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/1 "2003-12-08T01:59:44Z")

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[http://www.nationalchamps.net/2003/heisman/the\_ranking.htm](http://www.nationalchamps.net/2003/heisman/the_ranking.htm)

The above link shows the candidates. So, who’s taking the trophy home this year?

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**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/2 "2003-12-08T02:18:58Z")

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If you asked me two days ago, I would have said Jason White. Not because I think he deserves it, but because that’s who I thought the old men would vote for since he was the quarterback on the best team in college football. But that’s out, and hopefully Jason White is, too.

Now, I think Leinart will take it home. Not because I think he deserves it but because of what his team is doing.

Frankly, I think Philip Rivers should get it. Although Larry Fitzgerald makes a good case, too. I would have a tough time between those two.

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**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/3 "2003-12-08T02:50:46Z")

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Jason White. #1 team all year, got all the hype, etc.

They probably won’t give it to a receiver, and they won’t give it to an underclassman. Only three receivers have ever won it, I think, and I can only come up with Michael Vick and Marshaull Faulk as far as an underclassman who even got any serious consideration in recent memory. Those two criteria eliminate Fitzgerald (twice) and Leinart. Sproles and Perry, ehh, you don’t win the Heisman these days without the buzz. I think it comes down to Eli Manning vs. White, but Manning probably had to beat LSU to win it, and he didn’t. So I think White gets it, although I’d give it to Fitzgerald.

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**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/4 "2003-12-08T07:09:24Z")

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Eli Manning should be out of the running for a far better reason: Philip Rivers bests him in _every single passing category_. He is in the top 5 in 4 of the 6 passing statistics that ESPN tracks, and top 10 in the other two. Compared to Manning he has more touchdowns (29 vs. 27), more yards (4016 vs 3341), fewer interceptions (7 vs. 9) and a better completion percentage (71.0 vs 61.7). He also has a better QB rating (166.7 vs. Manning’s 147.5). And while we’re at it, lets throw in more rushing yards and touchdowns. Unfortunately, his last name isn’t Manning and he plays for a (oh how it pains me to say this) so-so NC State team. So if Manning gets it, or even gets serious consideration, I’m gonna throw up my hands and do some sort of crazy-dance to illustrate my view of the Heisman voters.

MilTan, the not-totally-bitter-(yet) NC State alumnus.

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**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/5 "2003-12-08T17:54:10Z")

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White.

40 TDs 8 INTs. pretty amazing stats.

If the K State loss had happened early in the season, few people would be having this discussion now. Except for those with a local favorite.

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**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/6 "2003-12-08T20:11:12Z")

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It should be Larry Fitzgerald if the award really truly did go to “the best college football player in America”. But the usual baggage associated with the award will probably end up giving it to someone else.

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**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/7 "2003-12-09T00:32:15Z")

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I think Sproles deserves it – he led the nation in rushing and came up HUGE in a big game against what is billed as the best defense in College football (hype but we can all agree it is at least top 5). FWIW of all the “canidates” floated he’s the only one I feel fairly confident that depsite his size will make some noise as a pro (if he can keep his speed and put on meat he may well be a spectacular NFL’er).

But I agree with **Jimmy Chitwood** ’s point w/o hoopla no one sneaks in and snatch’s his-self a Heisman. It’ll be a QB: most likely Fitzgerald then Manning – sadly I don’t completely discount Jason White – he probably already has “won” all the early decsion ballots …

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/8 "2003-12-09T04:58:19Z")

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Mike Williams is the most dominant player in college ball though. He’s literally uncoverable at times, and for me dominance is what wins Heismans.

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**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/9 "2003-12-14T04:23:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \*  
> \*\*White.
> 
> 40 TDs 8 INTs. pretty amazing stats.
> 
> If the K State loss had happened early in the season, few people would be having this discussion now. Except for those with a local favorite. \*\*

White Wins! 🙂

It appears that national exposure, coupled with truly amazing stats, is a winning combination.  
Congratulations, Jason.

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**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/10 "2003-12-14T04:25:13Z")

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hey!  
Theres a virtual xmas party over in mpsims.We’re waiting for you!

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**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-winning-the-heisman-this-year/217669/11 "2003-12-14T04:27:46Z")

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Went to a friend’s house.

Sorry for the hijack guys.  
Go OU!
