Heisman Talk

Let's break down the candidates one by one and see if we can't get a better feel for who really has a shot at the Heisman trophy, and those who should feel blessed just to be mentioned.  Unfortunately John Parker Wilson and Brandon Cox are simply too good to be considered for this mere piece of metal, so apologies ahead of time to those respective fans.

First up, we'll start with the front-runner at the beginning of the year, one Darren McFadden.  Everybody knows this guy is a bull, standing 6'2" with 215 pounds of pure muscle.  That's already a big running back, but he plays like he's 240 pounds.  As much contact as this guy draws and dishes out, it's a wonder he has the strength and stamina to keep it up game in and game out (that's what she said!).  We can all already see him playing at the next level, and playing well...but his numbers aren't exactly Heisman-worthy.  Through 5 games he has 779 yards rushing and 7 TDs, 7 catches for 56 yards, and he's 1 of 2 passing, making it count for a 42 yard touchdown.  Granted Felix Jones is a highly talented "backup" who steals a lot of carries, but if Houston "Gimme that that that" Nutt wants his workhorse to win the uber-coveted Heisman trophy, he better draw up some more "Wild Hawg" formations and run them a lot.  It doesn't help that Arkansas is slowly sliding out of the SEC West picture with two conference losses.

Another guy mentioned at the beginning of the year, and in my opinion should garner more attention  than he's getting, is Michael Hart.  This guy is amazing, but nobody is really taking notice because Michigan started off the season so horribly.  Ap State and Oregon all but killed Hart's Heisman dreams, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming the nation's leading rusher with 976 yards and 10 TDs through 6 games.  That's 132 yards a game, folks.  And even though it's not very pretty, Michigan has won four straight and are vying for a spot in the Big 10 Championship.  Don't count this guy out, he gives it his all every Saturday, win, lose, or draw.

Those two, barring some unforeseen explosion from nearby candidates, are the two main running backs in the running for the trophy.  Let's turn to the signal callers next.  Up first, "the Mighty Duck-man himself!  I was like, Emeelioooo!"  Wait sorry, that was from this movie:

I was actually talking about Dennis Dixon, the other mighty Duck man.  If it wasn't for one tiny play at the end of the Cal game, he might be the front-runner going into this weekend.  Still, Oregon is still hoping to be in the National Title hunt, and who better to lead them than Dixon, who has thrown for 1238 yards and 12 TDs...and when he gets tired of throwing it, he'll pull it down and use his feet,   already racking up 308 yards and 5 TDs through 5 games.  Most of y'all probably saw him beat up on Michigan, and from then on I knew this kid was no joke.  The Pac-10 is just as crazy as the SEC this year, so there's no promising the Ducks will be in it at the end to give Dixon a fair shake.  Time will tell.

Another quarterback who doesn't have it any easier is Andre Woodson of Kentucky.  He's not a scrambler like Dixon, though he has 2 TDs on the ground.  He has to make up for it in the air, and he does, with 1536 yards and 18 TDs through 6 games.  Unfortunately last weekend he suffered his first defeat and his second interception on the year as the South Carolina Gamecocks beat them up in Columbia.  And it's not going to get any better for the Wildcats...at ALL; all of their remaining games are SEC opponents: LSU, Florida, MSU, Vandy, Georgia, and Tennessee.  As much as I like this guy, I don't see UK's record holding up down the stretch to push him in contention in the end.  At least Kentucky is back on the map and a formidable opponent in the SEC East once again.  It's not just a basketball state anymore.

And what about that brick sh*thouse down in Gainesville?  Tim Tebow, love him or hate him, is a force to be reckoned with as a true sophomore.  As he's often alluded to, the "one man play action" has his throwing mechanics in check this year and is passing and running all over anyone in his way.  We probably felt the LSU win coming, but very few of us saw a struggling Auburn dethroning the Gators so early in the season.  The difference in Tebow's two losses and Michael Hart's two losses is that most voters probably still think Tim Tebow is the best player in the nation.  It's hard for me to even write that sentence out, but to be honest, did you think he'd play at this level so soon?  I didn't.  Don't count out Tim or the love media pundits give him and his coach...that could go a long way to settle a close call in the end, provided the Gators can win out.  Through 6 games he's put up an impressive 1455 yards and 13 TDs through the air, nicely complemented by 500 yards on the ground and 9 extra TDs.  22 total touchdowns--in 6 games--in the SEC.  Wow.  I'm actually quite glad we don't have to play him this year.

This weekend Chase Daniel of Missouri effectively backed my thoughts on Bill Callahan...no need to go into detail, although rumor has it Cally likes corn cobs for reasons I can't divulge here, hence his move to Nebraska in the first place.  But enough of that ass hat, we're talking about Chase here.  He's 5-0 and has the Tigers sitting in 11th place; however, the next two weeks will be the tell-tale sign on whether he's legit or not, as Oklahoma hosts the Tigers and Crabtree Tech invades Columbia to derail any Heisman hopes he may have.  So far he's passed for 1712 yards and 15 TDs and amassed 188 yards and 3 TDs on the ground.

And after this past weekend, I'm putting Matt Ryan up there with any of these guys. He has Boston College undefeated and ranked #4 in all the land.  1857 yards and 16 total TDs through 6 games, and the Eagles remaining schedule is...unpredictable, to say the least.  Notre Dame, Va Tech, FSU, Maryland, Clemson, and Miami will all have a say in Ryan's Heisman hopes.   That sounds like a difficult road to hoe (snicker), but after watching this year pan out, those are all winnable games.  And with BC's defense coming up with FIVE interceptions last week against Bowling Green, maybe they're up to the challenge.

One last name we could possibly throw in the hat is Sam Bradford of Oklahoma.  Depending on how Bob Stoops corrals and motivates his Sooners to finish out this season is the only way a freshman will have a shot at taking home the Heisman.  While his numbers (1423, 18TD) reflect having a great year, anything short of the BCS title game may not be enough for the youngster.  What can you say, the voters just don't like freshmen.  And I guess I don't either cuz I'm not posting his picture.

Surely my readers have something to say about the Heisman race.  Thoughts, opinions, amusing anecdotes welcome.  'Til then, my friends.

Comments

[El Matteo]

Maybe it is b/c Bama never has anyone in contention or maybe it is b/c the Heisman winner has failed to become a big time NFL player, or the feeling that it goes to the best player on the best team, or the over ESPNization of the award, or some other factor, but is the Heisman even a big deal anymore? It used to be. I remember watching the ceremonies growing up and at least as a kid, I had some reverence for the statue. I really don't anymore.

That being said, let's not forget teh man sitting at 6-0 and ranked No. 16 in the polls that count, and also the latest coverboy for ESPN: The Magazine, he of the 1,850 yards and 16 TDs, Mr. Colt Brennan of the Fighting June Joneses.

Granted, he's banged up now, but Hawaii has a great chance of going undefeated and securing Boise State's spot in the BCS. As you pointed out, there is no clear cut front runner, so the Heisman is there for the taking. Hawaii and Colt are quirky enough to garner some votes and steal the thing out from under the big boys.

Honestly, I couldn't tell you who should win it. I think D-Mac is the best player in the country, but Arkansas isn't done losing yet. There is still a lot of football to be played, a lot of big plays to be made, so you never know. I just figured Colt deserved to be in the discussion.

[Joker]

El Matteo, good call on the Colt. He'll have big numbers even though he's missed 1 1/2 games, and ESPN sure is trying to give him the hype, but I don't know if the voters can separate Brennan's talent from June Jones's system at Hawaii. Graham Harrell will have trouble shedding that stigma as well, but I think the only way either of them can do so is to perform well at the next level. All that said, there's still a chance Colt could win the Heisman, so you're right, he should be in the discussion.

[el snake]

Hawaii ain't world beaters. There is a difference between Boise last year and Hawaii.

He might get the invite to New York based on his stats alone though if nobody else steps up.

I personally think he's just a fit into June's system. Timmy Chang never did jack in the pro's. I don't think he ever took a snap.

Not that a Heisman translates into professional success.

[PGrizzle]

If DMac has 100-150 yds with 1-2 TDs against 3 of these (AU, LSU, SoCar, Tenn) he should be the hands down winner. He's quietly had another ridiculous year, presumably because Arky has played few good teams so far.
Matteo is right: the Heisman doesn't mean jack now and I'm not sure when it last meant jack ('70s? '80s?).
I also don't understand how, if the Heisman supposedly honors the best college football player, few of the recent Heisman winners either haven't even made an NFL roster or taken a snap in the pros. Maybe they should quit giving it to QBs.