I read the news almost daily. I rarely watch it on television, but then again, I rarely watch anything on television, with one exception: Sports! And lately I admit I've been fudging a little on reading the news and have put my concentration solely on sports. It's sad, but it's true. With the college football season winding down, I am trying to savor as much of it as possible in its last few days. So actual real-world problems will just have to move to the back burner for a while as I focus on America's new pastime.
Tomorrow is the Heisman Trophy banquet and awards. So I could not let this opportunity pass without giving my take on who should win it, and who will win it.
Let me start off by saying I hate the Heisman trophy. No "hate" is probably too soft of a word. Every time they begin talking about it, my blood starts to boil. I despise the hunk of metal.
First of all, the whole premise is ridiculous. Football is different than other sports. Every different position requires different talents and training. The best defensive lineman in the country probably couldn't throw a ball accurately more than 20 yards, but the top quarterback probably couldn't plow throw 300lb lineman putting their hands on him either. So the whole notion of giving one award to the best player is just stupid. It's hard enough to pick the best quarterback or tailback in the league, and they expect to accurately pick the best player period. Give me a break.
Second, the vote is based more on demographics than statistics. There are 870 members of the media who get a vote for the Heisman trophy, a spread of 145 from six different regions. Past winners also get a vote, and one fan ballot is counted. And I would venture to say it is a proven fact that you typically watch the football games closest to your area. Which means that you will typically vote for players from your region. However, if there are two outstanding players from the same region, like Tim Tebow and Mark Ingram, it stands to reason that they have less of a chance of winning than players like Toby Gerhart who dominated his region's attention. Plus, if you check the history of the Heisman, the awards typically jump from region to region each year. It is not a perfect statistic, but just by looking at history, it seems less likely Colt McCoy will win it this year due to Sam Bradford, a fellow Big 12 competitor, winning it last year.
I won't even get into the fact that although the Heisman trophy winner is supposed to embody the profile of a superior COLLEGE athlete, many winners often leave school early for the NFL.
And plus, I'm still bitter Charles Woodson won it over Peyton Manning.
Now, back to who should win it.
Tim Tebow has simply not done enough to prove he is the best candidate this year. Almost like a politician with empty promises, Tebow failed to bring home that final nation title and just had some poor games this year. Tebow got a ticket to the banquet more on hype than achievement.
Colt McCoy certainly did have some struggles this year. Yet Colt McCoy was shafted by a defective system last season, keeping him out of the national title game. You almost want to cheer for McCoy to take it home, but he gets his shot at a championship this year, so I say you've got to leave it on the podium Colt.
Which brings me to the backs. A strong case can be made for both Gerhart and Ingram. Both have an amazing ability to break tackles and stay balanced. Ingram is like a swift lion, while Gerhart is a horse. I would probably give Gerhart the edge simply because of the lack of talent around him, a luxury Mark Ingram enjoys at Alabama.
And last but not anywhere close to least is Ndamukong Suh. This guy is unbelievable. He makes me want to watch the Heisman presentation. If you haven't seen him play, you are missing a show ladies and gentlemen. If Ingram's a lion and Gerhart's a horse, then Suh is a bear! In a conference known for scores similar to basketball games, congratulations to Ndamukong Suh for shining as a defensive star.
But alas I must say that Gerhart really deserves the trophy. First of all, the Heisman is supposed to be given to the best college player, someone who truly is a student athlete. Gerhart goes to Stanford, a school more known for their academic resume. Plus, Gerhart is a senior and a two sport athlete. He embodies what the Heisman trophy stands for. And let's not forget that he actually does have better numbers than Mark Ingram in fewer games.
A different story is who will win the Heisman. I think Toby Gerhart stands a good chance simply because he can dominate the attention of that region, while Suh shares the Midwest with McCoy, and Ingram, the South with Tebow. But in reality, I will be surprised if the trophy goes home with anyone but Ingram or Suh. That's where all the excitement seems to be concentrated right now.
But what do I know; I'm just your average, everyday Bama hater.
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