What is the perfect ending to a college football season dominated by upsets? How about crowning the first underclassmen in the Heisman’s storied history. Tim Tebow becomes the first sophomore to ever have his named etched on the bronze stiff arm, but does the mythical image created by the media really live up to what the trophy has historically represented?
The issue becomes whether or not the media has influenced the award to the point where it no longer holds the same prestige. The media has undoubtedly placed the Heisman in a league of its own in terms of prestige, but how do the other top honors predict its winner?
Breakdown of Top Honors in College Football:
Tier 1:
The Heisman Memorial Trophy: Awarded to Nation’s Most Outstanding Player (Dates back to 1935)
Voting: United States is split into six regions each of which contains 145 media votes. Each previous winner also has votes as well as one going to the public. Every ballot works on a point system assigning 3 points for first, 2 for second, 1 for third.
Tier 2:
Maxwell Award: Awarded to College Football’s Player of the Year (Dates back to 1937)
Voting; All members of the Maxwell Football Club have the right to place their vote for this and many other awards. What does that mean? For $35 a year or $750 for life you too can vote.
Walter Camp Award: Awarded to College Football’s Player of the Year (Dates back to 1967)
Voting: Done by what appears to be an exclusive group of 20 members that oversee the foundation and thus become eligible to vote. A small $25,000 dollar annual fee is all you’ll need for this privilege.
Tier 3:
Doak Walker Award: Awarded to Nation’s Top Running Back (Dates back to 1990)
Voting: Run by SMU. Ten semifinalist are voted on by the the SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors who send that list to a National Selection Committee for the Award the cast votes for three finalists and then again for a winner. This panel is made up for Media and former All Americans and All Pro players. You can see the list here
Davey O’Brien Award: Awarded to Nation’s Best Quarterback (Dates back to 1981)
Voting: A selection of Media personalities and past winners. New this year is the addition of the fan vote which takes the public’s top three picks into the semi finals and adds 5% to their total votes during the voting for finalists and the winner.
Selection Committee List
Now that we’ve run down the awards lets take at some history of the winners and how the other four awards influence who wins the Heisman.
Three Resumes to Keep in Mind:
Tebow is the first underclassmen to ever win the Heisman. He played on a team that went 9-4 and landed 16th in USA Today Poll, 13th in the AP poll, and 12th in the BCS standings. He currently has two more years of eligibility left and has made numerous comments about graduating being the most important thing to him and his family… inferring he won’t leave early.
Tebow also won the Maxwell and O’Brien Awards.
Archie Griffin is the only player to ever win the Heisman twice (1974 & 75). 1974 saw them as co-champions of the Big Ten while in 1975 they won outright. Both years they lost in the Rose Bowl ending with records of 10-2 and 11-1 respectively.
Grffin won the Walter Camp both years and the Maxwell in 75.
Darren McFadden became only the second player in Heisman history to be named runner up twice without winning the award. Glenn Davis took second honors in 1944 and 45 before winning it in 46, however, with McFadden declaring for the draft that stat is solidified. He also becomes the second player to ever win the Doak Walker Award Twice ( 2006 and 07). Ricky Williams did it (1997 and 98) before adding the Heisman to his resume later on in 1998.
McFadden’s total: Walter Camp 07, Doak Walker 06 and 07, no Heisman.
What does this mean?
Starting at 1990 from the conception of the Doak Walker Award the Breakdown looks like this:
1990-2007 (18 Seasons)
13 players winning the Walter Camp Award won the Heisman
7 players had won the Doak and the Walter Camp. Five of those players went on to win the Heisman ( McFadden becomes the 2nd player not to)
• Larry Johnson was the first without winning the Heisman even though he brought home the Walter Camp, Doak Walker, and the Maxwell.
9 Players have won both the Maxwell and the O’Brien: Five went on to win the Heisman. Jason White won both in 04’ but won his Heisman in 03’ with just an O’Brien.
Like I had written in a previous article,the Heisman is inconsistent. At one point or another the talent portrayed by these athletes was rewarded. Slighting McFadden in this years Heisman race was worse than what Larry Johnson endured in 2002 in which he didn’t even finish second in the Heisman race. This is during the same year that he took home the other three most prestigious awards (Brad Banks takes the O’Brien and Runner Up position to Carson Palmer for the Heisman). It comes down to the issue that first the media won’t let him win it because he is a sophomore, the next you tell me that it was because his team wasn’t good enough. Arkansas finished with an 8-5 record, 3rd in SEC West with a conference record of 4-4 and lost in the Cotton Bowl to Missouri who finished fourth in the AP Poll. Instead you are going to give it to a sophomore whose team went 9-4 and sat third in SEC East with a 5-3 record. To top it off Florida with Tebow behind the helm lost in the Capital One Bowl to a Michigan team who was 18th in the final AP vote.
McFadden Deserved the Heisman. Take nothing away from a stellar individual effort from Tebow but were we ready to put him in place to join Griffin as the only two time winner, or God Forbid let him stand a top as a three time winner solidifying the mythical stature the media has created for him.
4Real Out....
More after the jump...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
College Football: Post Season Awards Don't Always Add Up
Thursday, January 10, 2008
2008 NFL Mock Draft 1-6
NFL Draft season is a few very short months away, despite the fact that it's a leap year. And I'm sure many of you out there are wondering just where we think your favorite players are going to land. So, since we don't know exactly who's coming out, who did what at the combine, and what the draft order is I'm going to go very slow so I don't have to eat too many of my own words. So I have today's top 6 picks. It is important to note draft positions 3, 4, and 5 are depending on a coin toss to be done in February, so this could all change in a month.
Fins – Miami still has Jon Beck and Trent Green, I would assume they’re gonna try at least one more year before making another QB run. I feel like if you’re in the position you can use help in pretty much every position. Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas are getting old. I think they’re gonna need to take the best player available and in my opinion that player is LSU’s Glenn Dorsey.
The Lou – I also think that what I think about Miami easily could be said for the 
St. Louis Rams. Dorsey will most likely be off of the board (barring trades or something else of that nature) so you gotta think who’s the next best player available. Once again, in my opinion, the 2nd best available also happens to be the 2nd best Defensive player in the draft and the 2nd best DLineman in the draft. Howie’s son Chris. He has (warning way overused draftday term) tremendous upside and potential. He’s a little thin but bulk can be easily added and you know he has the genetics for it (look at Howie). There is also potential for him to be the reverse Urlacher with the same result. Instead of bulking up and moving up a weight-class, Long could potentially drop down a class and play some OLB in the NFL.
ATL – Atlanta's pick will be made most likely by their new coach signifying where the future of this program is. There are a few solid picks to make here for Atlanta with an aging veteran line-up and a lack of a pro bowler. I love Warrick Dunn but he’s going into his 12th NFL season. 
That’s a lot of miles for a Running back, especially the featured back in a run first offense like Atlanta has used over the years (2006 = Vick = bad passer, 2007 = no Vick = no QB). I wouldn’t mind seeing Warrick get a little help here in the backfield and possibly in the form of Razorback Darren McFadden, saying he goes to the draft which most people are suggesting. Of course this is the pick that has the most opportunity to change of the first 3. Atlanta needs a QB too and Brian Brohm, Matt Ryan, and Andre Woodson could be good pro QBs. If they can address the QB position in the off season and McFadden comes out this should be a lock, but if there’s still a QB question in the air, this one could surprise many.
Raider Nation – Next season will be JaMarcus’ first full season for Oakland after selfishly holding out for half of the 2007 season he will finally get a chance to learn to O and show whether or not he can run it. He has the potential, especially after sitting out his rookie season to be a HUGE bust in the NFL. I for one HAD nothing against him, but I hope Karma bites him in 
the ass and he fails due to his selfish nature. Too bad for Oakland. But back to the draft. QB looks to be in pretty good control, for now, with JaMarcus and Daunte Culpepper so Oakland can address any one of it’s lacking areas. There are 3 picks that easily make sense here and to no one’s surprise they’re all on defense. Warren Sapp has announced his plans on retiring and though he hasn’t been his old Pro Bowl form since leaving Tampa he will be missed. Buckeye End Vernon Gholston could be a good pass rushing fit here to help out the line, but if you’re looking to replace Sapp, Trojan Tackle Sedrick Ellis makes a little more sense. There is an outside chance that Buckeye Laurinaitis might skip his senior year but I think the Tigers left a bad taste in his mouth and will want some redemption making him unavailable.
KC – I think it’s down to 2 picks for the Chiefs right here. Either stick with the Croyle/Huard melodrama that’s been unfolding since Trent Green’s injury in the 2006 season and hope
one of them finally pans out meaning that a QB is not needed or go for the revival and bring in one of the aforementioned QBs. This could weigh a lot on what Atlanta does with their pick. Also This pick could be appealing to some for trade purposes, especially if Brohm, Ryan, and Woodson are all still available. Saying that they don’t trade the pick it’s either Matt Ryan or some protection in the form of Michigan Monster Jake not Howie’s son Long. Tentatively I’m going to say Kansas City will be going Jake Long because I definitely think that would make the most sense for them.
think it's actually very smart and lucky pick for the Jets if Ryan slips this far in the draft. It will also be interesting to see how Ryan plays pro ball. That will be one of the things I'm most interested in following as this year's crop of Juniors and Seniors takes to the NFL. This pick has major potential for the Jets, especially if Brohm and Ryan are coming into the draft at pretty similar projection as far as NFL impact and both are still available. New England (7), Cincinatti (9), and New Orleans (10) don't look to be needing new QBs and Baltimore (8) could take it's pick between Ryan and Brohm. The Jets could potentially trade this one away and pick up a few helpful players/picks and still have a chance to get the leftover of Ryan/Brohm or possible Woodson later and gain some much needed help in other areas or picks. Of course if Ryan or Brohm go earlier anywhere else, or one of the 3 top QBs falters in the months to come/combine, it might be safe to use the pick there, in which case if Ryan is still on the board, that's the pick. If he went earlier then most likely it's Brohm. More after the jump...
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
A Few thoughts on the Day
Well, the last few weeks have been crazy busy, and finally I can sit back, relax, and induldge myself in sports again. There's alot of thoughts running through my mind and I have decided to just compile these thoughts in one master blog as apposed to stringing them out.
Anthony Smith v. Patriots
Scene 1: Anthony Smith guarantees a win against the New England Patriots making the statement that the Brady Bunch is totally overrated.
Scene 2: Patriots say that they are a proud team and the pitiful words of a opposing defensive back is not worth their time. Randy Moss is offended.
Scene 3: The Brady Bunch stomp the Steelers, emphasizing the sheer mediocrity of Smith by picking on him throughout the game. Big Daddy Tom Brady decides to throw some lip service to Smith in the endzone. The Big Balls contest begins.
Scene 4: Post-Game Press Conference. The words spoken towards the Patriots are brought up, and contradicting what the Hoodie said prior to the game, he admits to being affected by the word lashing. Oh by the way, Belicheck said and I quote,
"We've played against much better safeties than him"
Scene 5: Smith is still talking. Vows redemption when the Steelers meet the Pats next.
Last time I checked, when you talked smack to another team, and they beat you, it's time to stop your yapping. He's like a retarded lap dog. How many lessons do you want to learn son? Now I'm not a huge fan of New England, mostly because I find Boston/New England more annoying than Fox Sports News announcers, but I do love cocky assholes getting god smacked.
Mayweather v. Hatton
Mayweather beat Hatton with a 10th round KO using his classic check hook. Surrounded by celebs. I haven't followed boxing since UFC was brought to my attention. I didnt even know people really still followed boxing except for The Contender. Mayweather is however unbeaten, props to that. However, the bigger news was that Beckham was at the match...interesting...
Vick and his new Home
There's talk that the sentencing of Vick was too harsh. I say absolutely not. I have to agree with Rome when he said "Vick's punishment fits his crime end of story". Some sports analysts are comparing this situation to the Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie jail sentences. In what way is multiple DUIs the same as A. supplying a medium for illegal Dogfighting B. Supplying a medium for illegal gambaling C. The killing of multiple dogs for not being "the best fighters". Not to mention his failed Lie detector test, failed drug test, and being caught lying to multiple authorities. Yah...totally comparable. Have fun converting to Islam.
Kyle Orton starting for the Bears
Are you SERIOUS? Just throwing in the towel like that?
Les Miles and Michigan
If you're not going to Michigan Les, why do you keep talking to them? And if you tell me you're just friends i'm gonna kick you.
With everything that has happened the past couple months in sports, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the debacles that are going on now. However my weakness is the fact that I relate everything to that thing called life....where things usually level out for a bit...but this up and down trend is more inconsistent than Amy Winehouse's sleep(unconscious) pattern.
P.S.
If McFadden wants to be the Heisman Trophy winner(if he decides to stay for his senior year) maybe he should consider dressing up as Tim Tebow next year.
More after the jump...
2008 Heisman Watch
With only about 360 days until the 2008 Heisman Trophy is handed out it’s time to start answering some of the tough questions of next year and look back at the 2007 winner and losers:
Is Tim Tebow done with his Thank You speech yet? 
How pissed is Darren McFadden last year he lost and everyone said, “It’s because you’re a sophomore” this year he lost…to a sophomore.
Who does Tim Tebow vote for next year?
Is it possible to win back – to – back trophies ever again? Leinart’s Senior numbers were better than his Junior numbers but he lost.
Will the trophy ever be given to anyone without the word “back” in their position ever again?
Should the trophy be re-awarded as the best “Back” in the game? Not since Desmond Howard in 1991 has anyone without “back” in their position won it. Cornerback Charles Woodson edged out Quarterback Peyton Manning in 1997 as the only Defensive player in the last 57 years. (4 out of the 92 total winners did not have the word “back” in their position).
Top Candidates for the 2008 Trophy (going into the offseason, draft announcements could change these results):
Tim Tebow, Florida – He has improved each year, surprised a lot of people through limited playing time his Freshman year to turn around and score 51 regular season touchdowns his Sophomore year. Impressive. He’ll have a good chance to go BCS Bowling next year with improved Gator talent, vets who were there in 2006, and a lot of players leaving for the draft on other teams.
KNOCK: In his first season as QB1 he led his team to 3 heart-breaking losses, does he have the stuff to lead the program successfully his Junior year? Also, since Archie Griffin voters are absolutely opposed to having a 2-time winner, don’t expect a lot of votes unless he scores 60+ TDs next season.
Darren McFadden, Arkansas – Deserved the trophy in 2006 and was in the running in 2007. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t even supposed to be a starter last year. The chances he stays are slim, but after an unimpressive season for the Hogs maybe he’ll stick around to try to help turn the program around.
KNOCK: 4 losses this season including a 17 carry 43 yard performance against Auburn. Also the high probability he will enter the NFL Draft.
Chase Daniel, Mizzou – Led Missouri to the number 1 ranking this past season. I’ll repeat, led Missouri to the #1 ranking this past season. He finished off this season with only 10 INTs to 33 TDs with an offense that was scouted by saying, “Come to Mizzou, we’re Division 1, I swear, you’ve probably seen us on the bottom of the Big XII for years”. If he stays he will improve.
KNOCK: The same reason he is at Mizzou instead of Texas or Oklahoma, size, he is not the typical quarterback size. He is under 6 foot which means occasionally heaving off his back foot under pressure which leads to turnovers. Also in his 2 biggest games (Oklahoma and Oklahoma) he had more INT’s than TDs . Those were the only two games this season where that happened.
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma – As a True Freshman under an immense amount of pressure at a Big XII powerhouse Bradford accumulated 34 TDs and only 7 INTs. He got knocked out early against Texas Tech, and Oklahoma lost by 7. He was limited against Colorado, and Oklahoma lost by 3. Oklahoma was well deserving of a shot at the National Championship over LSU and did not get the nod. Tim Tebow has opened the door for Sophomores to win the Bronze Stiff-Arm, and Bradford just might be the leading candidate.
KNOCK: He will be a Sophomore, and Tebow has not guaranteed that the age bias will go away. After a couple of injuries, will he make it through next season? Will he suffer a Sophomore Slump?
Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech – Absolutely ASTOUNDING numbers his freshman year. 125 receptions and 21 TDs for the true freshman (Tim Brown’s Heisman Winning season he had 39 Receptions for 3 TDs). The pass happy Red Raiders will only look to amass greater numbers next year, but will teams just triple cover him and allow him no catches. He is dangerous.
KNOCK: He plays at Texas Tech, and like Bradford will be a Sophomore. He can’t control how many looks he gets, there are two reasons few Wide Receivers win the Trophy. The Forward Pass wasn’t nearly that common early on and teams can guard WRs and game-plan them. If a defense takes away a QBs best target, it doesn’t matter there will be another one somewhere. The word “back” is nowhere in his position title.
Don’t be surprised to see at least 3 of the above players in New York for the ceremony next year. And surprisingly in the running for Heisman there may be 2 sophomores and a past winner as leading candidates. Something that is pretty rare in the game, but we’re looking at some serious talent next year. And don’t’ forget that there will be others vying for a chance to strike the Desmond next fall.
UPDATE: Check out Part 1 and Part 2 for updated Heisman Candidates
Also receiving votes (from me): Todd Boeckman and Chris Beanie Wells from Ohio State, Pat White and Steve Slaton from WVU if they stay, Knowshon Moreno from Georgia, Graham Harrell from Texas Tech, Colt McCoy from Texas, and the longshot Senior Willie Tuitama from Arizona.
More after the jump...
Saturday, December 8, 2007
It's Heisman Day
It's Saturday everyone and that means today is the day that we find out if Tim Tebow is the first ever underclassman to win the Heisman, or if Colt Brennan can pull it off after a semi-soft schedule. Maybe McFadden will pull it off after finishing second in voting last year despite the 4 losses for the "Hogs" this year and the 43 yard performance against Auburn or perhaps Chase Daniel whose numbers are incredible was a major catalyst in bringing Mizzou into the title picture but he couldn't get past Oklahoma (his numbers are comparable to Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, who could get by Oklahoma). Either way the whole season this has been debated, ad nauseum and tonight it will be decided. Will the winner display it at a local eatery, travel with it every weekend, sell it to pay off bills, all of which have been done before with this storied trophy for the best player in College Football. One thing to consider, is the Heisman really worth it. Let's look at some of the past winners post Heisman successes.
In the first 20 years many chose to pursue military service, continued education, and entering the job market over playing in one of the struggling leagues available. Of the first 20 winners there was only a total of 53 seasons of football played, and not all in the NFL. Leon Hart (8), Alan Ameche (6), Doak Walker (6) and Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy (9) account for 29 of those seasons. Ameche among the most notable of these professionals following his collegiate career playing in 4 Pro Bowls, Doak Walker the other, who appeared in 5 Pro Bowls and is also the first Heisman Winner in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The next 10 years led to more NFL appearances and success with 65 total seasons played between them with the most notable of that decade coming in the form of the second Heisman Winner to eventually make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Paul Hornung. Hornung played in 9 NFL seasons with 2 Pro Bowl Appearances and 1 MVP. Also during this period Roger Staubach won the award and was the 3rd Heisman winner in the Hall. Staubach played in 4 Super Bowls, won 2, and the Super Bowl VI MVP as well as appearing in 6 Pro Bowls. After the successes of a few of the Heisman winners people started to expect more out of a Heisman winner once entering the NFL. Unfortunately during that period of time there was another first. Terry Baker (1962), considered by many to be the first real NFL bust of a Heisman winner.
In the next 10 years there was only 9 winners due to the legendary Archie Griffin, the only two time winner who had an average statistical NFL career in 7 seasons. Also during this period was Orenthal James Simpson, more commonly known as O.J. He won the Hesiman for his slicing (down the field) and slashing (of opposing defenders) at USC and not in Brentwood. He was the 4th Heisman Winner in the Hall (though technically He and Staubach tied to be the first and Hornung and Walker tied for third due to the timing of elections into the Hall). There was also Jim Plunkett during this period who was the Rookie of the Year and then after a few down seasons was the Comeback Player of the year during a 16 year career. And the last notable of this time being 1966 Winner QB Steve Spurrier before he was the Ol' Ball Coach. His NFL numbers a forgettable 40 TDs and 60 INTs in 10 seasons.
The folllowing decade was a little bit more promising leading to the professional careers of Tony Dorsett (Hall of Famer and 4 Pro Bowls in 12 seasons) and Earl Campbell (Hall of Famer, Rookie of the Year, and 3 time Player of the Year in 8 seasons). This decade also led to Charles White who played 9 seasons with 1 Pro Bowl but more importantly was 3 - 0 in his 3 appearances on America Gladiators. This decade gave us Marcus Allen (1x MVP, 6x Pro Bowler, and wrapped up a Hall of Fame Career after winning the 1993 comeback player of the year) and Herschel Walker. Walker is considered by many to be one of the best college football players of all time and also one of the biggest disappointments in Professional Football. After playing a few years in the stepchild USFL he had a lengthy but un-miraculous professional career. Even being made fun of annually in Minnesota for the trade the Vikings made that led to 9 picks for Dallas which in turn led to Emmit Smith and turned the team around with a solid nucleus of role players added through the drafts. There was Doug Flutie who played 21 seasons and had his own cereal, but only played 12 of his 21 seasons in the NFL, averaging less than 7.5 games per season during that period. Flutie was also the first person to be shorter than the trophy, a high distinction. Lastly was Bo Jackson who was probably the best college football player and could have been a great pro had he not put off football for baseball his first couple years and had a plastic hip his last year in the NFL. Of his high marks though are his unbeatable appearance in TECMO Super Bowl and the ProStars cartoon where He, Michael Jordon, and Wayne Gretzky solved Crimes.
The nest 20 years of winners were led off by Vinny Testaverde, Tim Brown and Barry Sanders (Hall of Fame) that made people once again think the Heisman could lead to a succeessful career the likes of Allen or Simpson. Unfortunately during this period the opposite was more common after the careers of Andre Ware (almost no NFL game play), Ty Detmer (definition of career back-up), Gino Torretta (5 teams in 4 years, careers stats 5/16 for 41 yds, 1 INT and 1 32 yd touchdown), Charlie Ward (NBA), Rashan Salaam (mention his name in Chicago I dare you), Danny Wuerffel, Ricky Marley errr Williams, Chris Weinke, Eric Crouch (the face of the future All-American Football League), and Jason White (retired before taking a snap).
In total 8 Heisman Winners have entered the NFL Hall of Fame, 20 have been to multiple Pro Bowls/AFL/CFL All-Star games, 5 have won 5 MVP, 1 CFL MVP and 1 USFL MVP, 3 Comeback Players of the Year, and one three time American Gladiator winner. What the will future hold for today's young men remains to be seen but with America Gladiators coming back on TV I can only hope someone challenges Charles White's 3-0 record.
More after the jump...
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