I remember the day I stopped caring about who won the Heisman trophy. It was the day Peyton Manning lost to Charles Woodson. How could Peyton not win it? Well, anyone who knows anything knows that ESPN made it their mission to get Woodson that Heisman. And anyone who attended the University of Tennessee stopped caring about the Heisman trophy.
That being said, I find the dilemma Heisman voters have this year very interesting. Basically, they have no clue who to vote for. Coming into the year, it was Tim Tebow or Colt McCoy's award to lose. Well, I wouldn't say they lost it, but they didn't go out there and win it either. So, what do you do?
Well, normally, the Heisman voter looks at the number one team in the country and votes for their best offensive player. The number one team in the country is Alabama. A lot of folks think their best offensive player is Mark Ingram. I think Mark Ingram is good, but I'm not sure he's Alabama's best offensive player and I'm sure he's not their best player. Julio Jones may be better. Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain and Javier Arenas are all better and have more impact on why Alabama wins football games. So, it could be argued that Mark Ingram is the fifth best player on his team... and he's going to win the Heisman?
So, I hear you asking, "Evil, what would your Heisman ballot look like?" Well, I'm glad you asked. Here we go...
1) Ndamukong Suh- So, pretty much everyone believes this guy is the best player in the country. He dominates football games. Why isn't he going to win? He plays defensive tackle and for some reason you can't give the Heisman trophy to folks who play on the line or on defense. Why? This guy is the best player in the country and that's what that award is for.
2) Toby Gerhart- I love big white running backs. So, sue me.
3) Eric Berry- EB is awesome. I thought about putting him second, but I didn't want to accused of being homer. Ah, screw it... Rocky top, bitch!!!
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9 comments:
McCoy for Heisman...no, not that McCoy...Gerald McCoy, DT from Oklahoma. Suck on it.
Extra: MVP of the NFL so far? Peyton? I think not. Look at Charles Woodson's numbers. 53 tackles, 7 (yes, seven) interceptions and one sack in 11 games. Plays on the 2nd best defense in the NFL. I'm sorry Evil, but being a DB myself, I was all for Woodson winning the Heisman over Peyton and I'm ok with Woodson winning MVP of the regular season (so far) over Peyton.
I assume you think Champ Bailey should have won the next year. He had better numbers than Woodson. I will say Woodson is having a great year, but Peyton is undefeated. I think he'll win easily over Breese.
The problem with Bailey was that he picked a bad year to shine. My Dolphin, Ricky Williams broke all kinds of records that year. It was going to be Ricky's all the way on that one. Champ for most of his career was/is a better corner than Woodson but Woodson also was "electrifying" in other areas (receiver and returner) in the eyes of ESPN so he won based on the intangibles and not the pure statistics, which I agree is bullshit. I just like it that he won because a college DB finally got a chance to shine in the spotlight for more than that game winning interception or pass break-up or big hit. Peyton deserved it for sure, but I'm just as happy that Woodson won.
I do agree with you and think the Heisman is meaningless because it's impossible to compare players to each other who don't play the same positions. It is all about marketing and ESPN and bullshit.
A quick search of other good college DB's that were close to winning the heisman: Terry Hoage (5th in voting) and Kenny Easley (9th in voting).
Some other of my fav college DB's: Ronnie Lott (USC), Rod Woodson (Purdue) and Dick Anderson (part of the '72 Dolphins who played at Colorado and had 14 interceptions his senior year) and now of course, Eric Berry. But Deion was the best college and pro cover corner ever. Not because he was good, but because he was faster/quicker than everybody else on the field.
Bailey had better receiving numbers his senior year.
Bailey this. Bailey that. Fine but look at what Ricky did that year and tell me Ricky didn't deserve it according to the messed up process the Heisman voting process is all about. How were the voters in the previous year to know that Bailey's numbers would be better than Woodson's? And how were they supposed to know that even if Bailey's were better, that this guy named Ricky would have the year that he had.
I just don't believe in your "Bailey" argument. Using Bailey means you're implying that Peyton's numbers = Ricky's numbers and that since Peyton lost to Woodson that at the very least Bailey should have won over Ricky. The big thing you're missing is that how the hell can anyone say that Peyton's numbers = Ricky's numbers? It's an impossible statistic to compare, which is my point as to why the Heisman is meaningless. And I do think that Bailey should have been, at the very least, a top 5 candidate his year. But I'm biased and I think the best DB should win it every year ;) That's why I don't mind Woodson winning it his year.
The immediate Heisman winning QB before Peyton's year he lost, had 3 TD's more than Peyton but Peyton had ~200 more yards. There's no denying Peyton was deserving of the award according to the comparison of statistics across the multiple positions of candidates offered.
I do think Peyton and Ricky and all these offensive backs should get only 1/6 of whatever awards they were given. The other 5/6 goes to the offensive line for blocking. Name the last offensive lineman to win the Heisman, I dare you. (Leon Hart, ND 1949...even he was a TE and DE not an interior OL)
Wow! Drogba agrees with Evil that Peyton should have won the Heisman over Woodson. The one thing that puts Woodson ahead of Peyton and Bailey is that his team won the National Title, (or part of it) that year. Drogba doesn't think that should be a factor but you know that it is.
why not darren sharper over woodson?
51 tackles, 1/2 sack, 8 interceptions for 350 yards and 3 TDs.
Plus he get to play with meachem, jabari greer, and marvin mitchell.
Division I-AA back then. I like it! Reminds me of when Steve McNair was considered in '94.
quite interesting read. I would love to follow you on twitter.
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