Read Loyal Homer’s argument and Sports Geek’s argument about who their picks for the 2009 Heisman Trophy are.
There are a lot of different theories on how voting should take place in the annual awarding of the Heisman Trophy. Some argue that the trophy should be used as recognition for the most outstanding player over an impressive collegiate career, while others would argue that a strong close to the season in high-profile games is all that is necessary to lock up the award. I, on the other hand, feel that the award for college’s most outstanding player should actually go to COLLEGE’S MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER – how silly of me!
Many people are going to be clamoring for Colt McCoy to be named the 2009 Heisman winner. Their reasoning is that he has had an outstanding college career, and deserves the award for his consistently strong performances. That reasoning is flawed, though. Two thousand and nine has been one of McCoy’s WORST seasons, statistically! Both 2006 AND 2008 were better seasons for McCoy, with 2007 as the only year in his career where he threw for FEWER touchdowns, and MORE interceptions than in 2009. If you were TRULY interested in recognizing the player with the best collegiate CAREER, it would be Tim Tebow who deserved the award, not Colt McCoy!
The REAL reason that some folks want McCoy to win the award is because he has not yet, and Tebow and Sam Bradford have. The last time I checked, though, the Heisman is for the MOST OUTSTANDING player, not the player we feel most sorry for. McCoy’s BEST seasons did not stack up against Tebow or Bradford, so why would one of his WORST seasons suddenly earn him the award? It just does not make sense.
The player who DOES deserve to win the award this year, however, is Stanford running back Toby Gerhart! By far the best running back of the 2009 season, no player has had a greater impact on his team than has Gerhart, who led the nation both in rushing yards (1,736) and touchdowns (26). And while you would expect strong performances against weak teams (such as Washington State and San Jose State), Gerhart actually turned in his BEST performances against some of the toughest teams in the country!
In 2009, Stanford took the field against four different teams that were ranked in the top-25 at the time – Washington (#24), Oregon (#8), USC (#9) and California (#25). In his four games against those top-level opponents, Gerhart rushed for a combined 737 yards (an average of 184.25 yards per game) and 11 touchdowns. In addition, Gerhart helped to send Charlie Weis packing as he tacked on an additional 205 yards and three more touchdowns in his final regular season game against Notre Dame!
Gerhart scored MULTIPLE touchdowns in nine of 12 games this season, and reached the end zone at least once in every game (except one). He also eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark in three different games this season, including a season-high 223 yards and three touchdowns against the Pac-10 champion the Oregon Ducks!
Toby Gerhart was the most outstanding player of the 2009 season! Simply put, he made the difference between winning and losing in 2009 for Stanford. Last season, the Cardinal managed to win only five games all season. For his part, Gerhart put up only 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2009, however, he rushed for an additional 700 yards and 11 touchdowns in the same number of games played, helping lead Stanford to an eight-win season and a Sun Bowl invitation against the Oklahoma Sooners on New Years Eve. When Gerhart was held to less than 100-yards rushing (which occurred only twice in the entire season), Stanford lost. On the flip-side, though, he rushed for at least 175 yards in four separate games, including both the USC and the Oregon matchups, leading Stanford to victory all four times. He is an outstanding player on a mediocre team. Thanks to his presence that mediocre team became a Pac-10 contender with two wins against top-10 teams in 2009. I would call that making a Heisman-worthy impact!
In your breakdown of the voting there, I have to wonder … where is Nebraska’s DT Ndamukong Suh? He’s only been the most dominant player in the NCAA all season. I know the stiff-arm trophy is a glamor award, but if you “feel that the award for college’s most outstanding player should actually go to COLLEGE’S MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER,” then how can that player not be Ndamukong Suh?
Stat Line –
82 total tackles (while fighting double and triple teams)
23 TFL
12 Sacks
26 Quarterback Hurries
10 Pass breakups
1 INT
1 Forced Fumble
3 blocked kicks
Seriously, the guy dominated in every game of the season — including the Big 12 Championship against Texas where he had 12 tackles, 7 for loss and 4.5 sacks. If any player can be called “COLLEGE’S MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER” in 2009 it is Suh.
Nice comment, Michael. It’s appropriate that the article’s author reply, but I have a couple of questions.
Which Heisman voter type do you believe will be voting for Suh? The Closer, the Season voter, or the Career voter?
Honestly, any of the three can vote for Suh. If the career voter — least likely — looks at Suh’s exploits the last few years they’ll see a dominant force that has demanded double or triple-teams to be held in check — yet put up incredible numbers (76 tkl, 19 tfl, 7.5 sack, 2 int in 2008).
If the season voter — most likely for Suh — looks at the full body of work, then they’ll come across the stats from my original comment.
And the closer voter — almost as likely as season — will notice 26 tackles, 10 tfl, 6 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries over the past three weeks. This includes the 12 tackle, 7 tfl, 4.5 sack night he had on Saturday on national TV against an undefeated team with what “experts” call a high quality offensive line.
Simply put, he’s just been dominant and should be considered the best Heisman candidate — even if he’s a DT.
You make a convincing argument. Like I commented to Brian over on my post, I wonder about the viability of a player winning at a decidedly un-sexy position, defensive tackle. Especially since only one defensive player has ever won the award, and that player was considered only because of their impact on offense.
Do you think that Suh and McCoy could split regional voting?
After Saturday, anyone regionally who votes for McCoy over Suh shouldn’t have their vote. Nebraska’s defense — and Suh in particular — made McCoy look silly. Don’t get me wrong, Colt is a great player and he’s been fun to watch on the field. But for the Heisman voters, this past weekend should have been enough to show which of those two truly deserves the award.
Do you believe that one game can make or break a Heisman candidacy? That despite the career stats, etc., it’s one game that the voters look at to break the tie?
I don’t think that a game SHOULD make or break a candidacy. However, I’ve basically seen it happen. Instead what I am arguing with the McCoy vs. Suh battle is that Suh deserved it more for what he had done before that game. His dominance over McCoy in the game itself was just extra evidence in support of that assertion.
Well put. Do you think a defensive tackle can win the Heisman, though? Set aside your “should” article for just a moment.
Can a DT win it? Probably not. Unfortunately voters don’t like to think that the best player on the field may not be a QB, RB or WR. If the player isn’t a glamour player, most likely they won’t win. Heck, if you look at the defensive player — Charles Woodson — who won, it was because of his ability to return punts and kickoffs. Voters across the board aren’t looking for the “best” player, so much as the flashiest.
With that in mind, the odds of a DT winning are slim-to-none. It would be a great day in the history of the game — and the trophy — if it were to happen. However, too many people who vote think the award is meant for a QB who leads an offense or a RB who puts up big numbers. I’d argue that there have been a few years where the best player in college football is a dominating O-lineman or D-lineman, but it doesn’t resonate in the heart of the voters.
Someday, perhaps. But this year? I don’t expect Suh to get his name called. I feel it’s an injustice that it won’t happen — after the season he had — but I won’t be surprised in the least.
Interesting. I always like asking colleagues “what does it mean to win the Heisman Trophy?” Every answer is different because it is basically an award without a definition. It has literally become its own thing.
Can a DT win? Probably not. It’s sad that the most dominant player on the field will be overlooked because they play in the trenches. However, it’s just the way of the award. What is supposed to be for the best college football player that year ends up becoming the race for the best QB, RB or WR — and even the WRs have a tough time.
If we look at the only true defensive player — Charles Woodson — to win the award in the past 80 years, he only won because of his dynamic ability to return punts and kickoffs. Voters don’t much care for defensive players because as a stat driven society we want to see yards gained and touchdowns.
Maybe someday they’ll create a stat called “touchdowns saved” — won’t happen — where a defensive player gets credit for stopping a team from reaching the endzone.
Will it happen someday? Maybe, although doubtful. Will it happen this year? Probably not, and I’m ready for that. However, it shows the sad state of the award where the most dominant player to have suited up this season probably won’t win the award.
I think it’s awfully hard to quantify defensive stats. It is very easy on the offensive side.
I don’t see anyway a DT can win the Heisman. This is by no means a shot at Suh.
Nice conversation guys! Keep it up!