Powell: It was just about 30 years ago when we truly discovered the exact reason why the Heisman Trophy depicted a guy with a stiff arm: He was keeping all worthy defensive candidates from ever getting their hands on the trophy.
Article Source: NBC Sports
from:NBC SportsDefense wins games, but not Heismans
Seeded on Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:47 AM EST (NBC Sports)
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The sad thing is Colt with probably get it even those his numbers are just so-so for a quarterback while Suh's numbers are off the charts... Texas also had one of the *easiest* schedules I have ever seen a Divsion 1 team have... so just about anyone playing QB for Texas would have good numbers..
I really hope Ingraham gets it.. he is by far the most deserving outside of Suh. Sadly, as this article clearly points out, Hesiman is horribly lop-sided towards offensive players.
Plus, the Heisman is now a watered-down, less prestigous award than it once was, mainly for these same reasons. Kinda like the Nobel Peace prize now that Obama has received it.
Gerhart should win, though Suh would be acceptable. He's a monster. 200 ypg against ranked opponents. Forget Ingram's soft SEC schedule.
Yes, considering Gerhart's 62 more carries and only 160 more yds than Ingram!!! And yes.....Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, and Florida....bunch of softies right there!!!!
Put Gerhart behind Alabama's line in Alabama's offense, and put Ingram in Stanford's offense, behind Stanford's line... Gerhart is a 2,000 yard back and Ingram is just another average Pac-10 running back.
Alabama's line has one senior on it...granted they're great but there's no proof at all to the statement you just made!!! Also, consider looking at the caliber of defenses Ingram has faced this year....the rush defenses Gerhart has faced aren't anywhere close to SEC defenses and he could only manage 160 more yds with 62 more carries!!! Granted, Gerhart is a beast...I am actually a big fan, but to say he is more deserving than Ingram is wrong!!!
One senior doesn't really mean much. That line is Top Ten in the country, arguably. Maybe one of Gerhart's linemen would start at Bama over their current line now. I think that would at least make a LITTLE difference, don't you? That's all I am saying.
I agree, point taken!! But, playing rush defenses like Ten, LSU, and Florida's would probably make a difference too....and Gerhart's average numbers weren't even as good as Ingram's against much weaker defenses, that's all I'm saying!!
Personally, if you give it to Ingram, Gerhart, or Suh, I can't complain. I think Suh deserves it, and Gerhart over Ingram, but IMO Tebow and McCoy are nominated for their body of work, the other three were much better this year.
Can't really argue with Ingram too much, he had a great year. I like that he didn't run his numbers up against the weaker teams on their schedule, as someone pointed out. When Bradford won it, he was up like 50-20 against significantly weaker teams in the fourth quarter and Stoops kept him in the game. It definitely helped with those record setting numbers, and definitely hurt us this year when he got injured. Same with Tebow a couple years back. Ingram got his yards honestly, and I appreciate that.
All great points, bok!! I honestly couldn't argue with Suh, Gerhart, or Ingram winning it either...all great players and very deserving!!! I have just a touch of Bama Bias, haha!! I also agree that Tebow and McCoy are there because of their body of work....both awesome players but some other players got shafted for them that were more deserving THIS YEAR (ex. CJ Spiller)!! All great points though!!!
P.S.: Your sooners will be back before you know it....just hope the Tide is right there with them!!....Have a great day and ROLL TIDE!!!
I did forget about V-Tech, and he had a huge game against them, so I retract my statement. That said, the SEC is massively overrated, as bowl season will prove, and Alabama played a lot of chumps and usually from ahead.
I think Spiller is going to be good-to-great at the next level. Scary cutbacks.
DC42, congrats to Ingram and your Tide. Good to finally get a Heisman down at one of the storied programs in college football. Now go out and beat those shorthorns!
Appreciate that, bok...let's hope we roll out of Pasadena with a win. Texas is a great team, too though. Should be a great one!! ROLL TIDE!!
"Put it this way: Had their teams met, and this is subjective thinking of course, Green would’ve sent Rogers running 1,781 yards in reverse."
Mr. Powell, Green and Rogers did meet. It was called the 1980 Gator Bowl. Rogers fumbled a couple of times and Green did his thing in a Pitt romp.
Don't let a little research get in the way of your take.
Excellent point, would have helped Powell's piece a lot to point that out - SC basically ran away from Green.
Though it couldn't have affected the Heisman voting.
This is an abomination and the reason that the Heisman is losing relevance. The Heisman shouldn't be given to the QB or RB on the best team. That's just grap. I think the rules say the "Most Outstanding Player" in college football. I dare anyone to argue that aynone was more outstanding than Suh this year.
He is a man among boys. My Sooner D-Lineman Gerald McCoy is a great d-lineman and most years would be the first taken in the draft. If whoever gets the first pick in the draft doesn't take Suh, they should be forced to sell their team, regardless of team needs or whatever. A player this special only comes along once in a long while.
I really think that Ingram is underrated for a number of reasons:
1) Nick Saban has never used lower-ranked opponents to use players like Ingram to rack up humiliatingly high points (and BCS points) as Urban did with Tebow. That's how Florida got so many BCS points while only playing one ranked team in the regular season (and barely pulling that one out.) Saban frequently pulled first-stringers to give his backups play time and experience and sacrificed BCS points (and chances for many more yards rushing by Ingram) to do so.
2) I have watched several games and video-taped several of what I call the "Ingram haystack". This is where Ingram is still moving with 5-6 tacklers forming a moving pile without Ingram even being visible. If you stitch several of these videos together it really looks strange. In the Alabama/UTC game he set a record --- moving three yards carrying seven tacklers.
3) Just as Tebow was stunned at the Alabama defense, I think Suh would be similarly stunned by Ingram and Alabama's pass protection. The think that would keep Suh from being the player he was against Texas is the discipline of the Alabama players. Discipline is what keeps teams from falling apart in the face of a very strong player in a moderately strong team. Ingram is one of the most disciplined players in college football. He is a team player, not an independent gunning for a Heismann as a super-star.
4) My wife is faculty at UA and some of our friends say that Ingram is smart, humble, and works hard at getting an education. He tells everyone that his father had the football success but not the education and when football was over he had little to show for it. The father was always in trouble with the law and was on the lam when the son signed with Alabama. The father turned himself in so he could be assured of watching his son play football. The son has repeatedly expressed a determination not to repeat the mistakes of his father and get a solid degree as a priority. Our friends think he will succeed (Alabama has one of the highest graduation rates for its football players.) This is a truly inspiring story and he uses it to motivate other students.
5) And the scariest part of all is that he is a sophomore. His best years may be yet to come.
While I have a great deal of respect for others in the Heismann hunt, and readily admit a great deal of Bama bias, I really think that Ingram is a great example of the kind of player that the Heismann wants --- great individual player, great team player, smart enough to mind his grades, and with an inspiring personal story to share.
Roll, Tide, Roll!
Ahem. Gerhart's a better Ingram and played about the same difficulty of schedule - and tore up ranked opponents keying on him. Actually, he tore up everybody.
Ingram's a great back, but both Auburn and Arkansas held him under 3 yards a carry.
That's admirable, but maybe Alabama can keep it to two patsies a year instead of throwing Chattanooga in there at the end.
Oh, and beat Texas.
Suh should win it because he is the best player in the college football. Simple. Shaun Powell doesn't help with articles like this that help re-enforce a wrong. Why doesn't Shaun write an article about how Suh deserves it and if the NYAC really wants to solidify their standing as the premier college football award, they will give it to the player that earned it.
Steve Emtman (defensive lineman) finished 4th in the Heisman voting in 1991. Many thought he deserved it.
If the Heisman is such a watered down award....why then all the hype?
Hands down to Suh, not only a class act, but a man among young men who mentors them along the way. No BS, No ego....just a young man that appreciates his ability to love the game and continue to learn.
Oh Darn, if he doesn't win this one oh gee whiz..the Nagurski (sp), the Lombardi, the Outland.....and the girls behind the front line get "the watered down trophy".
Whatever!
You nailed it!! What a great article. Suh could just put a bandage on arm of the trophy then everything would be okay.
Historically speaking, the Heisman hasn't even gone to the best offensive ball handler.
There have been many years that the vote has been questioned.
The vote will always be questioned. That's just sports and fans and the way it works. You will always have questions. I don't think that since Barry Sanders won it has there been a definite best player in college football. And people will still argue about Barry Sanders, even though he had the best offensive season probably in the history of the game. It will always be questioned.
Edit: Did Andre Ware come before or after Barry Sanders? Ware was also probably unqestionably the best in the country, IMO.