Opinions more plentiful than Heisman Trophy ballots
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Charles Woodson hasn't mailed a thank you note, Ricky Williams hasn't granted an exclusive interview, and Reggie Bush hasn't sent any Saints tickets.
My Heisman Trophy ballot has been submitted and whether or not I picked the winner, I don't figure to be hearing from him. The same cannot be said for the fans of the winner and the fans of the players who don't win college football's most prestigious award.
This is the 12th time I've participated in the Heisman Trophy voting and my percentage of picking the winner has been high. My percentage of making fans happy is another matter.
A number of Texas fans still haven't forgiven me for picking Southern Cal's Bush over Vince Young in 2005. As someone who owns a degree from UCLA, I can assure you voting for a Trojan, especially one who embarrassed the Bruins on national television, was not a pleasant experience.
I take my responsibility as a Heisman Trophy voter seriously and try to keep any rooting interests out of the equation when I cast my ballot.
Unlike some high school all-district teams, which seem to include almost everyone in the district, the Heisman Trophy ballot requires you to pick your first, second and third choices.
This year figures to be one of the closet votes in the history of the award. There are five candidates I seriously considered voting for at some point during the season.
This was a year for quarterbacks. Texas' Colt McCoy, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Florida's Tim Tebow, who got my vote last year when he won the Hesiman Trophy, are all worthy of the award.
The only non-quarterback I considered was Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who could be the most exciting player in the nation.
The deadline to vote was Wednesday and I did not submit my ballot until Sunday so I could watch the conference championship games before making my final decision.
I want to thank all of you who commented on my blog post and those of you who voiced your opinion in person.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out I have no ties to any of the aforementioned institutions. My brother-in-law attended Texas Tech and a former college roommate went to graduate school at Oklahoma, but neither has attempted to sway my vote.
After much deliberation, my first choice was Bradford. my second choice was Tebow, and my third choice was McCoy.
Coincidentally, those were the three finalists for the award announced Wednesday.
Bradford completed over 68 percent of his passes for 4,080 yards and 46 touchdowns with six interceptions.
Bradford has thrown more touchdown passes than any of the previous 10 quarterbacks to win the Heisman Trophy, and only Florida State's Charlie Ward, who won the award in 1993, had fewer interceptions.
Bradford threw for 370 yards and four touchdowns in the Sooners' 61-41 win at Oklahoma State, and in Oklahoma's loss to Texas, he passed for 387 yards and five touchdowns.
I'll find out Saturday if I voted for another winner.
I'll find out much sooner (no pun intended) what you think of my picks.
Mike Forman is a sports writer for the Victoria Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6588 or mforman@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
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Mike Forman's Heisman Trophy Ballot
1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
2. Tim Tebow, Florida
3. Colt McCoy, Texas
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I bet McCoy would have passed Bradford's stats if he actually got to play the whole game, but since Texas pretty much had every game in the bag by the fourth quarter this season, McCoy spent most fourth quarters standing on the sidelines watching Chiles command the offense, usually putting pionts on the board, too.
December 12, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.Brees.
December 12, 2008 at 9:05 a.m.Thanks for the info Tomahawk1.
Legion, Ricky Williams was doing pretty good until he couldn't keep it in his pants nor pass a drug test. Wonder what came first, his 20 some odd kids or his habit?
December 11, 2008 at 8:32 p.m.About half the time winning the heismen is the kiss of death, they win it, get a sometimes, high draft pick, then they never amount to much in the nfl.
December 11, 2008 at 7:07 p.m.Florida is going to slaughter Oklahoma & Tim Tebow will win the Heisman again. Has anyone ever won it twice?
Tim ain't to smart, but he sure is cute!
December 11, 2008 at 5:49 p.m.I assure you I have no "man crush" on anyone.
December 11, 2008 at 4 p.m.Thanks for your comments.
Mike
Sounds like you voted for the player whose coach was most effective at padding the score. I'm curious what would happen if you recaluculate the stats to theoretically "bench" the quarterback in the fourth quarter as Mack Brown did so often this year.
It's writers like you who encourage coaches like Stoops to pile on points after the game is long won. Bradford is good. Not great. Especially when flushed from the pocket.
McCoy is good, but not yet fully mature.
Voters who like Bradford also like McCoy, so those votes will be split. Meantime, the "man crush" on Tebow has deepend this year, and those voters will put him on top (no pun intended) once again.
December 11, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.