On the eve the Heisman Trophy presentation, Yahoo Sports reported about a potential Heisman Trophy controversy.
Nearly two years after Reggie Bush won the Heisman, a book detailing improper benefits he allegedly received while playing for USC, “Tarnished Heisman,” could damage his chances of keeping the most prestigious award in college sports.
Bush’s alleged improprieties only added to the Heisman hoopla surrounding this year’s award, which is guaranteed a first.
Running back Darren McFadden of Arkansas and quarterbacks Colt Brennan of Hawaii and Chase Daniel of Missouri could all become the first player from their respective school to win the Heisman. And quarterback Tim Tebow of Florida, a sophomore, would be the first underclassman to win the award.
Bruce Feldman of ESPN The Magazine gives a decent, quick look at the four finalists.
However, there’s been a heated debate in the build up to today’s trophy announcement. What is a “system” quarterback?
ESPN.com’s Ivan Maisel reported Hawaii coach June Jones said Tebow is more of a system quarterback than Brennan.
"My quarterback [Brennan] has been labeled a 'system quarterback' for three years," Jones said Monday, according to a transcription on the school's Web site. "He is the best passer in college history. He is. There is no question about it. Tim Tebow is in a system. … Colt Brennan plays in an NFL passing game. You can dial it up and see that it is not a system. Tim Tebow's system is a college system."
Here’s the deal June Jones is dead on. Tim Tebow’s 20-20 touchdown numbers are courtesy of a quarterback happy system. That’s why Tebow led the team in carries and had 92 more carries than the second leading rusher.
If you examine the statistics between Urban Meyer’s 2007 Florida spread-option offense and Meyer’s 2004 Utah spread-option offense, you’ll find eerie similarities.
The top three rushers for the Utes accounted for 2,087 yards, for the Gators 2,008 yards. Utah’s QB Alex Smith completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 2,952 yards and 32 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Florida’s Tebow completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards and 29 touchdowns with six interceptions.
I’m not saying Tebow is not good, because he is. But his ‘amazing numbers’ are thanks to Meyer’s system. Tebow’s accounted for more of the total offense than former No. 1 pick Smith, but that shouldn't equal a Heisman Trophy.
Everyone has his or her Heisman favorite. C. Brennan of USA Today likes, well, C. Brennan of Hawaii. And Robert Husseman, sports copy editor for the Oregon Daily Emerald, may be biased but thinks Ducks QB Dennis Dixon is still Heisman worthy.
I’m disappointed Dixon didn’t get an invite, especially since he ran a fake “Statue of Liberty” play successfully (watch it here). Dixon is college football’s MVP; Oregon went 8-1 and was in the national championship hunt when he was healthy and stumbled, 0-3, after his knee injury.
Who do I think should win this year’s Heisman?
Arkansas’ Darren McFadden, no doubt about it.
McFadden scored 15 rushing touchdowns, ran for 1,725 yards in the SEC on a one-dimensional team (better numbers than last season) and went 6-for-11 passing for 123 yards and four touchdowns. That’s a 268.5 QB rating (top that Tebow!). Plus, McFadden single-handedly kept Arkansas in the game during the Hogs upset of No. 1 LSU, which he spent roughly 40 percent of the game playing quarterback.
But who do I think will win?
Unfortunately, all indicators point to the ultimate "system" guy, Tim Tebow.
4 comments:
And the winner of the 2007 Heisman Trophy is…Florida’s quarterback Tim Tebow.
What a shock, huh?
Florida's folk-hero quarterback with a “magnetic personality” won the Heisman earlier this evening. Tebow beat out Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, the first player since 1949 to finish second in consecutive seasons.
Tebow received 1,957 points and 462 first-place votes to McFadden's 1,703 points and 291 first-place votes. Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was third, and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel finished fourth.
Heisman voters apparently didn’t hold Florida’s failure to defend its national title against Tebow. Hopefully this is a sign that Heisman voters are smartening up, but I doubt it. Six of the past seven Heisman winners played in the national championship. Clearly, the best player doesn’t have to come from a top five team (McFadden’s Hogs had four loses).
Tebow was a one-man offense, because Florida asked him to do so. And at 6’3” and 235 pounds, he’s the perfect fullback-type specimen to run wild in Meyer’s spread-option offense. I guess this is a fitting end to the year of Blue (and Orange).
[See my April 29 post if you’re not sure what I’m talking about]
Heisman voters were duped, but McFadden will have his revenge. Darren McFadden will soon be off becoming an NFL star. While Tebow, may find himself on an NFL bench, may.
Your comparison of Alex Smith and Tim Tebow is brilliant. I never thought of comparing the "system" in it's MWC and SEC forms, but this is great. Did Tebow put up some amazing numbers? Absolutely. Is he as qualified to be labeled as a "system" player? Unquestionably. Great points here, Pete.
As far as I can remember, no quarterback has done what Tebow has as far as his passing and rushing statistics for a top team in the country. I know that Nebraska's Tommy Frazier put up some ridiculous numbers in his heisman season and then bombed in the NFL. Tebow seems to have the athletic ability and the intangibles to be a great quarterback and runner, although his style won't keep him healthy when he's running against the likes of Ray Lewis and Shawn Merriman rather than 230 pound inside linebackers for mid-majors.
Tebow will obviously be back for one more year and then bolt for stardom, but it will be very interesting to see if he continues to improve or if he falls off as a junior. Also, I will be skeptical, after watching Alex Smith sort of bomb, about Tebow being picked top 3 in the draft when he does come out.
I'm looking forward to seeing if "Timmy" will actually finish out his college career like the good kid he supposedly is or skip right over to the NFL.
Post a Comment