My Heisman Ballot Entering November

Growing up, I never missed a Heisman Trophy ceremony. The first Heisman ceremony I remember was 1990 (I was 5 years old) when Ty Detmer won the award. Notre Dame wide receiver Raghib Ismail finished second, Colorado running back Eric Bieniemy finished third, Virginia quarterback Shawn Moore fourth, and Houston quarterback David Klingler fifth. I sat in our family’s living room just glued to the television, and I remember being legitimately nervous as they announced Detmer as the winner. Nervous over an award! Granted I was five years old, but the Heisman Trophy brought out those same emotions that make sporting events themselves worth watching. It was the most important individual award in American sports…

My favorite thing about sports is that greatness is easily apparent. For instance, a person who has never heard of basketball could watch a game involving Lebron James and, within a few possessions, would be able to point out that he is a cut above the rest. A person could watch a series of Michael Vick playing quarterback without any prior exposure to football and realize that this guy is different. Greatness is not an abstract thing in sports. And this was the brilliance of the Heisman Trophy. College football had an award that simply rewarded greatness. Specifically, the award “recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity,” according to the Heisman Trust. Translation: The Heisman Trophy is to be awarded to the greatest player in college football. Period.

Somewhere along the line, that was lost. Where or when that happened, I’m not sure. The award has become too objective. Too often, it’s about numbers and win/loss records rather than about the feelings that arise when you watch a player do what he does best. It seems we get so lost in the numbers and the circumstances that we forget what our eyes tell us, and when it comes to greatness in sports, our eyes are all we need. As a result, I couldn’t tell you the last time I watched a Heisman Trophy ceremony. That’s not to say I didn’t have any interest in who won, but it hasn’t elicited those same emotions as when I was growing up.

All of this leads to September 10, 2011. I’m standing on the field at East Carolina, waiting to interview Virginia Tech players and coaches after the game down in Greenville. I’m worn out mentally and physically. Earlier, I had gotten lost on the way from Wilmington to the game, and it just wasn’t my day.

Then, David Teel, a sports columnist with the Newport News Daily Press and a person I respect as much as any in this profession, approaches me and asks if I would be interested in voting for the Heisman Trophy. All of a sudden, some semblance of the emotions present when I was five years old watching Ty Detmer win the Heisman Trophy came back. Part of it was the fact that David Teel thought enough of me to ask and the other part was the opportunity to play a miniscule part in such a historic award. Those emotions literally carried me through my drive from Greenville back to Blacksburg. I arrived back at my apartment at 3 AM, and it still took me an hour to get to sleep.

With that being said, here is how one voter’s Heisman ballot looks heading into November…

1. Andrew Luck – Quarterback – Stanford

Season Stats: 174 for 242 (71.9%), 2,218 yards (277.3 ypg), 23 TDs, 4 INTs.

Last Week: 29 for 40, 330 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT. 9 carries, 36 yards, 1 TD in 56-48 3OT win at Southern Cal.

Luck is must-see television every week.

2. Trent Richardson – Running Back – Alabama.

Season Stats: 149 carries, 989 yards (6.6 ypc), 17 TDs. 18 receptions, 212 yards, 1 TD.

Last Week: Bye week.

Richardson is the best running back in the country, and it really isn’t close. Needless to say, this is a huge week.

3. Kellen Moore – Quarterback – Boise State

Season Stats: 174 for 228 (76.3%), 2,010 yards (287.1 ypg), 24 TDs, 5 INTs.

Last Week: Bye week.

You are 80 yards away with 2:30 to go, down 6, which college quarterback are you going with? Tough not to go with Moore.

4. Sammy Watkins – Wide Receiver – Clemson

Season Stats: 64 receptions, 978 yards (108.7 ypg), 10 TDs. 186.8 all-purpose ypg.

Last Week: 10 catches, 159 yards, 1 TD in 31-17 loss at Georgia Tech.

I have not watched a Clemson game this year and thought anyone other than Sammy Watkins was the best player on the field.

5. Robert Griffin III – Quarterback – Baylor  

Season Stats: 176 for 233 (75.5%), 2,375 yards (339.3 ypg), 23 TDs, 4 INTs. 322 rushing yards, 3 TDs.

Last Week: 33 for 50, 425 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. 16 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD in 59-24 loss at Oklahoma State.

I don’t care that his team lost. This is not a team award.