Spring Break
Trophy's credibility on the line this season more than ever before
Razorback Road
Matt Jones
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Sports
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If Darren McFadden doesn't return home from New York with the Heisman Trophy, the award has lost all merit.
The trophy clearly reads, "Most Outstanding Player in College Football." No other six-set of words could describe McFadden, who shred LSU's defense to bits last Friday with 206 rushing yards, 34 more passing yards and four combined touchdowns as the Razorbacks won their first game over a top-ranked team in 26 years.
Not since Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson tortured Southeastern Conference foes over a six-year span in the early to mid-'80s has the league had a back as explosive as D-Mac. Those two guys won Heisman trophies - as juniors.
Now Arkansas' junior faces what is sure to be one of the closest votes in the award's history. The chief competitor is another SEC guy - Florida sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow.
Arguments can be made for both players. But McFadden could be the victim of a statement award.
No sophomore has ever won the Heisman, nor has a freshman. Analysts say times are changing and it's time for deserving underclassmen to be recognized as the best if they perform on the field.
We've seen this before. Dateline: 1997 - Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is a shoe-in to win the Heisman as the nation's best player. But after an impressive performance against rival Ohio State, Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in essence received ESPN's vote, and it's hard for a player to lose the award when the network in charge of the highlights is backing you.
Woodson became the first defensive player to win the Heisman and it was supposed to be a landmark win for defenders. More defensive players were going to be invited to New York and more would walk away with the trophy. Remember?
But 10 years later, no defender has been invited back to the Heisman presentation and none will be back this year.
I'm not opposed to a sophomore winning the award, if deserving, and as a disclaimer I never felt McFadden should win the award a year ago. But Tebow's backers cite only two numbers: 20-20. Tebow became the first player in college football history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in a season. His 22 rushing touchdowns are tied for the all-time record by a quarterback.
The trophy clearly reads, "Most Outstanding Player in College Football." No other six-set of words could describe McFadden, who shred LSU's defense to bits last Friday with 206 rushing yards, 34 more passing yards and four combined touchdowns as the Razorbacks won their first game over a top-ranked team in 26 years.
Not since Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson tortured Southeastern Conference foes over a six-year span in the early to mid-'80s has the league had a back as explosive as D-Mac. Those two guys won Heisman trophies - as juniors.
Now Arkansas' junior faces what is sure to be one of the closest votes in the award's history. The chief competitor is another SEC guy - Florida sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow.
Arguments can be made for both players. But McFadden could be the victim of a statement award.
No sophomore has ever won the Heisman, nor has a freshman. Analysts say times are changing and it's time for deserving underclassmen to be recognized as the best if they perform on the field.
We've seen this before. Dateline: 1997 - Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is a shoe-in to win the Heisman as the nation's best player. But after an impressive performance against rival Ohio State, Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in essence received ESPN's vote, and it's hard for a player to lose the award when the network in charge of the highlights is backing you.
Woodson became the first defensive player to win the Heisman and it was supposed to be a landmark win for defenders. More defensive players were going to be invited to New York and more would walk away with the trophy. Remember?
But 10 years later, no defender has been invited back to the Heisman presentation and none will be back this year.
I'm not opposed to a sophomore winning the award, if deserving, and as a disclaimer I never felt McFadden should win the award a year ago. But Tebow's backers cite only two numbers: 20-20. Tebow became the first player in college football history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in a season. His 22 rushing touchdowns are tied for the all-time record by a quarterback.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
goldenboy
posted 12/03/07 @ 12:06 AM CST
Tebow has better stats against tougher competition. He has more wins this season, last season, and has a national championship ring. Yet somehow McFadden is supposed to be better than him? How can people see somehthing that should be so obvious and get it so completely wrong. (Continued…)
clay
posted 12/03/07 @ 12:18 AM CST
tebow didn't even start last year. mcfadden tied the single game rushing record in the sec with 321. also 206 against the then top ranked defense in the conference. (Continued…)
chris
posted 12/03/07 @ 1:14 AM CST
Matt,
The award WILL lose it's merit this year. Sorry man.
Chris
Jeff
posted 12/03/07 @ 5:56 AM CST
Could you BE more of a homer?????? Clueless....
Chris
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:02 AM CST
Thanks man, I wanted to let you know that I forwarded this to everyone I know. It's hilarious. You are a complete homer and have lost any all all touch with reality. (Continued…)
Marc
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:49 AM CST
McFadden received 8 of 15 (53%) of his TDs against Troy, Chattanooga, FIU, and North Texas (33% of the schedule).
Tebow received 20 of 51 (39.2%) of his TDs against Troy, WKU, FAU, and FSU (33% of the schedule). (Continued…)
Bgator
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:50 AM CST
So McFadden getting 8 of 15 (53%) of his TDs against Troy, Chattanooga, FIU, and North Texas (33% of his schedule ) isn't padding stats
But
Tebow getting 20 of 51 (39. (Continued…)
MikeB
posted 12/03/07 @ 12:03 PM CST
Not to discount D-Mac performance this year, but his performance is exactly the reason why Tebow will and should win it this year. Last year D-Mac was a sophomore and by most accounts that is why he finished second in the Heisman race. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 12/03/07 @ 3:32 PM CST
Sorry man, Tebow is the clear Heisman choice, although McFadden's a shoe-in for the award for "The Most Outstanding Player In College Football, Excluding The Month of October". (Continued…)
capn
Doug
posted 12/03/07 @ 10:38 PM CST
"McFadden didn't pad his stats against non-conference opponents, despite the general perception of those in the national media."
Really?
Troy -- 24 carries, 151 yards, 1 TD; 1-for-1, 42 yards, 1 TD
North Texas -- 19 carries, 138 yards, 2 TDs
Chattanooga -- 25 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD
Florida Int. (Continued…)
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