http://www.zencollegelife.com/the-10-worst-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time
Trying to choose the worst Heisman winner is like trying to choose the ugliest Miss America winner — they're all great, and highlighting their flaws is just being nitpicky. Nevertheless, for the sake of argument, you have to acknowledge that some winners are less deserving than others, whether it's because they won merely on reputation, and/or because there were more deserving candidates. The following Heisman Trophy recipients were all super talented, but their resumes were a bit underwhelming.
Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame, 1953
During the early years of the Heisman, the Irish were a dominant force in college football, making them a media darling, a factor that certainly helped them secure an abundance of awards through the years. When Lattner claimed the Heisman, for example, he didn't lead the team in scoring, passing, rushing or receiving. The duel-threat halfback's statistics and explosive potential were somewhat hindered by his talented teammates who commanded the ball as well. Interestingly, Lattner's original trophy perished in a fire at his Chicago steakhouse, and the $300 replacement has suffered an immense amount of wear and tear — perhaps he doesn't value it as much as another winner would have?
Paul Hornung, Notre Dame, 1956
There's no doubt that Hornung was a heck of an NFL player. People often confuse the worst Heisman winners with Heisman winners who went on to do nothing in the pros — this certainly wasn't the case, as Hornung is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Most inexplicable about Hornung receiving the award was that Notre Dame was a putrid 2-8 during in '56, so his impact was minimal at best. Meanwhile, Jim Brown led Syracuse to a 7-2 record, notably scoring a record 43 points versus Colgate and winning Cotton Bowl co-MVP honors versus TCU.
John David Crow, Texas A&M, 1957
Crow played in seven of the Aggies 11 games due to a hyper-extended knee he suffered in the season opener versus Maryland. After winning their first eight games, they lost their final three, including one at home against archrival Texas and one against Tennessee at the Gator Bowl. Missing such significant time would be an automatic disqualifier today, but Crow's dynamism was understandably difficult to ignore by the voters.
Gary Beban, UCLA, 1967
Ranked No. 1, UCLA suffered a narrow late-season loss in an unforgettable matchup against cross-town rival USC, which would go on to win that season's consensus national championship. In the process, Beban had a stellar performance before a national audience, completing 16-24 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns. It was enough to earn him the Heisman despite the fact that OJ Simpson, who had a better season, scored the game-tying 64-yard touchdown in the same game. Although OJ was robbed in '67, he went on to win it in '68.
Pat Sullivan, Auburn, 1971
The '71 season was unfolding swimmingly for Sullivan during the first eight games. Auburn had dismantled almost all of its opponents and seemed to be on its way to an undefeated season. Against Bama, however, the tide turned dramatically as Auburn was the one that got dismantled, suffering a 31-7 loss in which Sullivan tossed just 121 yards and two interceptions. Propelled by gaudy stats he accumulated mostly against weak opponents, Sullivan won the Heisman anyway.
Archie Griffin, Ohio State, 1975
Naturally, having won the Heisman the previous season, Griffin was the frontrunner going in to '75. The high-powered Buckeyes coasted through the season, winning just two games by fewer than double-figures, the latter of which came against Michigan, Griffin's worst game of the season. He won the Heisman anyway, as planned, making him the only two-time winner. He had just four touchdowns that season, 21 fewer than teammate Pete Johnson.
George Rogers, South Carolina, 1980
A bruising back, George Rogers worked for every last yard as he led college football in rushing during the '80 season and guided the Gamecocks to an 8-4 record. Freshman Herschel Walker posted similar numbers for an undefeated national championship team but finished third in the voting, while defensive end Hugh Green, possibly the best player in all of college football, finished second.
Andre Ware, Houston, 1989
Ware posted eye-popping numbers that voters simply couldn't ignore, setting an astounding 26 NCAA records in the process. Benefitting from head coach Jack Pardee's flashy run-and-shoot offense, Ware was the key component in the 95-21 obliteration of recent death penalty recipient SMU. At the time, the Cougars regularly feasted on weak competition provided by the Southwest Conference. Their signature win in a probation season, in which they finished ranked No. 14, came against No. 18 Texas Tech. Alternatively; Anthony Thomas of the Big 10's Indiana tallied 1,793 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Gino Torretta, Miami, 1992
Neither Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar nor Vinnie Testaverde won the Heisman, yet Toretta was able to secure it during a year in which Marshall Faulk carried the San Diego State offense, despite injuries, with 1,630 yards and 15 touchdowns, clearly asserting himself as the best player in the nation. Miami, a national title contender, was led by its stout defense, and hardly relied on Toretta to carry them to wins. He didn't even post gaudy numbers. More than anything, he was at the right place at the right time.
Eric Crouch, Nebraska, 2001
Rex Grossman deserved to win the Heisman after his standout sophomore season but was robbed due to the tradition of denying deserving underclassmen — he tallied 34 touchdown passes and just fewer than 4,000 yards, torching SEC competition. Memorably, he posted 464 yards and 5 touchdowns against eventual SEC champion LSU in Tiger Stadium. Each of his "Fun 'n' Gun" Gators' wins came by two touchdowns or more, but their narrow losses to Auburn and Tennessee prevented them from matching up against Miami in the Rose Bowl. Crouch, a multi-threat quarterback, made a highlight-reel touchdown catch against Oklahoma that stuck in the minds of voters, thus giving him the award. But the Huskers suffered a terrible late-season blowout loss to Colorado, failed to win the Big XII and easily lost to Miami in the national title game.
Showing posts with label Heisman Trophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heisman Trophy. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Newton wins Heisman Trophy Cam
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/Auburn-quarterback-Cam-Newton-wins-Heisman-Trophy-121110
Newton wins Heisman Trophy
Cam Newton received 729 first-place votes to win the 76th Heisman Trophy.
Dec 12, 2010
NEW YORK
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton Saturday won the Heisman Trophy at a ceremony in New York, recording the third highest percentage of votes in the history of the award.
The junior from College Park, Ga., was the 76th winner of the prestigious award, given annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football, after a dominant performance this season.
Newton received 2,263 points, well ahead of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with 1,079 points.
The 1,184-point difference was the 11th largest in the history of the award and Newton was voted first on 729 of 926 ballots cast, giving him 78.7 percent of the vote.
Oregon running back LaMichael James (916 points)and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore (635 points) were third and fourth respectively.
After hugging his mother Jackie Newton, the 21-year-old struggled to hold back the tears as he took to the stage to receive his award, although a shout from the crowd of "We love you Cam" brought a smile to his face.
After thanking God, Newton paid tribute to his parents, saying they "do a lot of things behind the scenes that go unnoticed."
"This is not an award that in my opinion has been won by my play this year. This is an award that was won when I came out your womb.
"Thank you for everything you did for me," he said as he acknowledged his mother, "and to my father I love you so much."
Newton's win was not without scandal after reports of his father, Cecil Newton, and various "runners" allegedly soliciting payment during the player's 2009 recruitment process dominated headlines and muddied his name.
Cecil Newton did not attend the ceremony, releasing a statement through his attorney earlier this week saying he wanted to avoid diverting attention away from his son's achievements.
"So that my son Cam Newton can receive all the honors and congratulations that he has worked so hard to accomplish and without distraction, I have decided not to be in attendance at the Heisman ceremony, as it will perhaps rob Cam and the event of a sacred moment," he said in the statement.
The NCAA ruled last week that Cecil Newton violated rules by shopping his son to Mississippi State alumnus Kenny Rogers, who accused Newton of seeking $100,000 to $180,000 in a pay-for-play scheme.
The NCAA upheld Cam Newton's eligibility despite the ruling after determining he had no knowledge of his father's attempted arrangements.
"I also I want to give a special thanks to my teammates," Newton said as he clutched his trophy. "Without those guys I wouldn’t be here getting this recognition.
"Who would’ve ever thought a person from College Park, Ga. would get an award with such prestige and tradition? I thank God every day for waking me up this morning and letting me play football."
Auburn head coach Gene Chizik called Newton a "phenomenal young man," according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
"He's different on the field and he's different off the field. He's a great kid," Chizik said.
"We get much joy and much satisfaction out of seeing our own get the benefits and see the fruits of his labor, which are many. It's very well deserved, no question about it.
"Everything he gets he's worked for and he deserves every bit of it.
"You have good ideas of what you'd love them to be," Chizik added. "But I can't say a year ago that I thought we'd be sitting here."
Newton joined Pat Sullivan (1971) and Bo Jackson (1985) as Auburn's only Heisman Trophy winners.
Newton wins Heisman Trophy
Cam Newton received 729 first-place votes to win the 76th Heisman Trophy.
Dec 12, 2010
NEW YORK
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton Saturday won the Heisman Trophy at a ceremony in New York, recording the third highest percentage of votes in the history of the award.
The junior from College Park, Ga., was the 76th winner of the prestigious award, given annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football, after a dominant performance this season.
Newton received 2,263 points, well ahead of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with 1,079 points.
The 1,184-point difference was the 11th largest in the history of the award and Newton was voted first on 729 of 926 ballots cast, giving him 78.7 percent of the vote.
Oregon running back LaMichael James (916 points)and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore (635 points) were third and fourth respectively.
After hugging his mother Jackie Newton, the 21-year-old struggled to hold back the tears as he took to the stage to receive his award, although a shout from the crowd of "We love you Cam" brought a smile to his face.
After thanking God, Newton paid tribute to his parents, saying they "do a lot of things behind the scenes that go unnoticed."
"This is not an award that in my opinion has been won by my play this year. This is an award that was won when I came out your womb.
"Thank you for everything you did for me," he said as he acknowledged his mother, "and to my father I love you so much."
Newton's win was not without scandal after reports of his father, Cecil Newton, and various "runners" allegedly soliciting payment during the player's 2009 recruitment process dominated headlines and muddied his name.
Cecil Newton did not attend the ceremony, releasing a statement through his attorney earlier this week saying he wanted to avoid diverting attention away from his son's achievements.
"So that my son Cam Newton can receive all the honors and congratulations that he has worked so hard to accomplish and without distraction, I have decided not to be in attendance at the Heisman ceremony, as it will perhaps rob Cam and the event of a sacred moment," he said in the statement.
The NCAA ruled last week that Cecil Newton violated rules by shopping his son to Mississippi State alumnus Kenny Rogers, who accused Newton of seeking $100,000 to $180,000 in a pay-for-play scheme.
The NCAA upheld Cam Newton's eligibility despite the ruling after determining he had no knowledge of his father's attempted arrangements.
"I also I want to give a special thanks to my teammates," Newton said as he clutched his trophy. "Without those guys I wouldn’t be here getting this recognition.
"Who would’ve ever thought a person from College Park, Ga. would get an award with such prestige and tradition? I thank God every day for waking me up this morning and letting me play football."
Auburn head coach Gene Chizik called Newton a "phenomenal young man," according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
"He's different on the field and he's different off the field. He's a great kid," Chizik said.
"We get much joy and much satisfaction out of seeing our own get the benefits and see the fruits of his labor, which are many. It's very well deserved, no question about it.
"Everything he gets he's worked for and he deserves every bit of it.
"You have good ideas of what you'd love them to be," Chizik added. "But I can't say a year ago that I thought we'd be sitting here."
Newton joined Pat Sullivan (1971) and Bo Jackson (1985) as Auburn's only Heisman Trophy winners.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Oklahoma's Bradford wins Heisman Trophy
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8936108/Oklahoma's-Bradford-wins-Heisman-Trophy
Oklahoma's Bradford wins Heisman Trophy
December 13, 2008
NEW YORK - Oklahoma's amazingly accurate and quick-thinking quarterback won the Heisman on Saturday night after guiding the highest-scoring team in major college football history to the national championship game.
A year after Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman, Bradford became the second and kept the Florida quarterback from joining Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners.
Bradford, who leads the nation in touchdown passes with 48, received 1,726 points. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was second with 1,604 and Tebow — who received the most first-place votes — was third with 1,575 points.
"I was definitely surprised and I think it's everything I imagined," said Bradford, who raised the 25-pound bronze statue with his left hand still in a cast from a recent surgery. "I think it will take a couple weeks to set in."
It was the closest vote between the top two since Nebraska's Eric Crouch edged Florida's Rex Grossman by 62 points in 2001. The only other time the margin between first and third was smaller was also '01, when Miami's Ken Dorsey was 142 points behind Crouch.
Bradford and the No. 2 Sooners (12-1) will face Tebow and the No. 1 Gators (12-1) on Jan. 8 in Miami, marking the second time Heisman winners will play against each other. The first was in the 2005 Orange Bowl, when '04 winner Matt Leinart and Southern California beat '03 winner Jason White and Oklahoma for the national title.
The Big 12 South was the epicenter of college football this season, with both the national championship race and Heisman chase turning weekly on games played by its three powerhouse teams.
McCoy was the early Heisman front-runner after leading the Longhorns to the No. 1 ranking with a victory against Oklahoma in October. Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, who finished a distant fourth in Heisman voting, then moved to the forefront after he tossed a last-second, game-winning touchdown pass to beat Texas a month later.
But Bradford closed strongest, leading his team to a string of blowout victories, including one against Texas Tech, and a spot - even if it was somewhat controversial - in the BCS title game.
Bradford leads the nation in passer rating (186.3) and has thrown for 4,464 yards, directing the Sooners' fast-paced, no-huddle offense.
Oklahoma has already racked up 702 points to blow past the record of 656 set by Hawaii in 2006, and last week the Sooners became the first major college team in 89 years to score at least 60 in five straight games.
"This is an individual award but I feel like I'm receiving it on behalf of my teammates," Bradford said. "I feel like our whole offense bails me out every game," Bradford said. "They make me look good."
Bradford is the fifth Oklahoma player to win the award, and second during coach Bob Stoops' 10 seasons with the Sooners. Bradford matched White by taking home college football's most famous bronze statue. Next he'd like to join Josh Heupel, his position coach and a Heisman runner-up, who quarterbacked OU to the 2000 national title.
"You were one of my heroes growing up," Bradford told Heupel, one of many former Heisman winners at the ceremony.
Bradford wasn't projected to be the Sooners' next star quarterback coming out of high school in Oklahoma City. He arrived in Norman with little fanfare and not enough weight on his 6-foot-4 frame.
In his recruiting class, Rhett Bomar was the much-hyped, five-star recruit, but he eventually was kicked off the team because of NCAA violations.
Turns out, losing Bomar wasn't that big a loss.
After redshirting in his freshman season, Bradford won the starting job last year and it took him little time to show that he had no plans of giving it up.
Bradford went on the set an NCAA record for TD passes by a freshman with 36. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,121 yards and led Oklahoma to an 11-3 season. And he was only warming up.
While no match for Tebow and McCoy as a runner, Bradford's Heisman moment came on a scramble against Oklahoma State in the regular-season finale. He sprinted away from pressure, turned up the sideline and about 5 yards from the end zone tried to vault headfirst to the goal line. Bradford got hit and flipped, arms and legs whipping around, and landed hard out of bounds, but popped right up. On the next play, he sneaked into the end zone from a yard out.
The face of the Sooners' latest national championship contender has also become a hero to a nation.
Bradford is 1/16th Cherokee, through his great-great grandmother Susie Walkingstick. Bradford admittedly knew little about his Native-American roots growing up, but he's developed an enormous following among Oklahoma's large Native-American population.
Then again, these days it'd be hard to find anyone more popular throughout Oklahoma than Bradford.
***
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/sports/ncaafootball/13bradford.html
The Case for and Against: Sam Bradford
December 12, 2008
Sophomore quarterback, Oklahoma
The Case for:
His numbers are worthy of a video game. He threw 48 touchdown passes, with 6 interceptions, and completed more than 68 percent of his attempts for 4,464 yards. He had four games with five touchdown passes and another four games with four. He was the key to an Oklahoma offense that surpassed 60 points in the final five games of the season and had 702 over all, the most in modern football history. He accomplished all of that while learning the Sooners’ new no-huddle scheme. He probably enters Saturday as a slight favorite.
The Case Against:
He threw two interceptions in a 45-35 loss to Texas, the only blemish on the Sooners’ schedule. Like Colt McCoy, Bradford will have to fight the perception that his numbers were primarily put up against below-average defenses in the high-scoring Big 12.
Bill Haisten, Tulsa World “In addition to being remarkably productive and efficient, Bradford immediately mastered O.U.’s switch to a no-huddle attack. If you throw all the Big 12 quarterbacks’ numbers in a hat, they look alike. But O.U. handed him a new offense and he looked like a veteran in the offense.”
***
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/sports/ncaafootball/13mccoy.html
The Case for and Against: Colt McCoy
December 12, 2008
Junior quarterback, Texas
The Case for:
Probably had the steadiest season of the three finalists. His completion percentage of 77.6 broke the N.C.A.A. record. He threw for 34 touchdowns and 3,445 yards with eight interceptions. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns and led the Longhorns with 576 yards rushing. If Texas Tech had not beaten Texas, 39-33, on the final play of the game on Nov. 1, McCoy might be the runaway favorite.
The Case Against He threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the Longhorns’ lone loss, to Texas Tech. Texas did not play in its conference title game, meaning that McCoy was off the radar while Tebow and Bradford were wowing voters with their performances last week.
BRUCE FELDMAN, ESPN The magazine “I kept expecting Colt McCoy to fade. He was playing at an outrageously high level, but somehow he was able to sustain it for the entire season. Not only did he smash the N.C.A.A. completion percentage record, but he was also his team’s leading rusher and worked wonders for an offense that didn’t have the usual Texas allotment of stars in the backfield or on the offensive line.”
***
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/sports/ncaafootball/13tebow.html
The Case for and Against: Tim Tebow
December 12, 2008
Junior quarterback, Florida
The Case For The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Tebow may be the best leader in college football, as evidenced by his emotional reaction to Florida’s 31-30 loss to Mississippi in September. His performance in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Alabama was superb. For the season, he threw for 28 touchdowns, with just two interceptions, and rushed for 12 more.
The Case Against His numbers are down from last season, when he threw for 32 touchdowns and rushed for 23. The race is so close that it may hurt Tebow with voters who are looking for a reason not to award him a second Heisman.
Tony Barnhardt, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBS: “The fourth quarter against Alabama is the perfect example of why Tebow is the best player in college football. He willed his team to come from behind to beat Alabama for the SEC championship. His numbers don’t match the other guys, but to me the Heisman isn’t just about numbers. Also, he played against 10 of the top 39 defenses in the country. The highest-rated defense in the Big 12 is Texas at No. 50.”
A version of this article appeared in print on December 13, 2008, on page D2 of the New York edition.
Oklahoma's Bradford wins Heisman Trophy
December 13, 2008
NEW YORK - Oklahoma's amazingly accurate and quick-thinking quarterback won the Heisman on Saturday night after guiding the highest-scoring team in major college football history to the national championship game.
A year after Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman, Bradford became the second and kept the Florida quarterback from joining Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners.
Bradford, who leads the nation in touchdown passes with 48, received 1,726 points. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was second with 1,604 and Tebow — who received the most first-place votes — was third with 1,575 points.
"I was definitely surprised and I think it's everything I imagined," said Bradford, who raised the 25-pound bronze statue with his left hand still in a cast from a recent surgery. "I think it will take a couple weeks to set in."
It was the closest vote between the top two since Nebraska's Eric Crouch edged Florida's Rex Grossman by 62 points in 2001. The only other time the margin between first and third was smaller was also '01, when Miami's Ken Dorsey was 142 points behind Crouch.
Bradford and the No. 2 Sooners (12-1) will face Tebow and the No. 1 Gators (12-1) on Jan. 8 in Miami, marking the second time Heisman winners will play against each other. The first was in the 2005 Orange Bowl, when '04 winner Matt Leinart and Southern California beat '03 winner Jason White and Oklahoma for the national title.
The Big 12 South was the epicenter of college football this season, with both the national championship race and Heisman chase turning weekly on games played by its three powerhouse teams.
McCoy was the early Heisman front-runner after leading the Longhorns to the No. 1 ranking with a victory against Oklahoma in October. Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, who finished a distant fourth in Heisman voting, then moved to the forefront after he tossed a last-second, game-winning touchdown pass to beat Texas a month later.
But Bradford closed strongest, leading his team to a string of blowout victories, including one against Texas Tech, and a spot - even if it was somewhat controversial - in the BCS title game.
Bradford leads the nation in passer rating (186.3) and has thrown for 4,464 yards, directing the Sooners' fast-paced, no-huddle offense.
Oklahoma has already racked up 702 points to blow past the record of 656 set by Hawaii in 2006, and last week the Sooners became the first major college team in 89 years to score at least 60 in five straight games.
"This is an individual award but I feel like I'm receiving it on behalf of my teammates," Bradford said. "I feel like our whole offense bails me out every game," Bradford said. "They make me look good."
Bradford is the fifth Oklahoma player to win the award, and second during coach Bob Stoops' 10 seasons with the Sooners. Bradford matched White by taking home college football's most famous bronze statue. Next he'd like to join Josh Heupel, his position coach and a Heisman runner-up, who quarterbacked OU to the 2000 national title.
"You were one of my heroes growing up," Bradford told Heupel, one of many former Heisman winners at the ceremony.
Bradford wasn't projected to be the Sooners' next star quarterback coming out of high school in Oklahoma City. He arrived in Norman with little fanfare and not enough weight on his 6-foot-4 frame.
In his recruiting class, Rhett Bomar was the much-hyped, five-star recruit, but he eventually was kicked off the team because of NCAA violations.
Turns out, losing Bomar wasn't that big a loss.
After redshirting in his freshman season, Bradford won the starting job last year and it took him little time to show that he had no plans of giving it up.
Bradford went on the set an NCAA record for TD passes by a freshman with 36. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,121 yards and led Oklahoma to an 11-3 season. And he was only warming up.
While no match for Tebow and McCoy as a runner, Bradford's Heisman moment came on a scramble against Oklahoma State in the regular-season finale. He sprinted away from pressure, turned up the sideline and about 5 yards from the end zone tried to vault headfirst to the goal line. Bradford got hit and flipped, arms and legs whipping around, and landed hard out of bounds, but popped right up. On the next play, he sneaked into the end zone from a yard out.
The face of the Sooners' latest national championship contender has also become a hero to a nation.
Bradford is 1/16th Cherokee, through his great-great grandmother Susie Walkingstick. Bradford admittedly knew little about his Native-American roots growing up, but he's developed an enormous following among Oklahoma's large Native-American population.
Then again, these days it'd be hard to find anyone more popular throughout Oklahoma than Bradford.
***
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/sports/ncaafootball/13bradford.html
The Case for and Against: Sam Bradford
December 12, 2008
Sophomore quarterback, Oklahoma
The Case for:
His numbers are worthy of a video game. He threw 48 touchdown passes, with 6 interceptions, and completed more than 68 percent of his attempts for 4,464 yards. He had four games with five touchdown passes and another four games with four. He was the key to an Oklahoma offense that surpassed 60 points in the final five games of the season and had 702 over all, the most in modern football history. He accomplished all of that while learning the Sooners’ new no-huddle scheme. He probably enters Saturday as a slight favorite.
The Case Against:
He threw two interceptions in a 45-35 loss to Texas, the only blemish on the Sooners’ schedule. Like Colt McCoy, Bradford will have to fight the perception that his numbers were primarily put up against below-average defenses in the high-scoring Big 12.
Bill Haisten, Tulsa World “In addition to being remarkably productive and efficient, Bradford immediately mastered O.U.’s switch to a no-huddle attack. If you throw all the Big 12 quarterbacks’ numbers in a hat, they look alike. But O.U. handed him a new offense and he looked like a veteran in the offense.”
***
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/sports/ncaafootball/13mccoy.html
The Case for and Against: Colt McCoy
December 12, 2008
Junior quarterback, Texas
The Case for:
Probably had the steadiest season of the three finalists. His completion percentage of 77.6 broke the N.C.A.A. record. He threw for 34 touchdowns and 3,445 yards with eight interceptions. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns and led the Longhorns with 576 yards rushing. If Texas Tech had not beaten Texas, 39-33, on the final play of the game on Nov. 1, McCoy might be the runaway favorite.
The Case Against He threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the Longhorns’ lone loss, to Texas Tech. Texas did not play in its conference title game, meaning that McCoy was off the radar while Tebow and Bradford were wowing voters with their performances last week.
BRUCE FELDMAN, ESPN The magazine “I kept expecting Colt McCoy to fade. He was playing at an outrageously high level, but somehow he was able to sustain it for the entire season. Not only did he smash the N.C.A.A. completion percentage record, but he was also his team’s leading rusher and worked wonders for an offense that didn’t have the usual Texas allotment of stars in the backfield or on the offensive line.”
***
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/sports/ncaafootball/13tebow.html
The Case for and Against: Tim Tebow
December 12, 2008
Junior quarterback, Florida
The Case For The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Tebow may be the best leader in college football, as evidenced by his emotional reaction to Florida’s 31-30 loss to Mississippi in September. His performance in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Alabama was superb. For the season, he threw for 28 touchdowns, with just two interceptions, and rushed for 12 more.
The Case Against His numbers are down from last season, when he threw for 32 touchdowns and rushed for 23. The race is so close that it may hurt Tebow with voters who are looking for a reason not to award him a second Heisman.
Tony Barnhardt, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBS: “The fourth quarter against Alabama is the perfect example of why Tebow is the best player in college football. He willed his team to come from behind to beat Alabama for the SEC championship. His numbers don’t match the other guys, but to me the Heisman isn’t just about numbers. Also, he played against 10 of the top 39 defenses in the country. The highest-rated defense in the Big 12 is Texas at No. 50.”
A version of this article appeared in print on December 13, 2008, on page D2 of the New York edition.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Testaverde says goodbye in Tampa
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071231/COLUMNIST20/712310592/1006/SPORTS
Dec 31, 2007
Doug Fernandes
Testaverde says goodbye in Tampa
TAMPA
The game was nearly over. One take-a-knee later, a football life well spent most certainly was.
With 35 seconds left Sunday, the top statistical quarterback in Tampa Bay Bucs history trotted onto the field to a nice ovation from what remained of a Raymond James Stadium crowd.
Frank Vincent Testaverde wasn't asked to do much. Just accept the snap from his Carolina Panthers center, drop to one knee, hang out until the scoreboard clock clicked zero.
The end to a meaningless game. The end to a meaningful career.
In the city where it all started, 21 years ago.
"It's the least we could do," Panthers head coach John Fox said.
It's called symmetry.
"I think the last time I was here, it was a little more booing," said the 44-year-old one-time Heisman Trophy winner, the anticipated savior of a troubled franchise who couldn't quite save enough.
"They were cheering a little bit for me today and I appreciate it. It's a great way to go out, a great way to end your career."
As a boy, growing up in Brooklyn. Vinny Testaverde played football in his back yard. In those games with his neighborhood chums, he dreamed he was Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw and "Mean Joe" Greene.
"It's hard to believe that that's what I became," he said, "and it's even harder to believe that I played for so long."
So long leading up to Sunday's official "so long." Testaverde started playing when a former actor occupied the White House, the Berlin Wall was still a wall, a cell phone was the approximate size of a brick.
Twenty-one years, covering seven teams, two Pro Bowl appearances, more than 46,000 yards passing, more than 270 touchdown throws, more than 3,700 completions.
Right up there among the league's all-time top 10. Right up there with guys named Marino, Elway and Favre.
In Vinny's prime, he could throw a football as well as guys named Marino, Elway and Favre.
But this season wasn't his prime, and when a bum Achilles' led to back problems, the oldest starting quarterback ever to win a game realized it was time to stop flipping over the hourglass.
"I just feel at 44 years old, the body is not holding up like it used to," he said. "I had a couple of nagging injuries this year, and just mentally and physically, I felt it was time.
"I'm at peace with myself that I am retiring. I'm happy that I was able to play so long and a little bit sad because I'm giving up doing what I did for so long and something I loved doing for so long."
Testaverde didn't love doing it all the time. Couldn't have, because he wasn't good doing it all the time.
Rewind to Tampa Bay and all those crummy teams, all those 5-11 records.
Rewind to a head coach, Ray Perkins, either unwilling or incapable of nurturing the young Vinny. Nearly four seasons performing in a no-hug environment.
And you know what? Vinny said all those tough times forged a tough quarterback. And man.
"I probably wouldn't have played as long," he said. "I learned a lot. I learned how to be tough, and that's what this game needs. I appreciate going through it. I think I became a better player for it, and certainly a better person."
Testaverde played in Tampa without worrying about fulfilling the expectations placed upon him by others. He remembered what one of his former head coaches, Bill Parcells, said about pressure.
"People react to pressure either negatively or positively," he said. "I felt like when the pressure was on, I reacted in a positive way, for the most part. Otherwise, I feel like I wouldn't have been here for so long, playing this game."
Now that he won't be playing, Testaverde will have time to fill. A move back to Tampa with his wife and three children will take up some. Days on the golf course will occupy more. Happily so.
Eventually, he'd like to work with athletes and fitness. Help them improve in whatever their chosen sport.
If his football life is any indication, Vinny Testaverde is destined for a lengthy second career.
Dec 31, 2007
Doug Fernandes
Testaverde says goodbye in Tampa
TAMPA
The game was nearly over. One take-a-knee later, a football life well spent most certainly was.
With 35 seconds left Sunday, the top statistical quarterback in Tampa Bay Bucs history trotted onto the field to a nice ovation from what remained of a Raymond James Stadium crowd.
Frank Vincent Testaverde wasn't asked to do much. Just accept the snap from his Carolina Panthers center, drop to one knee, hang out until the scoreboard clock clicked zero.
The end to a meaningless game. The end to a meaningful career.
In the city where it all started, 21 years ago.
"It's the least we could do," Panthers head coach John Fox said.
It's called symmetry.
"I think the last time I was here, it was a little more booing," said the 44-year-old one-time Heisman Trophy winner, the anticipated savior of a troubled franchise who couldn't quite save enough.
"They were cheering a little bit for me today and I appreciate it. It's a great way to go out, a great way to end your career."
As a boy, growing up in Brooklyn. Vinny Testaverde played football in his back yard. In those games with his neighborhood chums, he dreamed he was Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw and "Mean Joe" Greene.
"It's hard to believe that that's what I became," he said, "and it's even harder to believe that I played for so long."
So long leading up to Sunday's official "so long." Testaverde started playing when a former actor occupied the White House, the Berlin Wall was still a wall, a cell phone was the approximate size of a brick.
Twenty-one years, covering seven teams, two Pro Bowl appearances, more than 46,000 yards passing, more than 270 touchdown throws, more than 3,700 completions.
Right up there among the league's all-time top 10. Right up there with guys named Marino, Elway and Favre.
In Vinny's prime, he could throw a football as well as guys named Marino, Elway and Favre.
But this season wasn't his prime, and when a bum Achilles' led to back problems, the oldest starting quarterback ever to win a game realized it was time to stop flipping over the hourglass.
"I just feel at 44 years old, the body is not holding up like it used to," he said. "I had a couple of nagging injuries this year, and just mentally and physically, I felt it was time.
"I'm at peace with myself that I am retiring. I'm happy that I was able to play so long and a little bit sad because I'm giving up doing what I did for so long and something I loved doing for so long."
Testaverde didn't love doing it all the time. Couldn't have, because he wasn't good doing it all the time.
Rewind to Tampa Bay and all those crummy teams, all those 5-11 records.
Rewind to a head coach, Ray Perkins, either unwilling or incapable of nurturing the young Vinny. Nearly four seasons performing in a no-hug environment.
And you know what? Vinny said all those tough times forged a tough quarterback. And man.
"I probably wouldn't have played as long," he said. "I learned a lot. I learned how to be tough, and that's what this game needs. I appreciate going through it. I think I became a better player for it, and certainly a better person."
Testaverde played in Tampa without worrying about fulfilling the expectations placed upon him by others. He remembered what one of his former head coaches, Bill Parcells, said about pressure.
"People react to pressure either negatively or positively," he said. "I felt like when the pressure was on, I reacted in a positive way, for the most part. Otherwise, I feel like I wouldn't have been here for so long, playing this game."
Now that he won't be playing, Testaverde will have time to fill. A move back to Tampa with his wife and three children will take up some. Days on the golf course will occupy more. Happily so.
Eventually, he'd like to work with athletes and fitness. Help them improve in whatever their chosen sport.
If his football life is any indication, Vinny Testaverde is destined for a lengthy second career.
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