Pete
Fiutak
Q: Who should (not will) finish second in the Heisman race?
A:
I'm really struggling with this.
I haven't turned in my ballot, and I won't until after all the regular
season games are over, but something wacky has to happen to make anyone
other than Troy Smith the Most Outstanding College Football Player in
the United States in 2006.
Michigan's Mike Hart has been my number two all season long, and he did
nothing to diminish my belief that he was the underappreciated workhorse
who not only made the Michigan offense go, but set the tempo for games
for the defense. However, he's out of my top three, as is Brady Quinn,
who was better than he might get credit for when all is said and done,
but he lost his two big games in blowout.
There are only three spots on the ballot, and it's killing me not to put
BYU's John Beck on there. He threw for 3,416 yards, 30 touchdowns, six
interceptions and ran for five scores despite missing the Utah State
game that would've fattened up the stats big time. His game-winner at
Utah last week was a pure Heisman moment.
Going into the final weekend, my number three is Hawaii QB Colt
Brennan. I know he has yet to beat a team with any sort of a
defense, and he's fattening up in the WAC, but anyone who's dogging his
season isn't watching him play. 51 touchdowns. 51 TOUCHDOWNS and
4,589 passing yards. He has thrown for over 400 in his last four games,
and that's just because he was pulled early against New Mexico State and
Idaho or he would've gone over 400 in nine straight.
I love Troy Smith, but if Arkansas RB Darren McFadden lights up
Florida like a Christmas tree, I'm going to have to do some big-time
thinking. He's the ultimate home-run threat, while he has proven to be
amazing when lining up as a receiver, kick returner, or quarterback
going five of five on the year for 70 yards and two touchdowns. This is
Smith's year, and for that I'll give him my vote, but McFadden might
turn out to be the best player.
Richard
Cirminiello
Q: Who should (not will) finish second in the Heisman race?
A: That’s really what this Heisman race has come down to, right? ESPN
will try to tell you otherwise during its promos and broadcast of the
ceremony, but this competition is over. Troy Smith took a commanding
lead following the Michigan game and then put the trophy in a scarlet
and gray Brinks truck after his closest competition failed to close the
gap during this last pivotal weekend. The only drama left centers on
the margin of victory and the names of the finalists that’ll get a free
trip to New York City.
There can only be one winner a week from Saturday, but don’t kid
yourself—there’s still a lot of mileage to be had for the player and the
school that has a student-athlete at the gala event. That said, the
first runner-up ought to be Arkansas RB Darren McFadden, who’s
No. 5 nationally in all-purpose running while showing an uncanny ability
to play big in big games and spark the Hogs when they’ve needed it
most. In key SEC games against Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina,
Tennessee and LSU, he accounted for nine touchdowns and averaged 168
yards rushing, numbers befitting a serious Heisman contender. When
Mississippi State pulled even two weeks ago, it was McFadden that put
the Bulldog fans back in their seats with a 92-yard kickoff return for a
touchdown. Number three is a whole lot tougher. One or two games don’t
make a season, but Brady Quinn and Steve Slaton had their worst efforts
in losses, which is too hard to overlook. It’s tempting to go with
Boise State’s Ian Johnson or Hawaii’s Colt Brennan for his numbers and
importance to a winning program, but there is a serious question of
competition. It’s close, but I’d give the nod to Michigan RB Michael
Hart, who possessed the numbers and the enormous value to a team
that’s still in the national championship hunt. He might not have the
sex appeal of other candidates, but he is seventh in the country in
rushing and without his consistency—no games under 91 yards rushing—the
Wolverines probably wouldn’t have gotten to Columbus with a perfect
record.
John
Harris
Q: Who should (not will) finish second in the Heisman race?
A. Considering
that Troy Smith losing the Heisman would be the biggest upset since
Chaminade beat Ralph Sampson and Virginia in 1982…it’s time to move on
to #2 and #3.
I haven’t had strong
convictions throughout the season about anyone beyond Smith until this
weekend. For some reason, like the Back to the Future trilogy, it all
came into view at the end.
At number two, I have
Arkansas running back/multi-threat talent Darren McFadden. I wish that
he had been healthy enough to be at top speed against USC in the team’s
opener, but he’s made up for missed time with a season that has been,
well, wow – what can he do next? Run, pass, returns, receptions, sell
popcorn – the man has done it all against the best the SEC and the
nation has to offer. LSU’s #2 defense in the country? He lit them up
for 182 yards rushing, 33 passing and 7 receiving along with two rushing
touchdowns.
At number three, I have
Mike Hart from Michigan. I didn’t have Hart in my top five much of the
season, but after the Ohio State game, I moved him up the list.
Consistency and production are the buzzwords for Hart’s candidacy. He
didn’t run for less than 91 yards in a game, and had nine 100 yard games
this season. In the Big Ten, as a marked man, running for over 1,500
yards and 14 touchdowns is worthy of the number three spot this year.
His performance against Ohio State (142 yards and three TDs) made me a
firm believer in Hart and the fact that he deserves a chair next to
Smith and McFadden in New York.
Matthew
Zemek
Q: Who should (not will) finish second in the Heisman race?
A: Darren McFadden should be second. He did everything
against LSU but figure out a cure for cancer. That he can excel without
a strong quarterback is testament to the fullness of his quality.
Pat White should be third. As said in a November 6 commentary, White
breaks all the rules at the quarterback position. He can throw well in
games, even though he only throws sparingly. He can carry an offense
when Steve Slaton is out (though not when his line stinks up the joint,
as was the case on Saturday against South Florida).
|
