No doubt: Tebow for Heisman
In the case of the unclaimed Heisman, Tim Tebow stands accused. From the sound of it, the evidence is mounting.
By GARY SHELTON
Published November 21, 2007
In the case of the unclaimed Heisman, Tim Tebow stands accused. From the sound of it, the evidence is mounting.
He has played only two seasons, and that is not considered enough.
His team has lost three games, and that is considered too many.
If you look closely, he also looks a little like the actor Brendan Fraser, and if you have seen the movie Dudley Do-Right, that should be considered to be just plain mean.
As near as I can figure it, that pretty much sums up the "con" side of the surging Tebow-for-Heisman movement. Every time someone mentions Tebow's ability, someone else seems to bring up his age. Every time someone talks about his records, someone changes to the subject to the Gators' record. There always seems to be a counter-argument, and it never seems to have anything to do with his game performance.
Which brings us to this:
Of course Tebow deserves the Heisman Trophy.
Haven't you been paying attention?
It baffles me, not that someone would vote against Tebow, but that these would be his reasons. Because his team has lost a couple of close shaves? Because, at his age, he's only had a couple of close shaves? Give me a break. Give Tebow one, too.
For all of its flaws, for all of its hype, the criteria for voting for the Heisman is fairly simple. It is supposed to go to the best college football player in America. Simple as that.
This year, that player is Tebow. Simple as that, too.
I know, I know. West Virginia's Pat White is electrifying. Missouri's Chase Daniel seems to be on every highlight show. Kansas would not be undefeated without Todd Reesing. Throw in Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and, although he's hurt, Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon.
Yep, a lot of players have had great football seasons.
Tebow? He has had a legendary one.
His is a season that will be talked about for decades. Twenty-six touchdown passes? Twenty rushing touchdowns? Want to know how good that is? When USC's Matt Leinart won the Heisman in 2004, he threw for 28; when teammate Reggie Bush won in 2005, he ran for 15.
When you talk about Tebow, though, the conversation isn't about numbers. It's about impact. It's about star quality. The best Heisman winners, the ones you remember, were almost mythological in their feats. There is a separate category for players such as Bo Jackson and Doug Flutie and Herschel Walker. Tebow can be one of those.
Yes, he is a sophomore, and a sophomore has never won the Heisman. Then again, what other sophomore has ever had this kind of season?
As a game, college football has evolved. Time was, the best player in the game was usually a senior, because he had the most time to grow physically and mentally. Perhaps that is why, from 1951-73, 22 of 23 Heisman winners were seniors. After Archie Griffith won as a junior, a senior won nine of the next 11 years, too.
But in three of the last four seasons, the winner has been a junior. Given the migration of so many great athletes to the NFL, doesn't it figure that the best player eventually is going to be a sophomore? (And please, don't hand me the argument that Tebow can win it next year. Didn't they say that about Peyton Manning? Didn't they say it about Adrian Peterson?)
The losses may be harder for Tebow to overcome. These days, voters like their Heisman winners in title hunt. Six of the last seven winners played in title games.
Is it a requirement? No. The first Heisman winner, Jay Berwanger of Illinois, played for a team that was 4-4. Paul Hornung won the 1956 Heisman even though his team was 2-8. In all, 13 winners have played for teams that lost three or more. However, only one of those - Ricky Williams of Texas in 1998 - has come since 1990.
On the other hand, Florida lost to Auburn on a last-second field goal and to LSU on a last-minute drive. What was Tebow supposed to do? Rush out and block the kick? Stop LSU on fourth-and-1? Are you going to punish a player for plays that happened when he was standing on the sideline?
Let's be honest. White is a better player than Eric Crouch, who won the Heisman. Daniel is a better player than Gino Torretta, who won the Heisman. McFadden is better than Rashaan Salaam, who won the Heisman. If a player really thinks any of those guys is the most outstanding player, he should vote for him.
As for me, I would vote for Tebow.
After all, the Heisman isn't about age. It's about a performance for the ages.