SI.com's Heisman guru Gene Menez released his final Heisman Watch of the season Monday, and in it, he cast his vote for Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. Menez also said, however, that he won't be the least bit surprised if this ends up being the closest vote in Heisman history, as McCoy, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford and Florida QB and 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow all have impressive résumés and legitimate shots at taking home the trophy Saturday night.
Indeed, this three-way race is so tight, sports blog The Angry T suggested we abandon analysis, stats and reason and instead determine the Heisman winner by deciding which school has the best-looking cheerleaders.
Others, however, have mocked such shenanigans and pronounced quite confidently that Tebow deserves to repeat. (One guy even made his case through the medium of song.) But we at SIOC disagree.
Winning two Heisman trophies is an incredible feat. So incredible, in fact, that only one man has done it before. And while there's no doubt Tebow's an elite athlete and game-changing presence, he hasn't had the kind of season needed to put him in Archie Griffin's company.
Tebow finished with an impressive state line (he threw for 2,515 yards, 28 touchdowns and only two picks and ran for 564 yards and another 12 TDs), but his numbers are down from last year, when he threw for 3,286 yards and 32 TDs and ran for a whopping 895 yards and 23 TDs. Granted, after becoming the first sophomore ever to win the Heisman, Tebow entered the season with a massive bull's-eye on his back, but he still had a down year and a particularly slow start. Tebow wasn't even a mainstay on Menez's Heisman rankings until Nov. 3, when he re-entered at No. 10. Last year, Tebow himself said year-long consistency is the most important quality in a Heisman winner, and this season, he didn't manage that.
Would it be an outrage if Tebow won? Certainly not. He's arguably the most dynamic and important player of his generation. But Bradford or McCoy still deserves it more this year. Bradford's passing stats are out of this world, while McCoy put up impressive passing stats and Tebow-esque rushing stats. They both led their teams to one-loss records and played consistently well all year. And they both played in the nation's best conference.
Plus, we, like many of you, are about to OD on the Gators and their do-no-wrong QB. It's time for some fresh blood.
But as always, the power rests with the people. What do you think? Does Tebow deserve to repeat?
Ashley Allen
Shanon Lersh
Did You See That?
College Football Top 25 Review
Comments (5) Add A Comment
Tim Tebow has faced the following defenses (total defense):
No. 3 Alabama
No. 4 Tennessee
No. 11 South Carolina
No. 13 FSU
No. 16 Ole Miss
No. 24 Miami
No. 27 Georgia
No. 29 Vanderbilt
No. 37 LSU
No. 38 Kentucky
No. 59 Hawaii
No. 72 Arkansas
Sam Bradford has faced the following defenses:
No. 2 TCU
No. 24 Cincinnati
No. 50 Texas
No. 67 Nebraska
No. 71 Texas Tech
No. 85 Oklahoma State
No. 86 Baylor
No. 91 Missouri
No. 96 Kansas
No. 108 Washington
No. 113 Texas A&M
No. 117 Kansas State
Colt McCoy has faced the following defenses:
No. 66 Oklahoma
No. 71 Texas Tech
No. 72 Arkansas
No. 78 Colorado
No. 85 Oklahoma State
No. 86 Baylor
No. 91 Missouri
No. 96 Kansas
No. 113 Texas A&M
No. 114 Rice
No. 115 UTEP
And Tebow's numbers were compiled while playing three quarters (not every last second, Sam Bradford!) against all but three opponents. Sorry, it has got to be Tebow.
cedubu
Jacksonville , FL
Total Comments (2)
All 3 are deserving, but I would give it to McCoy based on having less talent around him than either Tebow or Bradford.
broiler
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (153)
Is your observation based on recruiting datum from the last three years or gut instinct?
S1952A1954
Miami , OK
Total Comments (1)
Archie Griffin wasn't even that good the second time he won it, his second win was all political (a la Ohio State athletics motto, "since we can't win it, cheat for it") and was nearly worthless. Tebow is a much better player than Archie could dream of, the notion Tebow hasn't done enough is literally stupid.
see-dub
Total Comments (236)
Bradford better hope Tebow wins, if they give the Heisman to Bradford the Florida defense will humiliate him like they did Troy-boy Smith a few years ago.
see-dub
Total Comments (236)
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