Heisman BS

Every year we go through this. It’s as if the constant babbling about which teams belong in the BCS isn’t enough, we also have to listen to all the babbling about the Heisman race, and who should win it.

But it’s really all BS. How can you really compare a bunch of guys who don’t play the same competition, let alone each other? Let me give you an example of all the things we don’t know about each of the current top 5 according to ESPN’s Heisman watch.

Jameis Winston – QB- Florida State

Has a QBR of 92.7, higher than any of the other QB’s on this list. Has fewer yards and TD’s than either Manzeil or Jordan Lynch, but as commentators are quick to point out, he has less playing time because of FSU’s large number of blowout wins. Of course, don’t you dare ask if maybe, just maybe, his numbers have been inflated by playing against such poor opponents. Playing in the ACC looked good on paper going into the year, but Clemson aside, the ACC kind of sucks. As it stands right now, FSU might end up playing Duke in the conference championship, so really, how many quality teams has FSU played inside of their conference, let alone outside of it?

Andre Williams – RB – Boston College

Has rushed for over 2,000 yards, which is a pretty impressive feat no matter how you look at it. Also plays for a school that doesn’t get any media attention, so I’m sort of amazed he’s managed to get to #2 on this list, but that 2,000 number gets people’s attention. On the other hand, see the previous note about playing in the ACC. Would he have 2K in another conference? Who knows?

AJ McCarron – QB- Alabama

This is absolutely ridiculous. His numbers are nowhere near any of the other QB’s on this list, nor a whole host of QB’s not on this list. It appears that his one qualification for the award is being the QB on the best team in the country for the last couple of years. In other words, he’s getting credit for “wins”, and the fact that Alabama doesn’t throw the ball. If he played in a more wide open offense would he put up the numbers that Manziel, Winston or Lynch do? We have no idea, but he plays for ‘Bama so he gets the benefit of the doubt.

Johnny Manziel – QB – Texas A&M

Has ridiculous numbers, combined for 4,202 yards rushing and passing, with 40TDs. But 13 INTs and the media’s propensity to start to find faults with anyone put on as much of a pedestal as he was in winning it last year pretty much doomed any chance he had of winning a second. Well that and the well known bias that voters have for anyone to win it twice again. 😉

Plus, he had the audacity to play for a team with a crappy defense that caused him to lose a couple of games. Heisman winners can’t have crappy defenses, see McCarron, AJ.

Jordan Lynch – QB – Northern Illinois

Purely based on offensive out put, this is your Heisman winner. 2,457 yards passing with 22TDs and 5INTs, 1,755 yards rsuhing with 20 TDs and a 7.1 yard per carry average. He’s been unstaoppable, leading NIU to a 12-0 record, including two wins against Big Ten teams. (Granted, one of them was Purdue).

But, he plays in the MAC Conference. Heisman winners can’t play in the MAC. Not enough media and  too many style point deductions for playing a lousy schedule.

So who is really the “best player” in college football? Heck if I know, and heck if anyone else really does either. More than likely the best player isn’t on anyone’s Heisman list, because they probably play defense or offensive line. Winston will probably win, because FSU was demonstrably better with him as the starter this year than they were last year without him, and because they’ve just been so darned impressive in winning. Whatever. Does that make him a better QB than others on this list? Probably not, but that’s not what the Heisman is about so what does it really matter?

But good Lord will we be hearing all about it for the next couple of weeks.