Handicapping the Heisman

Early returns and projections are starting to flow in for the 75th Heisman Trophy to be awarded Saturday, December 12th.

Based on my observations, and admittedly I vote more with my heart than with my head here, I would vote:

1. Tim Tebow
2. Case Keenum
3. Colt McCoy
4. Toby Gerhart
5. Andy Dalton
6. Mark Ingram

Sam Bradford would have been in there of course if not for his shoulder injury. Tebow and McCoy statistically are similar and they are burdened by comparisons to their prior season of greatness. Tebow has more impact on his team as well as college football at large and may slip in with a "lifetime achievement" award sentiment. I would have no problem with that whatsoever. Keenum and Gerhart are hurt by lack of national exposure from the beginning of the season on. It's tough for a candidate to make a late-season, Cinderella like charge to the finish. No doubt it would have been a more interesting vote with Bradford in the mix, given that both he and Tebow would be vying for two-time winner status.

The numbers based on some other observers methodology. The stiff arm trophy site uses methodology featured in a Wall Street Journal - Numbers Guy article that we featured a couple of years back. They have a pretty good track record predicting the winner. But you never know until the announcement is made.
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According to scippsnews.com
http://www.scrippsnews.com/content/colt-mccoy-texas-grabs-lead-shns-heisman-poll

Heisman ballots are due on Monday with the 75th winner to be announced Saturday, Dec. 12, in New York City.

This week's poll, with statistics from last week.

Player, Position, School, Last Week, Points.

1. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas, 24-of-40, 304 yards passing, 4 TDs, 175 yards rushing, TD run. 43 (5).

2. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida, 17-of-21, 221 yards passing, 3 TDs, 90 yards rushing, 2 TD runs, 30 (3).

3. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford, 29 carries, 205 yards, 3 TD runs, threw 18-yard TD pass, 29 (2).

4. Case Keenum, QB, Houston, 25-of-31, 323 yards passing, 2 TDs, TD run, 15.

5. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama, 16 carries, 30 yards, 14.

Others receiving votes: Boise State QB Kellen Moore 6; Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, 2; TCU QB Andy Dalton 2; TCU DE Jerry Hughes, 1; Missouri WR Danario Alexander 1.

(Scripps Howard News Service Heisman Trophy poll voters: Kirk Bohls, Austin (Texas) American-Statesman; Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com; Vahe Gregorian, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Mike Griffith, The Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel; Michael Lewis, Salt Lake Tribune; Bob Condotta, Seattle Times; John Lindsay, Scripps Howard News Service; Tom Luicci, The (Newark) Star-Ledger; John Rohde, The Oklahoman.)

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According to The StiffArmTrophy.com website
http://www.stiffarmtrophy.com/

Last updated: 12/2/2009, 11:02 p.m. Pacific. 10 ballots, 23 votes.

name first second third ballots points Projected Proj%
T Gerhart 1 0 3 4 6 1062 38.2%
C McCoy 3 2 1 6 14 710 25.6%
T Tebow 2 2 1 5 11 515 18.5%
N Suh 1 1 0 2 5 77 2.8%
D Alexander 0 0 1 1 1 37 1.3%
CJ Spiller 0 1 1 2 3 31 1.1%
M Ingram 0 0 2 2 2 30 1.1%
M Gilyard 0 0 1 1 1 29 1.0%
K Moore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0%

The Black Eye and The Eye Black

LOOK IN THE MIRROR NOTRE DAME

THE BLACK EYE:

How ironic the two top stories in college football this week--maybe in some respects this season--were epitomized in the eyes of both schools high profile QB's.

Venerable Notre Dame, struggling with what to do about head coach Charlie Weis, is led onto the field by Jimmie Clausen sporting a black eye, no doubt put there by a classy ND fan disappointed at the unreal expectations and their wanton greed, lust and gluttony. Speculation on my part to be sure, but does anyone, ANYONE believe that Clausen gets "sucker-punched" by a ND fan on his own turf--in the shadows of touchdown Jesus--if the Golden Domers are 11-1 or 10-2, like they thought they would be coming into this season? I DON'T.

This is a train wreck that has been years in the making. Frustrated alumni and administrators, blinded with keeping their exclusive TV contract and getting back to the top, have driven this program into forgetting who they are and what they represent.

It goes back to how they handled Bob Davie, Ty Willingham and now Charlie Weis. Do these two groups of jack-asses (ND alumni and administrators) honestly believe they are going to get a coach more qualified than Charlie Weis? Do they still believe that they can compete at the highest levels of college football today and maintain their high academic and graduation standards? You play schools like Stanford and Navy for a reason. They are your academic peers and your football peers as well. If you want to step up and compete with Oklahoma and USC and the other football factories, changes other than the head coach will have to be made.

And those changes will result in a definitive change in who the university IS and what they REPRESENT. This university is going to make a statement above and beyond a head coaching change by this decision. I hope if they decide to sell their soul, they get proper recompense. Good Luck.

If they do decide to make the change, I find it ironic that the guy who would be the best fit for the program is never mentioned as a candidate--Buffalo's head coach Turner Gill. I have not heard his name mentioned even as a long shot candidate. The candidates I have heard mentioned are an early indication as to WHY Gill doesn't make the list. The winds of change are blowing around South Bend. And it is an ill wind indeed.

It is perhaps a bit of irony mixed with proper symbolism that Clausen represents the university sporting a black eye. Notre Dame may be looking at giving itself a self-inflicted black eye later this week.

THE EYE BLACK:

While all this is going on, balance is provided in the eye black of Tim Tebow.



PROVERBS 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Has there been a better college football player rolled up into a finer human being than Tim Tebow? If there is a "character" clause attached to the Heismann voting, then I am not sure how Tebow doesn't win his second trophy this year.

Somehow, I don't think he would be as bothered as I would be if he is not selected. Nor do I think the "Tebow as NFL prospect" detractors bother him as much as they bother me. All the kid does is win. Similar knocks came against Steve Young and they had similar games coming out of college. Last time I checked Steve Young is in the NFL Hall of Fame. Now he could end up more like Danny Weurfell than Steve Young, but that's fine. In a sense, Tebow's gifts would be somewhat under-utilized in the NFL as opposed to where his future lies after football.

The kid is truly inspirational not only to his teammates--a tough crowd to influence with the message Tim delivers--but to coaches and fans alike. He's made being self-less cool to an age group that is normally considered more remarkable for their aloofness and self-centeredness.



If we are to believe the Google trends feature, his messages in eye black have inspired more Bible research than a Fellowship of Christians Athletes bible study class. His verses are at the top of the Google search list after each new listing is perched under his eyes.

FROM THE BLOG TEBOW'S EYE BLACK
http://www.tebowseyeblack.com/

Tebow's Eye black represents how something small can make a big impact in a world full of noise. It is amazing that a college football player's eye black can generate 94 million searches on Google.

He wears his Christianity openly and remarkably in a culture that has drifted toward stifling such speech as if it were proselytising or some other form of "hate speech".



TEBOW ON HIS FAITH:

"People are never going to believe it if it's something that you're telling them and it's something that you're beating them over the head with," Tebow said. "That's not going to influence anyone. It's not. How you're going to influence someone is if they see something in you that seems different or seems special or they see something in you and think, 'Wow, that's really cool. I want to look into that.'
"It's not because I'm forcing anything on anyone or not because I'm trying to push it. I don't do that at all. I try to make it part of my life, just like it is, and I'd never deny it or force it. But I'll always have it part of my life. That's just me. I hope that people can see how it affects my life and how I'm so passionate about it and what it does in my life."

And he does it the way he leads--by example.



How cool is it that 1st Timothy 1:5 says?:

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith

Tebow may not hear his name called in the draft exactly where he may like and some may say unkind things about his football play, but I have every confidence that he will hear those most precious of words said about him, "Well done, good and faithful servant" and he will not be kept waiting for his eternal reward.

THE TWO BEST STORIES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s eye-black patches remind him: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

TIM TEBOW - YOU ARE SO RIGHT TIM!! PHIL 4:13 INDEED

I was glad to hear the Gators beat the Sooners for the national title just for Mr. Tebow to be recognized for who he is: the best "football player" in college football. And he may also be the best all-around person to come out of college football in quite some time.

He may not be the best QB. Maybe not the Heisman winner this year. He may not be atop Mel Kiper or Todd McShay's draft list. But as far as his impact in life after football, there may not be too many better prospects.

I simply have one piece of advice for all those cynics who seem to lie in wait for something bad to come out of the Tim Tebow story: Please, please hold your breath waiting.

FROM THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES:
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/article956080.ece

Tim Tebow had watched and admired Texas quarterback Colt McCoy from afar for quite some time, so when the two finally met last month, Tebow was excited about the opportunity. But their first conversation wasn't about which country music star each has on his iPod (although that came later) or who plays on the better team. It was about God and the profound faith each publicly professes on a regular basis. "No. 1 what I like about him is his strength to show his faith and not be ashamed of that," Tebow said. "We're very similar in that way. And I wanted to compliment him on his beliefs and how he's not ashamed to show it."

A few days after that awards show at Lake Buena Vista, Tebow, McCoy and Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford were getting ready to step into the auditorium at the Nokia Theatre in New York before the Heisman Trophy ceremony began. McCoy and Bradford were nervous. They hadn't been there before. Tebow, who won the Heisman last season, calmed them both by telling them to enjoy the moment. And if they should win, he reminded them, remember to give thanks to who deserved most of the credit.

"I just said give credit to God and represent for him," the Florida quarterback said. "I really tried to (stress) that the whole time. I talked to them two or three times about it."

And so when Bradford stepped onto the stage to accept his Heisman, one of the first things out of his mouth was giving thanks to God.

"He doesn't fear anything," UF coach Urban Meyer said. "A lot of people take their heart out, rip it out of their chest and lay it on the table. I'm not willing to do that, and certainly not my family. But Bob (his father) is that way, and Pam (his mother) and their whole family. They have such a strong faith. In this world of hypocrisy, there's none (with them)."

Meyer admits he had heard about Tebow's strong beliefs, and when he first met him, he was skeptical.

"I was like okay, come on, the Philippines, c'mon give me the real gig here," Meyer said. "You want a hat? What's the deal? But it's true. It's all from the heart. I love that guy. I've never met one like him."

Tebow understands that being the starting quarterback at Florida has given him a platform to tell others about his faith in a unique way. His high profile is what got him into Florida state prisons last summer to talk about Jesus. Talk of his faith is what caused a large group of men to convert.

"For me, I just want to be a good role model, like (former UF quarterback) Danny Wuerffel was for me and several other guys that I looked up to," Tebow said. "I want to be someone that kids can look up to in today's society."

In his rare off-time, Tebow isn't standing on a corner waving a Bible and a sign condemning nonbelievers to hell. But he is working prison ministries, traveling to foreign countries to give his testimony and volunteering for those less fortunate. He holds Bible studies and participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Former roommate Tony Joiner often participated in the Bible study, which he admitted even surprised him. Tebow listens to Kenny Chesney and tells jokes like everyone else.

I was particularly impressed by Tebow's philosophy and approach to his celebrity and opportunity as articulated in this column:

FROM ESPN.COM - Pat Forde
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3812762&sportCat=ncf

"You know, everybody, they can look and say how easy it is. But it's definitely not that easy. The difference is 'cause not many people want to wake up at 5, go through workouts, go speak to young kids, go back, eat lunch, go to class, go to tutoring, go speak at a prison at night, come back. I mean, more people would do those things; they just don't want to sacrifice.

"You know, there's a lot of leaders out there. But, unfortunately, there aren't a lot of good ones. So that's always been my dream and my goal, is to be someone like Danny Wuerffel was to me, to be someone that a parent can say, 'Hey, this kid did it the right way.' That's always been my dream and my goal more so than winning a trophy or winning a championship.

"So if it's cynical or whatnot, that's fine. If people don't believe it, that's fine. There's always going to be naysayers, people that are going to say it's fake. But that's fine because you can't control everybody. But I can control what I do, my attitude, how I approach the situation. So how I approach the situation is I want to do everything in my power that football gives me to influence as many people as I can for the good because that's gonna mean so much more when it's all said and done than just playing football and winning championships."

That's a lot of wisdom and perspective from a 21-year-old football hero. Even though he represents everything we say we want our athletes to be, he understands a segment of society instead will be probing for flaws and looking for proof that public persona is a sham. Sometimes good people make us uncomfortable with ourselves.

Tebow has quarterbacked Florida to its second BCS National Championship Game in his three years at the school. He nearly won the Heisman for a second straight season. If the Gators beat Oklahoma on Thursday and he comes back for his senior year, he has a chance to become the most decorated college football player of all time.

Yet none of those are the most important statistics or milestones in Tebow's life. These are: 11 prison visits to preach Christianity to inmates; annual trips to the country of his birth, the Philippines, to assist his father's missionary work there;

As I've said before, this is a kid that clearly gets "it". I'm glad he's going to be back next year to try and become the most decorated and successful college football player of all time. It's nice to see the good guys win once in awhile. And maybe take some of the sports pages away from the Pac Man's and T.O.'s of the world.
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MYRON ROLLE - RHODES SCHOLAR AND NFL PROSPECT - IN THAT ORDER

That the young man even knows who Bill Bradley is makes him cool as hell and wise beyond both his years and his prodigious GPA. That he is literally following in the Senator's footsteps athletically and academically makes him one of the top stories of the year.

I was glad to hear that he had the wisdom to accept the scholarship and defer the NFL. All he had to do is look at how a growing number of top-notch athletes have been able to juggle world class level academic talent with the chance to compete at the highest level athletically.

A brief glimpse at the career of Bill Bradley or Roger Staubach would provide perfect examples of what we may have to look forward to from Myron Rolle in the future.

FROM ESPN.COM - Jermele Hill's column:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/090115

"It's a great opportunity," Rolle told ESPN.com. "I'm going to get the chance to study at Oxford and read some incredible books and be among scholars. The whole culture in England is just very appealing. It will make me a better person and a stronger advocate."

A once in a lifetime opportunity that the NFL cannot come close to matching. And the NFL will likely be there for him after he does his academic tour of England. I'm not so sure that the reverse would be true.

"My family was very supportive," Rolle said. "They wanted me to go to Oxford because they taught me to always put education first. It was the most important thing for me besides God and family. Some of my teammates and frat brothers were like, 'Man, that's a lot of money to pass up.' I was definitely getting mixed input."

"Studying at Oxford is more than about the acclaim and the power," Rolle said. "It's about the people you meet. Yes, the NFL can give you financial stability, but I feel that's just temporary."

Family, good. Frat brothers and teammates, knuckleheads. If you're scoring at home.

Rolle created a program called Our Way To Health for Seminole Indian children to help educate them about the importance of physical fitness. He studied comparative politics and holistic medicine for six weeks in London, and was awarded a $4,000 grant for cancer research.

Rolle would rather be a neurosurgeon than a Pro Bowler. He'd rather work for the World Health Organization, the leading think tank in global health, than be the next Ed Reed. His idol is Benjamin Carson, a doctor and director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, not FSU alum Deion Sanders.

Unbelievably, Rolle once was criticized by FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who complained that Rolle was spending too much time studying and not enough time preparing as a football player.

WOW!! Are you kidding me. Sounds like Coach Andrews needs to be in the same coaching timeout corner as Connecticut women's basketball coach Gino Auriemma (creep) as far as choosing priorities and proper perspectives for young adults.

With all due respect to Mr. Andrews' coaching abilities, it sounds as if Mr. Rolle had his priorities, his perspective and his time management skills in perfectly good working order. It sounds like you need to go back to your X's and O's and spend more time figuring out how to beat the Gators and the Hurricanes.

TEBOW RISES ABOVE THE REST

This kid just gets it. He understands his role as an athlete, a role model and more importantly, as a human being. Humanitarian work in the Philippines? Spending time with inmates and orphans? Not on the resume of your typical college athlete.

Maybe he'll have a nice set of Heisman trophy bookends in the near future as well.
He deserves it.
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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/article934989.ece

The Florida junior quarterback repeated as the Maxwell Award winner for the nation's best all-around football player and joined Notre Dame's Johnny Lattner (1952, 1953) as the only two-time winners.

But it was the Disney Spirit Award he received that moved Tebow most. He and his family were the subject of the evening's most emotional moment when Tebow was recognized for his humanitarian work in the Philippines and his countless hours spent sharing the Gospel with inmates and orphans.

"This means a lot, especially for me it means more than winning the Heisman or those (other) awards because it's about what I do off the field, and that's more important," Tebow, 21, said.

The Disney Spirit Award is given annually to college football's most inspirational figure. Tebow said after receiving the award that he sometimes feels the pressure of being a role model, but he welcomes it.

"There are so many athletes today that say, 'I'm not a role model, I'm not a role model,' and they make so many excuses," Tebow said. "Well, whether you like it or not, you are a role model. You're either a good one or a bad one, and unfortunately most of them are bad role models today. For me, I just want to be a good role model, like Danny Wuerffel was for me and several other guys that I looked up to. I want to be someone that kids can look up to in today's society."