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November 22, 2006
Heisman Watch - Week 12
So, here is the most amazing thing about the game on Saturday. Throughout Troy Smith's amazing performance, the announcers, be it Kirk Herbstreit, Bonnie Bernstein, or anyone, were unwilling to say that they thought that Smith had the Heisman wrapped up.
In fact, Bernstein, reporting from the sideline in the middle of the third quarter, believed that he needed to "step up his game" in order to still be the front runner. This was after Smith had a pass intercepted which was tipped up into the air by the receiver and caught by a lineman coming over to help with what he thought would have been a tackle. The interception, while coming on a pass that looked forced, was not his fault.
Meanwhile, in South Bend, the pass that Brady Quinn threw which was intercepted did not get tipped in the air, was thrown without a receiver in the area, and was caught cleanly by an Army linebacker.
If you compare the two performances, I think you can forgive Smith's interception a little quicker than Quinn's. Of course, Quinn rebounded from the shaky start he had against the Black Knights to win the game handily. Smith needed an amazing performance all game long to hold off what is still the #2 team in the country in the eyes of many.
The truth is, the people running the Heisman should just think about booking one ticket because that is how over the race for the trophy is at this point. In order to be fair, they will put on a show. They will invite three people to New York, much like last season. But we all know that the award is going home to Columbus after the ceremony.
Troy Smith won the Heisman on Saturday, in a game 95% of the college football nation was watching. The other five percent was either at the Notre Dame game, or lives in Alabama.
Congratulations to Troy Smith,
After watching the contenders on Saturday, here is who I think will be coming to New York, other than Smith:
- Troy Smith (QB Ohio State): 29/41, 316 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT vs. Michigan - It is almost a given at this point. There is a slim chance that something will happen to take the award away, but I think it will safely be with Smith when all is said and done.
- Michael Hart (RB Michigan): 23 car., 142 yards, 3 TD vs. Ohio State - You can't deny that he was very good against Ohio State. Every time he touched the ball, he had the ability to break it. And once again, he didn't fumble.
- Brady Quinn (QB ND): 22/30, 218 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT vs. Army - I was there to see Quinn in person this weekend. He was very good and is a lot different from the quarterback that took the field a few years ago. While he might be the most pure passer in the Heisman race, he is not the best player, and he still makes mental errors, even against Army. His "mistake" in throwing the interception was a an example of that. Still, he led his team into a chance to get to the title game like so many expected earlier this season. It will take a huge win over USC on the road. In fact, a huge win with huge stats would be the only thing that would put him close to Smith, who all but locked up the award.
Others receiving consideration: Darren McFadden (RB Arkansas), Steve Slaton (RB West Va.), Colt Brennan (QB Hawaii), Marshawn Lynch (RB Cal), Ray Rice (RB Rutgers), Ian Johnson (RB Boise State), JaMarcus Russell (QB LSU), Erik Ainge (QB Tennessee), Chad Henne (QB Michigan), Calvin Johnson (WR Georgia Tech), Adrian Peterson (RB Oklahoma)
Ben Miraski writes for MRISports.com and is a featured blogger on FanIQ. Readers can contact Ben at bmiraski@mrisports.com
Posted by bmiraski at November 22, 2006 11:30 AM
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