Ain't The Hype

Coming into the 2009 college football season there were high expectations for the Heisman candidacy. So far it's been a big flop. Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy were supposed to be leading candidates for the 2009 Heisman trophy race, but all three have come up short thus far. The media was predicting that McCoy would win this year; giving all three quarterbacks a Heisman before they enter the NFL draft next season. Or Tebow and Bradford would win a second one before they graduate. Unfortunately, Bradford announced this past weekend that he would have Dr. James Andrews take a look at his shoulder, and that he would be ending his college career. Three words no fan or team ever wants to hear in all of sports are "Dr. James Andrews." Usually when a player sees Dr. James Andrews, it means their career is over, or that player will be out for a length of time.

This year we have found out that Tebow is not Superman anymore. He fell back to earth once kryptonite, a.k.a. defensive end Tyler Windham from Kentucky, knocked him out of the game on September 26. McCoy's numbers overall have plummeted compared to the production he put out last year. He has now thrown at least one interception in all 7 games this season; fortunately Texas is still undefeated at 7-0.

Two guys people should be considering for the Heisman trophy this season are Mark Ingram, running back from Alabama, and Dan LeFevour, quarterback from Central Michigan. Ingram is one of the best running backs in the nation this year. Coming into week 9 of the season, he has over 1,000 yards on the ground with 6.6 yards per carry. That means when he gets his hands on the ball, he has the chance to break for a big run. Unfortunately, this past Saturday was the first game of the season in which Ingram did not reach the end zone.

Dan LeFevour is a stud. He is the most NFL ready quarterback in college football. LeFevour is having one of his best years of his college career this year. He has all of the tools to be a great quarterback in the NFL. He can beat you with his arm. He can beat you with his legs. He's an all-around good athlete. His team is 7-1 on the year, which partly factors into the voting for the Heisman race. The only obstacle in LeFevour's way is that he goes to Central Michigan University, which plays in the MAC-Mid American Conference (a conference that doesn't get a lot of national recognition). A big portion of the voting is a popularity contest like high school class governments. If you weren't recognized across campus, you had a tough time becoming elected.