The debate about who should win the Heisman Trophy pretty much became moot when Miami rolled over Pittsburgh last weekend. With ballots due Wednesday in advance of the presentation Saturday night, Oklahoma quarterback Jason White can book his flight to New York and bring an empty suitcase to take the trophy home.
Any mystery about the race was removed after White’s closest competitor, Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald, had a frustrating outing against the Hurricanes. He caught only three passes for 26 yards, although one was an 18-yard touchdown pass that extended his streak for consecutive games with a touchdown catch to an NCAA record of 18.
The groundswell of late-season Heisman support he garnered was about something else. Fitzgerald has underdog cachet.
He is trying to become the first sophomore to win the award, and the first wide receiver since Desmond Howard of Michigan did so in 1991. He has great numbers, and his game is sexy enough to be a highlight-reel staple and substantive enough that he is considering a challenge to the NFL’s eligibility rule.
But Fitzgerald is not the quarterback of the only undefeated Division I-A team. That’s White, who is painfully uncomfortable promoting himself.
“It’s a great award and a privilege to be categorized with some of the other players that are being considered,” White said. “That goes to the best college football player, but I think our goal isn’t for individuals. We’d much rather win a national championship than win individual awards.”
In recent years, there has been a voter backlash against quarterbacks who have commanded title-driving teams. In 1993 and 1996, quarterbacks Charlie Ward of Florida State and Danny Wuerffel of Florida were able to overcome it.
Last year, however, voters chose Carson Palmer from a Southern California team with one loss over Ken Dorsey, whose Miami team was undefeated and vying for a second consecutive national title. In 2000, the voters judged Chris Weinke of a Florida State team with one loss better than Josh Heupel, whose Oklahoma team was undefeated at the time of voting and subsequently the national champion after defeating the Seminoles in the title game.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, perhaps remembering the slight to Heupel, made a passionate case for White to win college football’s most prestigious award.
“People are so used to him racking up these huge numbers and touchdowns,” Stoops said. “It becomes popular to talk about the other teams. You cannot ignore his numbers, production and the way he has directed our offense. No one came into this season as a preseason all-American. Jason White was the biggest question mark out there.
“Now we lead the nation in scoring offense. The biggest reason is because of Jason White. He has the ability to handle it mentally along with his ability to direct the offense and to learn and orchestrate new plays.
“The guy has 40 touchdowns to six interceptions, which is the best over the last 10 quarterbacks to win the Heisman Trophy. None of them compare to what Jason has done. He has the best record, best completion percentage and the best, by far, touchdown-to-interception ratio.”
Of course, if White has a miserable game against Kansas State on Saturday in the Big 12 championship game, that will not be ignored either.
The season has not served up a scintillating Heisman Trophy race. Not a single challenger beyond White has sustained a week-in, week-out standard of excellence. Now the real debate is over who will finish No. 2.
How about Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart?
He has not been as hyped as Fitzgerald or wrapped in a warm and fuzzy story line like Eli Manning, the Mississippi quarterback following in his father Archie’s footsteps. He will not get votes from the Midwest with Michigan running back Chris Perry in the mix.
But the Trojans are 10-1 and No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series ranking, which means that, for now, they are slated to meet Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl for the national title. Leinart’s numbers are exceptional–2,951 yards, 30 touchdowns, seven interceptions–and he has one more opportunity to make a strong case, against Oregon State on Saturday.
If Leinart lights it up and Kansas State upends Oklahoma, the argument is back on. More likely, however, is that White wins the Heisman and then shoots it out with Leinart in the Sugar Bowl for the national title.
How they stack up
Among the top contenders for the Heisman Trophy:
PLAYER TEAM POS STATING HIS CASE
Jason White Oklahoma QB 238 of 364, 3,446 yards, 40 TDs, 6 INTs
L. Fitzgerald Pittsburgh WR 1,595 receiving yds, 132.9/game, 22 TDs
Chris Perry Michigan RB 315 attemps, 1,589 yds, 17 rushing TDs
Eli Manning Mississippi QB 253 of 410, 3,341 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs
Matt Leinart USC QB 210 of 330, 2,951 yards, 30 TDs, 7 INTs
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