Does the Heisman Matter Anymore?

[Kleibs]

The Heisman has become a joke. Am I the only one who thinks Jeanty got duped by Prime selling Hunter and padding stats. And not even a

playoff team. 
 

Should have been…

 

Jeanty,Gabriel,Hunter,Ward

 

[30Duck]

Prime will crash the Heisman House. 

[Duckdude]

Hey, it’s very subjective.  Gotta give credit to a guy who plays outstandingly on both defense and offense.  “Respect”

Being a Heisman finalist is a great honor for all 4.  And….they will all have NFL careers.

[OregonDucks]

Nope. I stopped watching it years ago.  

[HDuck]

It is subjective.  To me, Jeanty would have had more credibility if he was playing on a Power 4 team, against Power 4 defenses every week pounding on him.

 

There are more voters today than in the past.  And, some years have more candidates to split votes.   The 10 closest Heisman wins were all 77 votes or less.   Jeanty was second by 214.

 

If you instead ignore whole numbers and compare the top two candidates against no others by total votes percentage, Hunter has 52.5% and Jeanty 47.5%.   To reach the floor of top ten closest votes Jeanty would have had to have 47.6%.

 

The No. 1 closest was Ingram 50.5% vs 49.5% for Gerhart when you compare percent for top two.

 

Heisman Voting Records - Heisman

WWW.HEISMAN.COM

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Click here to see most complete and up-to-date Heisman Trophy voting records throughout the history of this iconic prize.

 

[JabbaNoBargain]

It’s always been “meh” to me unless we’re winning it. Hunter was well deserved imo. He put up great numbers at two positions.

Edited December 15 by JabbaNoBargain

[David Marsh]

The Heisman highlights the problem with football and stats. We love stats and that's fine but stats are not created equal for all positions. 

 

Offensive stats for skill positions are easy to evaluate. Jeanty has a billion rushing yards and touchdowns and compare that to another runningback. Simple. 

 

Quarterbacks get more stat inflation because Gabriel did get credit for a lot of passing yards even though most of his passes were relatively short. Tez just does Tez things and does the rest. 

 

Recievers only get yards when they get the ball... But quarterbacks may not throw them the ball. Stewart had a very quiet game against Penn State, doesn't mean he wasn't doing his job and isn't a good receiver. Just no stats. 

 

Offensive lineman are super critical for the success of a team. But they get very very very few stats and even then they really only get stats when they mess up. 

 

Defense gets basically nothing, especially the best defenders.

 

Jubbar Muhammad might be a better DB than Hunter... But he doesn't have as many stats. But how often do quarterbacks throw his way for him to record a stat? Not that often. 

 

Not saying JM is better as that's another discussion... But it's worth considering that some of the best defenders don't get much in the way of stats because the ball never comes to them. 

 

So as a result a CB being up for the Heisman is rare. 

 

If Hunter only played CB he wouldn't be a Heisman candidate. Period. 

 

There are also much better receives than him out there. 

 

Just no one else doing both. Which is impressive.

 

But Heisman worthy? Best player in all of football this year? Certainly a gifted athlete but not sure if he is the best. 

[30Duck]

On 12/14/2024 at 11:49 PM, David Marsh said:

The Heisman highlights the problem with football and stats. We love stats and that's fine but stats are not created equal for all positions. 

David, you nailed it. 

 

Deion Sanders is considered to be the best Corner in history, but he's low on the most recognizable stat for the position, INT's, because the ball was hardly ever thrown his way.

 

In my mind, Tez had a much more impressive, impactful season at WR than T. Hunter had, but got 2nd team B1G?

 

The one stat that stands out above all the others is Oregon was 13-0, Colorado was 9-3. 

 

While Hunter had time to strike the Heisman pose, Gabriel's mind was on winning games. 

[Haywarduck]

On 12/15/2024 at 12:49 AM, David Marsh said:

If Hunter only played CB he wouldn't be a Heisman candidate. Period. 

 

There are also much better receives than him out there. 

 

Boom, enough said!

 

If we are just looking at stats, Jordan Burch had 8.5 sacks, and averaged 36 yds per carry, neither Jeanty or Hunter can match those.

[Steven A]

I think the other awards deserve much more publicity than they get.

Doak Walker (top running back)

John Mackey Award (top tight end);

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (top upperclassmen QB);

Lombardi Award (outstanding lineman);

Lott IMPACT Trophy (defensive impact player of the year);

Lou Groza Award (top placekicker);

Maxwell Award (college player of the year);

Outland Trophy (top interior lineman);

Paul Hornung Award (most versatile award);

Ray Guy Award (top punter);

Rimington Trophy (top center);

Shaun Alexander Award (freshman of the year);

Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end);

Walter Camp Award (college player of the year);

William V. Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman);

Wuerffel Trophy (community service award).

 

Also, Maxwell, Walter Camp and Heisman seem redundant. Evidently different opinions for the same thing.

[idontrollonshobbas]

The first crack in the Heisman Trophy aura for me was Gino Toretta.  The logic then was best player on best team. Garrison Hearst, Marshall Faulk, or hell, Drew Bledsoe were better.

 

Hunter is the current era Tebow.....most-hyped player on any team, regardless of W-L record or team ranking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HDuck]

And, I doubt anyone could name the qualified voters for more than two of those awards?   Coaches?  Media?  Guys who held the particular position?  A committee - who's on the committee?  A bunch of old farts in a Foundation?

 

Heisman:  voters are media members only, plus living prior Heisman winners

Maxwell:  NCAA head coaches, SID's, some media

Camp:  134 Div 1 head coaches can vote, SID's

 

re:  the Heisman.  Has notoriety, but are media members the best judge of the "premier award?"

 

For all 3 of those, how many of the "voters" actually see a guy play more than a few ESPN highlights?

 

Gabriel won the 100 year old Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten's outstanding player, voted on solely by head coaches in the conference.   Red Grange, Tom Harmon, Otto Graham, Vic Janowicz, Alan Ameche, Howard Cassidy, Dick Butkus, Bob Griese, Archie Griffin, Orlando Pace, Ron Dayne, Drew Brees...just some of the names.   Makes me think the Media Heisman is a bit overvalued.

[Sandy Rocks]

That Prime guy has a lot of gall trying to say that his son is better than Dillon Gabriel. He just racked up a lot of stats against inferior teams. By looking at the comments that statement went over like a lead balloon. Dillon has been clutch for the ducks, especially in the big games. They wouldn't be where they are without him.

[1Ducker1]

I used to like Prime, then I tolerated him, now I cant stand him.

[30Duck]

On 12/15/2024 at 3:12 PM, Sandy Rocks said:

Dillon has been clutch for the ducks, especially in the big games. They wouldn't be where they are without him.

And, with Prime the Coach, Shedeur at QB, and generational, 100 snaps per game, Hunter, the Buffs are where they are. 9-3, out of the CFP.

[Krsmqn]

Where does Colorado rank in fbs for rushing?

 

Dead last? ... That's how you get your guys inflated numbers to accompany 3 losses. 

 

We know where the better players are. 

 

[30Duck]

On 12/15/2024 at 6:37 PM, Krsmqn said:

We know where the better players are. 

 

What, out of a 100 snaps a game, Hunter couldn't take a few at RB?