McFadden 4th in early Heisman votes
Early Heisman trophy vote have cast Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden in a distant fourth place. Sophomore Florida quarterback Tim Tebow held that top voting spot, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan has slipped in at the No. 2 spot. Even Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson has become a viable candidate.
So what went wrong for D-Mac? The Hog running back was considered the front runner for the coveted trophy at the beginning of the season but hasn't performed like many voters had expected so far.
Some might blame head coach Houston Nutt and his teams lack of victories for McFadden's Heisman misfortune but is it Nutt or is it the Heisman voters that have become the reason for D-Mac's absense at the top of the list?
Granted Darren hasn't performed like many had expected but looking back on the Heisman voters choices in previous years might provide insight into the situation. Take a look back at the past trophy winners.
Let's start with last year. Number One-ranked Ohio State's Troy Smith took home the award then flopped in the national championship game. Do you see him stopping the show in the NFL? No. What about Reggie Bush? He had a tremendous performance last season with the New Orleans Saints but he and his team haven't done much during the 2007 campaign. He did play for No. 1 ranked USC though. Maybe that had something to do with him winning the hardware.
Matt Leinart also played for top ranked Southern California but three years after he won the Heisman he was benched so that Kurt Warner, who's time as the St. Louis Rams savior is long gone, could lead a below average Arizona Cardinal team.
And then there's Oklahoma's Jason White. Now, I'm a Sooner fan just as much as the next person, well maybe not that much, but the then top ranked Oklahoma quarterback was a great player. He set records at Oklahoma but he wasn't the best player in college football. The guy had no chance to play in the NFL with two bum knees.
The point is Heisman trophy voters have fallen into the trap of selectingthe best player on the best team instead of the best player in college football. Look at Barry Sanders. That guy was the greatest player in NCAA football and at the time the Oklahoma State Cowboys could barely hold the No. 15 spot in the polls.
Fact or Fiction: Do voters care more about the team then the player when it comes to the Heisman trophy now days? I say fact. Granted this college season has been a whirlwind of upsets but to put a sophomore quarterback at the top of the list and a Boston College quarterback in the mix that not many people had even heard about until this year has felt like a stretch. He's in the picture because his team is ranked No. 2 in the country.
Pick the right player for this prestigious honor. The one that has the most impact on the game of football. Is that Darren McFadden?
So what went wrong for D-Mac? The Hog running back was considered the front runner for the coveted trophy at the beginning of the season but hasn't performed like many voters had expected so far.
Some might blame head coach Houston Nutt and his teams lack of victories for McFadden's Heisman misfortune but is it Nutt or is it the Heisman voters that have become the reason for D-Mac's absense at the top of the list?
Granted Darren hasn't performed like many had expected but looking back on the Heisman voters choices in previous years might provide insight into the situation. Take a look back at the past trophy winners.
Let's start with last year. Number One-ranked Ohio State's Troy Smith took home the award then flopped in the national championship game. Do you see him stopping the show in the NFL? No. What about Reggie Bush? He had a tremendous performance last season with the New Orleans Saints but he and his team haven't done much during the 2007 campaign. He did play for No. 1 ranked USC though. Maybe that had something to do with him winning the hardware.
Matt Leinart also played for top ranked Southern California but three years after he won the Heisman he was benched so that Kurt Warner, who's time as the St. Louis Rams savior is long gone, could lead a below average Arizona Cardinal team.
And then there's Oklahoma's Jason White. Now, I'm a Sooner fan just as much as the next person, well maybe not that much, but the then top ranked Oklahoma quarterback was a great player. He set records at Oklahoma but he wasn't the best player in college football. The guy had no chance to play in the NFL with two bum knees.
The point is Heisman trophy voters have fallen into the trap of selectingthe best player on the best team instead of the best player in college football. Look at Barry Sanders. That guy was the greatest player in NCAA football and at the time the Oklahoma State Cowboys could barely hold the No. 15 spot in the polls.
Fact or Fiction: Do voters care more about the team then the player when it comes to the Heisman trophy now days? I say fact. Granted this college season has been a whirlwind of upsets but to put a sophomore quarterback at the top of the list and a Boston College quarterback in the mix that not many people had even heard about until this year has felt like a stretch. He's in the picture because his team is ranked No. 2 in the country.
Pick the right player for this prestigious honor. The one that has the most impact on the game of football. Is that Darren McFadden?
