Gentlemen, start your hype engines.
We're just past the halfway mark of the college football season and, forget the battle for who will play for the BCS title, the most intriguing campaign is for the Heisman Trophy.
The latest flavor of the month is Alabama running back Mark Ingram, who has been touted by several TV talking heads and is the top candidate at HeismanPundit.com.
That's understandable, but why has there been hardly no Heisman mention for West Virginia's Noel Devine and Pittsburgh's Dion Lewis, who are the nation's third and fourth leading rushers?
"Dion's been very consistent," Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said. "You expect a freshman running back like him to perform that way maybe like three or four games a year, not eight games in a row."
Ingram obviously deserves consideration for the award, but is it not so much for what he's done, but who he plays for? After all, he has the No. 1 requirement to win the Heisman – he plays on a team that's ranked in the top five
Devine and Lewis have comparable -- if not better numbers -- than Ingram and have put up their numbers against tougher rush defenses than Alabama has faced (More on that later). Yet, Devine and Lewis likely won't make the Heisman ceremonies without buying a ticket because of one reason: their teams are not ranked high enough.
Since 1991, 16 of the past 18 Heisman Trophy winners all had one thing in common -- they played for top five ranked teams. Five of the last six winners were on either the nation's No. 1 or No. 2 ranked team.
Only Florida's Tim Tebow in 2007 and Texas' Ricky Williams in 1998 won the Heisman playing for teams that were not ranked on an Associated Press top five team entering the bowl games when the Heisman is awarded. In 2007, Florida was No. 12 and in 1998, Texas was No. 20.
Apparently Heisman voters -- and yes, I have a ballot -- vote for the most outstanding player in college football based on who the best player is on one of the best teams in the nation and not the overall best player period.
Ingram currently is the nation's fifth-leading rusher, averaging 125.5 yards per game. Devine is third (130.3 yards per game) and Lewis is fourth (128.6 yards), yet they are getting little Heisman mention.
Even HeismanPundit.com, called by Sports Illustrated as the Heisman's "foremost authority," does not have Devine or Lewis among its top 10 candidates, which includes Ingram and Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers, the nation's 10th-leading rusher, averaging 115.7 yards per game.
Did we mention Devine and Lewis have posted better numbers against tougher run defenses than Ingram?
Ingram, who has eight rushing TDs, is averaging 6.56 yards per carry. Devine, with 10 rushing TDs, is averaging 6.66 yards per carry. Lewis, with 11 rushing TDs, is averaging 5.56 yards per carry.
The average ranking of the opposing rush defenses Alabama has faced this season is 78th out of 120, compared to West Virginia's opponents (57th) and Pittsburgh's opponents (50th).
Ingram has faced only one Top 50 rush defense (Tennessee, 33rd), while Devine has faced three (Syracuse, 6th; East Carolina, 29th; and UConn, 50th) and Lewis four (N.C. State, 13th; Rutgers, 27th; Navy, 42nd; and UConn, 50th).
"It's tough for the head coach to stand up and start screaming for his players to be a Heisman Trophy candidate," Wannstedt said. "Dion's numbers speak for themselves. When you look around at other running backs in the country, no one's been as productive as him. He's done it against very good competition."
West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said he doesn't ever want to single out one player, but Devine is a one of a kind back.
"Noel's special," Stewart said. "Our players know he's special. I've had our linemen tell me 'give the ball to [No.] 7 coach.' Our players know it's still a team game. He would be the first to tell you.
"If people don't watch him, see him, read about him, know about him, they're living in a cave somewhere."
Hopefully Heisman voters will emerge from their caves and consider more than a team's ranking when voting this season.
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Latest College Football Photos
In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)
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University of Connecticut Police Department
In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)
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In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Coonnecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)
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In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, Jamal Todd is shown. Todd, 21, of Hartford, has been charged with a felony charge of falsely reporting an incident and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment, in connection with the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. Police say Todd pulled the fire alarm that emptied the dance, triggering the fight. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)
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In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, Hakim Muhammad is shown. Muhammad, 20, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with conspiracy to commit assault, in connection with the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/UCONN PD)
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In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, Jamal Todd is shown. Todd, 21, of Hartford, has been charged with a felony charge of falsely reporting an incident and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment, in connection with the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. Police say Todd pulled the fire alarm that emptied the dance, triggering the fight. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)
AP
In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Coonnecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)
AP
In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, oif Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Coonnecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)
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Robert S. Hudd, center, Chief of Police for the University of Connecticut Police Department, makes an announcement of an arrest in the murder of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard during a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 in Storrs, Conn. Connecticut Department of Public Safety Commissioner John A. Danaher III, right, looks on. Howard, a starting cornerback on the football team, was stabbed early Oct. 18 outside a university-sanctioned dance, hours after helping his team to a homecoming game win over Louisville. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
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Major Ron Blicher of the Univesity of Connecticut Police Department, speaks during a news conference where they announced an arrest in the murder of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Storrs, Conn. Connecticut Department of Public Safety Commissioner John A. Danaher III, right, looks on. Howard, a starting cornerback on the football team, was stabbed early Oct. 18 outside a university-sanctioned dance, hours after helping his team to a homecoming game win over Louisville. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
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Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno leaves his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in State College, Pa. Penn State is scheduled to play Northwestern in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 31, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Pat Little)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-27-2009 @ 6:41PM
clements46 said...
"Ingram obviously deserves consideration for the award, but is it not so much for what he's done, but who he plays for? After all, he has the No. 1 requirement to win the Heisman – he plays on a team that's ranked in the top five."
If the above statement is completely true, then why is it, with all its national titles and top 5 rankings, has an Alabama player never won the Heisman?
Ingram deserves to be in the mix because he has earned the right by competing and excelling in the nations best conference.
Reply
10-27-2009 @ 7:13PM
MICHAEL said...
Devine will not be in the running because he hasn't played against a good team. He is a all or nothing running back. He depends on at least one long run to get his numbers.
Reply
10-27-2009 @ 9:44PM
Lee said...
Ingram has 21 carries over 20 yards - the next closest is 14.
He lined up in the Wildcat and ran over South Carolina - six straight plays.
He has far and way more yards after contact than any player.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 10:45AM
ddazed69 said...
Mark Ingram is a workhorse. Just look at his stats, he has 125 yds per game average, with over 53% of those yards coming after contact. Noel Divine is a speedster, yes great in open field, but, he cannot lower the boom like Mark. Ingram will run all over you and around you. Hee isn't afraid to run the opposing defense over. He is a sophmore, I hope he stays his last 2 years....
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 11:11AM
Patrick Wallace said...
Those are good backs but if you just watch all three is pretty easy to tell who deserves it. No way those teams mentioned have a better run D than Ole Miss or South Carolina or Va Tech, the only reason those teams are ranked better is because they don't face as many rushing teams as the SEC teams do.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 11:17AM
zipp211879 said...
"Ingram has faced only one Top 50 rush defense (Tennessee, 33rd), while Devine has faced three (Syracuse, 6th; East Carolina, 29th; and UConn, 50th) and Lewis four (N.C. State, 13th; Rutgers, 27th; Navy, 42nd; and UConn, 50th)."
So you mean to tell me the defenses or the teams of Va. Tech, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Arkansas are worse than the likes of (Syracuse, East Carolina, UConn, N.C. State or Navy)? I am pretty sure the teams that Alabama has faced are much better in comparison with that of West Va. or Pittsburgh.
I mean just imagine what Ingram's numbers if Alabama went against West Va. schedule:
Liberty, East Carolina, Colorado, Syracuse or Marshall.
How about Pittsburgh's schedule:
Youngstown St., Navy, Buffalo or Louisville
enough said, the quality of competition Alabama has faced is much better than West Va. or Pittsburgh.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 11:41AM
FSUKXAZ said...
This article is very true. The Heisman Trophy has nothing to do with a team winning and losing. The award goes for the most outstanding player in college football. It doesn't have to be an offensive player either.
The Davy O"Brien award for the Nation top QB is having the same issues. Somehow Christian Ponder of Florida State was left off the list. Ponder leads the ACC (Yes, including UM's Jacory Harris) in almost every passing category. In the Nation: Ponder now ranks #7 in passing, #5 in passing yards, #9 in passing efficiency and #4 in total offense. He's thrown only one interception all year. This despite having a mediocre core of receivers who drop passes every game (Except Senior Bert Reed whose play is stellar), and a season ending injury to Senior tight end Caz Piurowski 2 weeks ago. Once more, Ponder earned a Bachelors Degree by his Sophmore year. Now in his Junior season he's almost done with his Masters Degree. He's an outstanding runner. He's got the fastest shuttle time of anyone on the Florida State roster.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 12:07PM
Clay said...
There's a reason people refer to this award as the Hypesman rather than the Heisman. The other 2 backs you mentioned have put up great numbers, but who has seen them do it? Ingram and Bama have played nationally televised games on 5 different occasions and still have 3 more games that will more than likely be nationally televised as well. I'm not saying this is the way it should be, but that is the way it is.
If Ingram has a big game against LSU on Nov 7th it will really help his cause. I can guarantee you though that winning the Heisman is the furthest thing on the minds of the Bama players and coaches. They're focused on winning the SEC West, then the SEC and then the national championship. It's always more important to win games not personal accolades for the Bama team and players. It would be nice though to finally have a Bama player win the biggest individual award out there, but it'd be even nicer to see Bama make it to and win the MNC. All of which is much easier said than done.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 12:49PM
Andrew said...
Don't compare rushing yards with Ingram. He shares his time at running back and still has over a 1000 yards!
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 5:11PM
Lance said...
Are you kidding me? People actually think that Pitt's and West Virginia's schedule compares to Bama's? Those teams you speak of that have top 50 defenses, do not play ANYBODY! Give me a break. And the reason that players on TOP 5 OR 10 TEAMS get more recognition is because they have led their teams to that ranking. Pitt and West Virgnia have 1 loss and have not played anyone else. It's the Big East so there really is no comparison to the SEC. Cincinnati is by far the best team in that conference. Last I checked, Florida, Texas, Bama, and Cincinatti were all undefeated...each one has a heisman candidate. Each candidate is the one of the main reasons they are undefeated!
Reply
10-29-2009 @ 7:03AM
gedro3 said...
how is tebow even in the heisman conversation?
Reply
10-29-2009 @ 10:28AM
Scott said...
Ingram is one of a stable of running backs at Bama. He is rested considerably more than most running backs. He still has fresh legs going into the fourth quarter.
Reply