We're number 1 on the list according to Bleacher report for top5 power schools for this....

[tennesseeduke]

Peyton and Leaf had near-identical stats in 1997. At least Charles Woodson offered some appointment TV excitement every week.

Vols fans need to let the ‘97 Heisman go.

Lol Woodson had 1 game worth considering. He should have not been invited, much less win!

 

[apevol]

DLF is a bum

 

[JohnWardForever]

But was he? I mean, Ryan Leaf alone shows that, like I said, there was a near-identical QB that year. He had more passing yards, more yards per attempt, a better passer rating. Only 2 fewer TDs and the same amount of interceptions—meaning Peyton was barely the best QB that year.

Charles Woodson was a playmaker—with season defining plays in all 3 phases of the game—on the national championship team. No matter what he was doing, he was a threat.

So I guess the question becomes: how do you define the best football player? Because Woodson was a next level player that year. And he wasn’t some flash in the pan college player, either. Dudes in the HOF.

But of COURSE! AND, They had to justify themselves by voting Woodson in the same year as Peyton. Nobody noticed that Lil chickenshat move?

 

[pimo1]

I don't remember where I read this, years ago, but it was by someone who interviewed (with anonymity) a number of Heisman voters, both media and past winners. This writer noted that from his sample, the biggest factor for each individual voter was "how will I defend my choice."

His impression was that most voters seldom went with their gut, but instead voted for the least questionable (or, safest) resume. Just human nature.

Statistical leaders at QB (and in some eras, RB) frequently come from new or exotic offensive systems. Once a Heisman voter finds him/herself asking "How much of that resume was the player, and how much was the system?" that candidate becomes questionable, and it works against him with most Heisman voters.

My guess is that Hooker's injury (and his USCe performance prior to the injury) provided many voters the necessary cover to not engage the player-or-system question. But I wonder if time will eventually show that Hooker's ratio of interceptions-to-total passes thrown was under-recognized, and that he truly had a remarkable, historically significant season as a passing-running quarterback--in any system.

But he is not the first, in any aspect of life, to go under-appreciated. Nor is this is a world where "justice" has a history of running amok.

I'm bringing up this Heisman voting angle because, moving forward, Heupel's quarterbacks (if Heupel is still our coach, and if his offense has not been adopted by many more Power5 programs) are going to always have this question attached to their stats. So don't be surprised if 10 years from now we have at least two more Vols to add to the OP's list.

Totally agreed and until one of his guys goes to the Pros and has success that question will linger much how it did over Florida QBs under Spurrier.

 

[West Vol]

But was he? I mean, Ryan Leaf alone shows that, like I said, there was a near-identical QB that year. He had more passing yards, more yards per attempt, a better passer rating. Only 2 fewer TDs and the same amount of interceptions—meaning Peyton was barely the best QB that year.

Charles Woodson was a playmaker—with season defining plays in all 3 phases of the game—on the national championship team. No matter what he was doing, he was a threat.

So I guess the question becomes: how do you define the best football player? Because Woodson was a next level player that year. And he wasn’t some flash in the pan college player, either. Dudes in the HOF.

There have been better defenders not get a sniff in favor of far, far less outstanding quarterbacks. It was a ridiculous year to pull such an obvious media stunt.

 

[West Vol]

I mean they had Suh taking over games single-handedly and chose to give it to Mark Ingram.

 

[JOEY’S ALL VOL !!!]

 

[volfeeva]

Every person in the entire nation could see Peyton was the deserved winner of the award given to the person who contributed the most to his team. It wasn't even a debate, except the biased northeast writers can't stand anything below New York, so they vote lock step for a defensive guy. Woodson, good as he was, did not contribute to his team to the degree Peyton did to Tenn, so yeah, it was an unforgiveable scam.

 

[PurpleTraveler]

F em...named Hooker #5 in the Heisman.
F em

Don't know if you all saw the Stewart Mandel tweet:

Not like the Heisman was ever this holy award where only the champion with a pure heart could pull the sword from the stone, but it has really gone down hill in the past 20 or so years.