Dougherty's Random Thoughts

Heisman Decision 2007:

The 2007 Heisman Trophy will be awarded to an SEC superstar Saturday at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. Will it be Arkansas running back Darren McFadden or Florida superman quarterback and cult hero Tim Tebow? Do you go with the best pro prospect or the player with the most productive season in SEC history?

The Heisman Trophy is famous for being awarded to football players who are not the best pro prospect. I’d be willing to wager that as you read that sentence many names popped through your head. Names such as: Jason White, Eric Crouch, Gino Toretta and Andre Ware just to name a few perhaps. There are many more. Darren McFadden is the most explosive player in the country and could be the number one pick in the 2008 NFL Draft depending on the needs of the team picking first. Many NFL teams will undoubtedly be looking for the next Adrian Peterson. It is a copy-cat league after all and running backs tend to have more of an immediate impact than quarterbacks for example. Will Tim Tebow’s talents translate to NFL success? That’s a debate for another issue. I would argue that projecting NFL success should not come into play when deciding the Heisman winner. It is a college football award. That’s how Danny Weurfel won it in 1996.

If you’re reading this, you are likely a big enough fan to know the stats. But it is important to note within this column that Tim Tebow has more rushing touchdowns this year than any player in SEC history. Think about the unbelievably talented running backs in this league that never had 22 rushing touchdowns in a season. The total touchdown record was 41. Tebow has 51. He’s the only player in college football history to have more than 20 rushing touchdowns and more than 20 passing touchdowns in the same season. This is the best individual season in SEC history. As you might have already guessed, Tim Tebow received my Heisman vote.

Tebow is a rock star:

The guy is a college football cult hero. Check out the web-site www.timtebowfacts.com. You’ll find all kinds of interesting facts about the Gator quarterback. Such as, Tim Tebow can divide by zero. Or; Tim Tebow has a night light in his bedroom. Not because Tim Tebow is afraid of the dark, but because the dark is afraid of Tim Tebow. Ridiculously funny! I have added one. The old guard media will not allow a sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, unless that sophomore is Tim Tebow.

Other candidates:

There have been other amazing seasons turned in by other players worthy of mention. Consider Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan who led his team to an undefeated season and BCS appearance in the Sugar Bowl. Brennan was the #3 rated passer in America and has thrown more career touchdown passes than anyone in the history of the sport. The knock is that Hawaii’s schedule was lax which is true, but Brennan did what he could against the teams they told him to play. Against a pretty good Boise St. team late in the year Brennan turned in 495 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel completed 70% of his balls while tossing 33 touchdowns in leading Mizzou to its first number one ranking in almost fifty years.

Central Florida running back Kevin Smith has almost 2,500 yards rushing with 29 ground TD’s. Smith had 5-200+ yard games and had 10 games with at least two touchdowns. He went for 217 at NC St. and had 157yds against Texas. He also had the big 320 yard game at UAB. Amazing!

What about Texas Tech wideout Michael Crabtree? 125 receptions for over 1,800 yards and 21 touchdowns. Phenominal! How about Pat White, Matt Ryan and Ray Rice. What a year!

Wrapping up the Heisman:

When asked by my good friend and Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle last year if I would like to be a Heisman voter I responded by asking, “Can I vote for Peyton Manning?” I’m in the group that still believes in the 1997 conspiracy!

-Should Tebow be awarded the hardware Saturday? You tell me. Who is your Heisman winner for 2007? E-mail me at brentd@wlac.com. Thanks for reading.

–Brent Dougherty

News Radio 1510 WLAC Nashville