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Heisman Candidates and Balloting
The P word was not a welcomed one around Clemson for the last few years of the Tommy Bowden era. The previous head coach sometimes talked about parity and how the playing field was level and how close in talent so many teams had become and those statements may have been true but Tiger fans did not want to hear it.

But has parity hit the Heisman race this season? No one is having a blockbuster season to date. Can one guy separate from the pack this November?

In years past we have seen some remarkable numbers put up by Heisman winners. Last season Sam Bradford was 328 of 483 for 4,721 yards and 50 touchdowns with only eight interceptions.

In 2007, Tim Tebow was 234 of 350 passing for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns with only six picks. Tebow rushed for 895 yards and 23 touchdowns. He accounted for 55 touchdowns that season.

The Heisman Memorial Trophy is presented to the “individual who deserves designation as the most outstanding football player in the United States.” But it has turned into a trophy for the best player on the best teams. Seven of the past 11 winners have played on a team that played for the national championship.

Alabama’s sophomore running back Mark Ingram is the front runner according to the group think that happens with the media but his stats are not that impressive. Sure Alabama is 9-0 and ranked number three in the country but how many games would they have won without Ingram? He 175 carries for 1,148 yards and eight touchdowns. Are those eye popping numbers?

Ingram has four of Alabama’s nine opponents have held him under 100 yards. He has averaged 127 yards rushing per game. Are these Heisman numbers?

Ingram does have 24 catches for 216 yards and three touchdowns which gives him 1,364 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns. How did he get to be the front runner for the Heisman? I guess 127 rushing yards per game and eight rushing touchdowns are more impressive than I give him credit for.

Some voters will give their vote to Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. In my opinion, Tebow is one of the best college football players to ever play the game but to give him the Heisman this season would be a shame. When he won it as a sophomore Tebow had 4,181 yards and accounted for 55 touchdowns. This season he is just 114 of 173 through the air for 1,531 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has run the ball 115 times for 78 yards and nine touchdowns. That gives the senior 2,109 total yards and 20 touchdowns which is far below his 4,181 yards and 55 touchdowns he had as a sophomore.

Some will vote for Texas quarterback Colt McCoy but does he deserves the Heisman because he plays on the nation’s number two team? So far this season the Longhorn signal caller is 231 of 317 for 2,447 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. He has also rushed for 317 yards and one touchdown. That gives McCoy 2,764 total yards and 18 touchdowns. These numbers are a big drop from last season where he had 4,420 total yards and 45 touchdowns.

Darren McFaden had a better year when he did not win it. The same can be said for Graham Harrell, Vince Young and Adrian Peterson.

I would much rather see Houston quarterback Case Keenum win it rather than Tebow or McCoy. At least Keenum has had a Heisman-worthy season. The junior has completed 325 of his 458 passes for 3,815 yards and 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions. I know his team is not ranked in the top five in the country but he has had the best season among quarterbacks.

I honestly think C.J. Spiller belongs in the conversation if the award goes to the best football player. He has 135 carries for 739 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Spiller has 21 receptions for 334 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He has 15 kickoff returns for 530 yards and three touchdowns and six punt returns for 191 yards and a touchdown. For the season Spiller has 1,784 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns. He has three 100-yard rushing games, a 100-yard receiving game, a 100-yard kickoff return game and a 100-yard punt return game.

Spiller has done it in Clemson’s biggest games too. He broke the school record for the all-purpose yards in the Tigers overtime win at Miami when he went for 310 yards and broke his own record with 312 yards in the win over Florida State last weekend.

How can any member of the media in Florida who has seen Tebow and Spiller play this season vote for Tebow over Spiller? Tebow has three games where he has passed for over 200 yards. He has thrown for over 250 yards once. He has only one 100-yard rushing game this season.

Anyone from the Sunshine State who has watched Tebow this season then saw Spiller’s two games against the Noles and Canes then there is no doubt who they should vote for.

Heisman ballots will be mailed out Wednesday, November 18th. There will be 926 eligible voters this year including 870 media voters, 55 former winners of the trophy and one public vote to be determined online (no news to Tigernet readers).

I was surprised to see the number of ballots each year that are not returned. The record for participation is only 97%. Who has a vote for the Heisman and does not send it in?

Last year 93% voted online and most did so late in the process. If Clemson, Texas, Florida and Alabama make it to their conference title games, Spiller, McCoy, Tebow and Ingram will have one last opportunity to impress voters in their biggest games of the season.

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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee.

Comments:

Can Spiller kick extra points?

Posted by pawguy1 on November 10, 2009 at 01:18 PM EST #

kicking won't help that turf toe

Posted by El Tigre+1 on November 10, 2009 at 01:27 PM EST #

Spiller can kick with either foot.

Posted by Fluxus on November 10, 2009 at 02:44 PM EST #

I agree. I could fathom Case Keenum, but not Ingram, Tebow, or McCoy (although some may want to give it to McCoy to make up for giving it to Tebow & Bradford in years past). CJ has more yards and more points than Ingram this year. And Spiller probably brings an average of 60+ yards of field position to Clemson without even touching the ball because teams often kick out of bounds or pooch kick it away from him.

Unfortunately, Clemson lost early games and so Clemson fell off the national radar with some games being broadcast on ESPN360.com or Raycom at noon rather than on prime-time national TV. Out of sight, out of mind. If Clemson had beat 2/3 of GT, TCU, & UMD, Spiller would have stood a much better chance.

Posted by Razzmatazz on November 10, 2009 at 03:06 PM EST #

I have a slightly different view on the "team" concept. While I agee the best player should win it, I also think many voters place a higher value on how a player helps his team WIN games. There are dozens of players who play well enough to help their team not "lose as badly." But only a few who's contributions actually help their team win on a week-to-week basis. And that's probably why so many voters look to winning teams and ask, who is helping that team the most get the W each week.

Personally, I think CJ is that player for Clemson. But I can see how others around the country may not know that about him with our 3 Ls.

Posted by RU4GOD2 on November 10, 2009 at 03:27 PM EST #

The question the voters should ask themselves is, "Where would (insert team) be without (insert player)". Ingram, Tebow, and McCoy are good, but would those teams have significantly different records without those players? I would argue Tebow and McCoy have a larger impact than Ingram, but all of those teams would still be in the Top 10 without those particular players.

Now, where would we be without CJ Spiller? I would say that he made a huge impact in the wins over BC, Miami, and FSU, which is half of our wins. Without CJ, we could be 3-6 instead of 6-3. IF we win the ACC, then one has to think CJ is the difference between the Orange Bowl and possibly no bowl.

Posted by Locotiger on November 10, 2009 at 05:16 PM EST #

I wish the coots had a vote. B/C all coots say without CJ, we would be winless. But with the coots, its always just one player on the Clemson teams that beat them year in and year out. Next will be Parker.

Posted by tigercrazynut on November 10, 2009 at 06:50 PM EST #

Mickey, your blogs are getting more and more difficult to read because of all the grammatical errors. Surely with all the people reading your blog, you would proof-read it. Heck, ask someone else to do it. I'm sure you're getting paid to write these blogs. We don't need perfection, but legibility would be nice. I really enjoy your blog, but this is just constructive critisism to make this site better.

Posted by Kinghunterx5 on November 11, 2009 at 09:32 AM EST #

"Anyone from the Sunshine State who has watched Tebow this season then saw Spiller’s two games against the Noles and Canes then there is no doubt who they should vote for."

Mickey,

Please stop beating me. It really, really hurts.

- The English Language.

(Still think it's sad that such unprofessional writing is the main blog on the main Clemson fan site on the Internet. I know we're not supposed to care about grammar and writing skills in "new media" but some still do.)

Posted by tomerafan on November 11, 2009 at 11:23 AM EST #

You asked how many games would alabama have won with out ingram? Not many, their QB SUCKS!!! Ingram carries that team offensively, their defense is pretty darn good too.

Posted by DV_1981 on November 11, 2009 at 01:25 PM EST #

I just dont see spiller winning it as a RB in a year where he'll barely get 1,000 yds rushing. He obviously adds big contributions in other areas as well, like KR and receiving, but he's a RB, and I think thats how the voters will see him. VS MTSU he had 4 carries 12 yds. Coastal he only had 20 yds or so. Those are the kinda games where guys usually pad their stats and he didnt because of injuries.

He still has a chance to impress, finish out with 3 monster games, and he could get into the top 2 or 3. But the Heisman has become mostly a QB award lately, no RB will win it, unless they roll up huge rushing yards, or maybe if he's a media darling like Reggie Bush was playing in L.A.

Posted by DV_1981 on November 11, 2009 at 01:33 PM EST #