Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Dec 11, 2016, 12:33 AM

I'm not buying into the anti-Clemson thing. I just don't see that as being a factor. I think those posts are just a product of us being bitterly disappointed. I certainly am. I commented to my wife more than once that I was really surprised at how disappointed I felt after the announcement, even though it was all but a certainty that Jackson would win.

But why is that? I've got no beef with Jackson. I don't think he's the winner that Watson is, either on the field or as a person. But I don't know him. And any way you look at it, Jackson didn't have a vote. The responsibility doesn't lie with him. It comes down to the voters. If you've ever taken a look at the unholy crap that goes on in the AP poll, why should you be surprised that there is more of the same going on with the Heisman votes?

Do these media members that vote have agendas? They certainly do. Are they anti-Clemson? In the vast majority of cases, no. They are usually pro-themselves. I think there's also an element of laziness out there. How many votes were there for McCaffrey in first place? Nothing against McCaffrey, but this illustrates how the system is totally broken. McCaffrey wouldn't even tell you that he's top ten.

Having a system where you can cast your votes before the season is complete? How broken can you get? Being so irresponsible as to actually cast a vote without having seen the entire body of work? What if a jury worked like that?

There are certainly good reasons to vote for Lamar Jackson, especially if you want to take the easy way out. Jackson was your 30 second highlight film, your 140 character tweet. Torched FSU, and 8 other teams with losing records. Lost the big one with Clemson, yet still gained ground with the hype machine. Then after minds were already made up, bit the big one against Houston. Lost to KENTUCKY. (Charlie Strong lost to Kansas and got fired. Jackson loses to Kentucky - and make no mistake, a lot of that game was on him and wins the Heisman).

No one likes to be wrong. Most people who vote for the Heisman make their opinions known for a living. Having spent weeks and weeks touting and championing Jackson - well that was never going to change. It would have meant a change in position, and most don't have the stones for that. This is where the media totally shapes the news - they are writing the story and yet they are deciding on the story. I've seen more headlines on ESPN that have slanted the whole story towards Jackson than can be explained. Things like "Jackson leads Heisman contenders into the home stretch" (not really a quote, but not out of context either.) That's an agenda. Jackson can't be reported to be leading anything on a ballot that hasn't been taken and isn't public anyway.

None of us posting on this board tonight can claim we don't have an agenda either. We all wanted Deshaun to win. He's our guy. He's the best to play the position at Clemson - ever - and that's saying something. He's a winner on and off the field. He's the guy you want on the field in the big situations. He's far more of a winner than Lamar Jackson at this point. And he'll never have the opportunity to win this award again. That's the sad part - he's earned it two straight years, but been ignored in favor of the latest shiny object.

He's a winner. He beat Louisville and Jackson. He won the division, beat his rival, won the conference, and is going back to the playoffs for the second straight year. Jackson lost versus Watson and Clemson. Did not win his division. Did not play for a conference championship, much less win one. Got blown out by Houston. Lost to Kentucky. KENTUCKY. Did not go to the playoffs. When did winning become a non-factor? How many TDs did Deshaun get after Jackson was done for the year? 10?

Life's not fair, and this is a huge illustration of that. There's nothing to do but move on, which I will do tomorrow. In the meantime, I will continue to be disappointed for Deshaun. He deserves better consideration than he got, and the whole of the Heisman foundation deserves voters who will take the responsibility seriously. I would be a fool to deny that I am disappointed for Clemson and all of us too but in all honesty, it's just rotten as hell for Deshaun. And none of us like it when crap like this happens to our guys.

Certainly I hope this has a positive effect on how we play in the Fiesta. I doubt it. I think our team will be as prepared as possible no matter what. And if this game gets down to the wire - well I'll take our guy over anyone else in the country for the win. So would all of the people that didn't vote for him. That's what makes this a travesty.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Thumbs up for an outstanding post. You're absolutely right that the media can't admit it when they're mistaken, any more than a politician can. Truth told, members of the media ARE politicians... they adopt their agendas, and then keep pushing them no matter what. It's just a crying shame that a fine young man has to be disappointed like this.

You said that Deshaun would never have another chance to win the award... maybe, maybe not. After all, there has to be a reason why he has "kept his options open" this long. Don't get me wrong-- I would never suggest to him that he come back for another year when he has all his dreams squarely in his sights. But if he does, I'll be there screaming for him again.

In the final analysis, regardless of the voting, he is THE BEST... and maybe the best EVER!

Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Heisman voting is reflection of...

Why so sad?

+1, but imho I believe you misread liberal media entirely

Very well said FTF. Very well said, indeed.***

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

Re: Just really disappointed for Deshaun.

TigerBoard POTD