Posted on 12/10/2005 3:19:08 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - From John Cappelletti to Mike Rozier, running backs once walked off with 11 consecutive Heisman Trophies. Recently, though, quarterbacks have been too tough to pass up. The last five Heisman winners have been QBs.
Reggie Bush is a good bet to snap that streak Saturday night and become the 41st ball carrier to tuck away college football's most prestigious individual award since Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger won the first in 1935.
USC's untouchable tailback is the favorite after capping a brilliant junior season with two breathtaking performances and an outrageous average of 8.9 yards a carry.
"That's crazy. That's ludicrous," said Tony Dorsett, the 1976 Heisman winner from Pittsburgh. "It is just unheard of. Reggie's a game-breaker, a big-game player. That's all you need to say."
Guess where Dorsett's vote is going?
Bush will be joined by Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC quarterback Matt Leinart in midtown Manhattan when the Heisman is handed out for the 71st time.
The three finalists have been the favorites even before the season started.
Leinart, last year's Heisman winner, became a contender to repeat as soon as he decided to bypass the chance for NFL millions and return for his senior season. The left-hander has thrown for 3,450 yards and 27 touchdowns this season, improving to 37-1 as a starter for the top-ranked Trojans.
If Leinart wins the Heisman, he'll join Archie Griffin as the only players to win the award twice. The Ohio State running back did it in 1974 and '75.
As a past winner, Leinart gets to cast a ballot.
"Reggie's got my vote," Leinart said after Bush ran for 260 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans' 66-19 victory over UCLA that wrapped up a perfect regular season.
If Bush wins the award, he and Leinart will become the third set of teammates to win the award in consecutive years.
The last were Army's famous Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside, Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, in 1945-46.
And the two USC stars could become the first Heisman winners to play together in a college game when USC (12-0) meets No. 2 Texas (12-0) in the Rose Bowl for the national title on Jan. 4.
Or if Young wins, the national title game will be a matchup of Heisman winners for the second straight year — and the second time ever.
Last season after Leinart won the award, USC played Oklahoma and 2004 Heisman winner Jason White in the Orange Bowl, marking the first Heisman showdown in college football.
Young has always been one of the most dangerous runners in the country — he showed that in last year's Rose Bowl, scoring four touchdowns on the ground against Michigan — but this season he's developed into a topflight passer. The junior leads the nation is passing efficiency at 168.6 with 26 touchdown passes.
He would be Texas' third Heisman winner. The first two were running backs. Ricky Williams won it in 1998 and Earl Campbell ('77) was part of that long run of Heisman running backs, starting in 1973 with Penn State fullback Cappelletti and ending with Nebraska I-back Rozier.
In between, USC cemented its reputation as tailback U. with Charles White ('79) and Marcus Allen ('81) joining O.J. Simpson ('68) and Mike Garrett ('65) as Heisman winners.
USC has gotten back in the Heisman-winning business in recent years with quarterbacks. Carson Palmer took the award in 2002, then Leinart last season.
With six Heisman winners, the Trojans trail only Notre Dame, which has seven.
Bush and Young seemed neck and neck in the Heisman race for most of the season, then Bush put a season's worth of highlights together in one game against Fresno State on Nov. 19. He gained 513 all-purpose yards, helping USC escape with a 50-42 victory.
As with Leinart, Bush is being touted as a possible No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, even with a year of college eligibility left.
Bush has said he'll decide whether to go pro after the Rose Bowl.
"Right now, college football is fun," Bush said. "It's everything I ever dreamed up. You only go to college once."
Southern California's Reggie Bush celebrates his third quarter touchdown against Fresno St. in Los Angeles in this Nov. 19, 2005 photo. Bush set out last summer to become a complete running back, not just a guy with sprinter's speed who could attack the flanks of a defense. He's accomplished that, and a lot more for top-ranked USC, making him the apparent front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
My vote is for Vince Young :-)
There's always someone who will vote third party.
NCAA College Football All American Awards Show on now,,ABC..
Regis Philbin hosting.
San Diego (La Mesa) boy makes good. Reggie deserves the award.
ROTFLOL! Good one.
He , too, has been impressive from what I saw of him..
Maybe a co-Heisman is in order.
Vince won many of the other "top player" awards as a consolation prize. Reggie will get the Heisman, and he deserves it. Many awesome players at the college level this year. Can't wait for the Rose Bowl--I've got a couple of bets riding on it.
He's a keeper, for sure.
Texas quarterback Vince Young looks to throw a pass against Texas A&M during the first quarter Friday, Nov. 25, 2005 in College Station, Texas. The Heisman Trophy competition is a three-man race _ just as it's been all season. Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart of Southern California will be back in New York on Saturday, along with Texas quarterback Vince Young, when the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the nation's best college football player. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
I saw him play high school ball. It was easy to see he had the makings of a great player --- and he is a nice boy too.
Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart gestures number one after scoring against Callifornia in the second quarter, in this Nov. 12, 2005 photo in Berkeley, Calif. The Heisman Trophy competition is a three-man race _ just as it's been all season. Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart of Southern California will be back in New York on Saturday, along with Texas quarterback Vince Young, when the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the nation's best college football player. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Thanks!
You can't co-Heisman that.
If Reggie Bush doesn't win it's rigged, really that simple. Never have I seen a college back as good as Reggie = he's better than Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Gale Sayers, OJ and Bo Jackson....he's simply the best I've seen, 8.9 yards per carry, over 6,000 all purpose yards by Junior year - unbelievable!!!! BTW, I am not from Ca or Tx, have no bias on the issue - Bush is just the best.
http://www.stiffarmtrophy.com/voterlist.html
Here's how some voters have (allegedly) voted already.
Interesting .. Thanks.
Two time Heisman winner, Archie Griffin
I saw that play,, what a player, I hear ya.. Vince is a junior anyway, I think. he can win it next year, maybe.
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