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."
I have to say, your have been the rudest posts in the thread, not the Pac-10 fans.
Do the tear drops mess up your keyboard?
Sept. 16,2006. a day to remember
Yeah true, or Colorado, but they have hardly any fans anyways and when they do show up there drunk and rude.
Really? Try reading some other ones besides mine. Like diamond6 or that byby one. Nah i you think I am the rudest then any discussion with you is already lost.
lol. How smnart of you, it really got me right there.
Hey I have no pretense right now in thinking Nebraska stands a chance at beating USC. They are still rebuilding and recruiting positions that they didnt have when BC came on board. If it makes you feel good then by all means mark the day down. I myself will wait until its on TV.
All we have to do is look at post #61, fella. Yeah, you're classy.
Well missy, USC was well known for 25 years straight of choking and not being good and living up to expectations, a little shorter than Texas current run. So right now Carrol has built a winning program the last 3 years, but before that what? Where was your mighty PAC Ten then? That great Washington team? Hmm cant think of any others, oh there was that 6th ranked ASU team in 96. Clear me up oh mighty one, where are the national year to year powerhouses competing every year for national titles at in the PAC 10 besides USC these last three years?Missy
LOL your one to talk you argue with anybody who takes issue with your mighty trojans, nah I dont take ettiquette lessons from a whiney bonafide idiot such as yourself.
That is exactly the game I thought of when Bush went crazy against Fresno State - AD 6 was a game to remember - and against Notre Dame = it was a classic - 2 kickoff returns for TD's...what a day AD had...
That is one incredible picture!
Are you kidding? Just read your last few posts!!!
Rice Lady Owls vs Texas next season
The PAC TEN is the only conference to have two schools in the Final AP Top Ten each year since 2000.
I'm sorry. I'm so stupid I'm having trouble following your incomprehensible, gramatically, error filled post.
Oh yeah thats a real retort! I am so vacuous of an argument I cry because on the INTERNET a guy dropped some letters and missed an apostraphe, yeah that wins arguments everytime!!!
Actually, I'm talking about #61 in "Early Returns".
Calm down, Lizard. Everything will be ALL RIGHT. No need to shout.
Oh thanks, I didnt think it was that post.
OK OK, the heated argument is off. God I love football its such an intangible sport where there are only a few ways to answer or settle arguments. Oh well, look lets be cool. It will all be settled on the field this month and into the Rose Bowl. I dont have high hopes for the Big 12 this bowl season, but I hope they are pleasantly surprising.
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