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."
Bush wins this year and Vince Young wins Next year ;)
Regis is either a midget or those college ballplayers on the All American show are big..
Hiya, from some recent articles in the paper, Bush and his
family seem to be level headed and not the in your face
type. His mom is a dep. sheriff here in San Diego.
Heisman Award at 5 PM PT on ESPN
Notre Dame fans should be sure to tune in. There's a great chance that Brady Quinn will pull an upset win and very little chance that any heartbreaking videos from the USC game will be shown.
Okay, that was cruel. I take it back.
There is no way anybody can make the blanket statement that he is the best ever. Barry Sanders would most definately have had better lifetime college stats then Reggie, if it wasnt for one small thing, he was backup to another legend Thurman Thomas. Nah Reggie is great indeed, but these sweeping 'best ever' is simply ridiculous.
Next year will be Adrian Peterson (if hes healthy) or a dark horse, my favorite Cory Ross from Nebraska if the NU offense gels it will be on his legs and arms.
Scratch that Ross, hes a senior I mean Lucky from NU, the mans a stud.
Maybe a co-Heisman is in order."
What happens if the vote is a tie?
Has that ever happened?
Cable TV deprived.
Hope to know soon who won.
I quit caring when Randy Moss lost...
I have to agree, and I had the privilege of seeing him play in person against Fresno State (although it was painful since I'm a Fresno alum). This was one of the single most outstanding performances in NCAA history. It reminded me of Anthony Davis against Notre Dame in 1972.
And yet....the University of Texas will still beat them!!! LOL
Never mentioned the QB for NU, Taylors OK but he was brought in only because he ran the WCO in JUCO, Beck and Freeman are the two future studs at QB for NU, ones a 5 star the others a 4 star. As for AP the kid did 1900 yards his freshman year.He would have won the Heisman last year if he wasnt a freshman. You can make fun of the big 12 all day long, one thing we have and thats defense and the PAC 10 has none.
Hi SoCalPol,
Indeed she is!
Predicting an almost unanimous vote for him.
Might even best OJSimpleton's vote.
Uh, isn't Cory Ross a senior this year?
No wow, but its ok. I highly doubt White will win the Heisman next year. To many players out there to automatically crown somebody. Not to mention White simply is good because of the other threats on offense for USC, without them WHite is just another back.
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