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."
Is this the live thread? Watching on ESPN now.
I corrected that, I meant Lucky.
Man, does Leinhart ever shave. Geez!
Holy Cow! I've never heard of such a difficult schedule.
I see, sorry 'bout that. Lucky, the kid from North Hollywood. Being from CA, I'll be interested in him also. Look forward to seeing the Huskers out here next year.
We saw a Big 12 defense last year in the orange bowl and the did a great job that night holding SC to only 52 points
LOL----Texas doesn't hire no fools!!!
Seriesly, I hadn't seen next year's schedule...Playing North Texas and Sam Houston State...is pretty embarrassing...
IF they want to have high vote counts in the polls...they have GOT to do better..but, it is already too late.
I think they "agree" to these schedules 3-5 years in advance.
BTW...North Texas is my husband's alma mater...have some respect!!! LOL
The Tiny 12 is full of teams that have no offense - and that's the fact Jack!
Come on, a player doesn`t set the school record for scoring at a school like USC and be "just another back."
I'm asking the AM to mod the title to Live thread as we see past winners in the audience.
Archie Griffin .. wow.
Everybody who didnt have the head up there ass knew OU had one of the worst pass defenses in the nation. So try that on me again, or are you so stuck in the past that you cant see the future through your cult-like pac ten eyes.
We will se how great and wonderful your precious Pac 10 defenses and offenses are this year. You guys wont be facing the dead last run defenses and bottom range pass defenses this time.
Ah yes they do with an offensive line nd 4 other genuine stars on offense yes you can set the scoring record and be just another back.
And Texas won't be facing the dreadfully horrible defenses from the Tiny 12. What will they do when they really face a tough offense? We'll see.
This year, Big 12 fans were cheated as the only "real college football" they got to see was on TV.( see BIG 12 North Champs, Colorado)
I think they will be the Shorthorns on January 4th.
Reggie Bush would not be the all-purpose yards leader if it were not for being on a stellar team with another Heisman-caliber player for defenses to counter. Vince Young has no similar crutch.
Nice tribute to Davis here.
So, I guess in that case it will be simple to stop the Texas offense in the Rose Bowl, won't it?
Tribute to Glenn Davis earlier this year, past Heisman recipent Trophy from West Point .. USMA
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