In all this discussion the most prolific passer and scorer of the group of three is essentially omitted. Clearly early voting made this just a two horse, made for TV, event. Time it was scrapped.
Televised games? How quaint. ESPN and other cable TV stations that shine the spotlight on college football will post the highlights of the best plays from every week. Any football player in the Power 5 conferences will be featured when they rack up the stats.
The real bias is against the guys not playing for those Power 5 conferences, whether in the FBS or FCS. Also, those playing on the defensive side of the ball, let alone mentioning the guys in the trenches (shout-out to Desmond Howard, only defensive player to claim the award just over 20 years ago!). And the Heisman more and more is deteriorating into which quarterback on a top ranked team has the most impressive stats? They have other awards for that by the way.
Tua already won the college player of the year award (the Maxwell), while Kyler Murray claimed the Davey O'Brien award (top quarterback). Go figure.
The Heisman has devolved into a relative joke. Not that long ago the winners became NFL stars on a surefire path to the HOF. It lost its predictive value for NFL stardom when the award strongly shifted to favor QBs over RBs, leaving the neglect of defensive players, receivers, and the linemen aside. Basically the formula is play QB for a team competing for the CFP that employs some version of the spread offense. Most of the other guys simply don't stand a chance.
Twenty years ago Desmond Howard was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXI. He played wide receiver in 1991, the year he won the Heisman. He also returned punts and kick-offs. However, I loved your post. I think some DE and DT should get some Heisman love sometimes.
@drdeanster
Kyler Murray is beyond "relatively mobile." He has perhaps the quickest feet of any QB I've seen, and AVERAGES more than 60 yards rushing per game. He is "extraordinarily" mobile.
He also played the entire season under the pressure of knowing he had to lead his offense to a score on virtually every possession, due to his team's inept defense and the high-powered offenses it faced in the Big 12. Indeed, Murray committed two turnovers in the only loss the Sooners had all season. He did more for his team, under far greater stress, than did Tua. Which is why he will likely win the Heisman. Geography not withstanding.
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I would expect the bias would be as much against an Alabama player as for him in the Southeast. Where do most of the reporters live in the Southeast? I doubt many live in Alabama vs. GA. Same as an OK finalist in the Southwest. How many reporters live in TX vs. OK? My guess is it all balances out. Probably somebody though will find a reason to blame James Madison.
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This has most always been the case. Were it not for regional dilution of all the other more deserving candidates, Paul Hornung would have never won the Heisman playing on a ND team with a losing record. The Catholic voters apparently were not regionalized.
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