Troy Smith Ruined the Heisman

Every year, we talk about the Heisman's irrelevance. But almost every year, don't the voters get it right? 2006 may be the only time that they didn't. Look back further. Are you telling me, that in this decade - Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Jason White, Carson Palmer, Eric Crouch and Chris Weinke didn't deserve it? Sure, Weinke is debatable, and maybe my memory is fuzzy, but who was better?

Last season, Troy Smith won the award when Darren McFadden should have. This unwritten rule about giving the trophy to sophomores cost the best player from hoisting the trophy. But almost every other year, the voters got it right. And I don't think we became jaded with the award until this decade.

Then again, maybe we became jaded with the award in 1997 when Charles Woodson beat Peyton Manning. The fact that, ten years later, we debate who should have actually won that year, proves how tough that decision was.

When did this season's award become divided along racial lines? For some reason, it seems that black guys want McFadden to win, and white guys want Tebow to win.

Between the two, Tebow should get the nod. I like McFadden a lot, but last year was his year. He was robbed. And because Dennis Dixon didn't get invited, I'll give my nonexistent vote to Tebow. He broke NCAA records. Not conference records. NCAA records.

End of the day? Dennis Dixon should have won the award. He was the most important player to his team, and his injury only proved that. But a close second? Tebow. For many of the same reasons.

Arkansas would have survived without McFadden. Felix Jones may be first round talent. But could Florida survive without Tim Tebow?Hardly. Oregon without Dennis Dixon? Apparent.


People want to pass this award off as a joke. Why? Troy Smith. Otherwise, every year it has gone to a very deserving candidate. And either front runner that is chosen on Saturday will be a good choice.