MaineRoad's Blog

Handicapping the Heisman

By MaineRoad | View all Posts
Posted Friday, December 11, 2009 10:05 AM   51 comments

As someone who voted for the Heisman for years, I can assure you that most people who vote for the Heisman are idiots who see very little college football outside of whichever team they cover.  There are exceptions, but not many. 

Frist up, Toby:  There's also no real "west coast block" of votes, and god knows nobody who went to Stanford is covering college football games.  So, toss out the entierly deserving Gerhart, who only about 40% have even seen play. 

You can toss out Suh, too, though he or Gerhart would be my pick.  He plays defense, so he's done before he starts. (I voted for Hugh Green, by the way).   Impossible to remember, foreign-sounding, first name doesn't help either.

Tebow?  Well, most voters will have heard of him, but two-time winners are not allowed (the "Archie Griffin Sucked in the Pros" rule), and lots of people don't like him (not sure why) or the Gators (no mystery there).  Not happening.  So, the three guys I would have voted 1-2-3, will finish 3-4-5. 

Who wins?  Well, Ingram is a good back who gets to run behind a line that I would gain 1,200 yards with.  He's on the #1 team, which is definately a plus for the small-minded voters, which, again, is most of them.  Still, 20% of the voters don't know who he is, and 15% more know Bama has a really good back, but can't remember his name.  Lack of jaw-dropping overall numbers or true signature performance will keep him off the podium.

Who's left standing?  Colt McCoy, who had a really good half agaiinst A&M, and played well last year. Voters will know them name, or confuse him with Colt Brennen, but he was good too.  He also plays for Texas, so he will get approximately 107% of all the votes cast by those in Texas.  This will really be a career-achievement award, which is fairly rare for Heisman voters. 

51 comments
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captjohn67 says:
12/11/09 11:07AM
i couldn't agree more with what you said...it will be Colt...i would vote for Suh...
MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 11:25AM
You know what they say about great minds, John.. 
gcnmoo says:
12/11/09 12:19PM

maine, check out this site, has nailed 8 of the last 8 heismans and been damn near the exact % of votes each year.

Looks like Suh and gerhart have more of a shot than we thought

http://stiffarmtrophy.com/

Ice4Blood says:
12/11/09 12:25PM

this is my problem with this scenario:

you are saying Colt is gonna win the Heisman trophy... when the last play he made right before winning the award was one of the biggest choke jobs you have ever or will ever see a player make in a sporting event of any kind on any level...

if that happens then college football has hit an unthinkable low point... Colt McCoy would set the new bar for the term "most disappointing Heisman trophy winner of all time"... both at the college level and the pro level...

MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 12:33PM

You have to love a site that takes whatever fun and drama is out of whatever fun and drama there is in the Heisman.    For the record, I couldn't care less, aside from hoping it goes to somebody deserving.  This is a pretty good group.  None of the 5 would be a travesty. 

WahooS says:
12/11/09 12:33PM
I voted for you Maine
MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 12:41PM

You're joking, right?   This is an award that was won by Troy Smith, Eric Crouch and Jason White - over a six year period.   And don't even get me started on the Toretta/Ware exacta of the late 80's/early 90's.    I think my dad stopped voting forever after Pat Sullivan won.  He was ahead of his time.

MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 12:43PM

I basically lost my ballot over voting for a friend of mine, so be careful with that.    They didn't even count my vote.   I appreciate the thought, though.

gcnmoo says:
12/11/09 01:04PM
If you don't mind me asking maine, how'd you lose your vote exactly??
Ice4Blood says:
12/11/09 01:07PM

yea one of the first that came to mine was Ware... this award has epitomized the word disappointing over the years... i remember all of them...

and this one would take it to a whole new level if Colt were to win it... he has not looked good this year... it would be a "lifetime achievement award," like you said... but based on his actual season this year, he doesn't even deserve to be in New York... especially when you evaluate the way he played in the Big 12 title game, the biggest game of his career... and the exclamation point he nailed to the end of it with what should have been one of the most boneheaded plays in the history of sports if the refs didn't generously bail him out...

he is an absolutely incompetent decision maker, and will never break a lineup in the NFL... not a chance... if that guy is ever on an NFL field playing for your team, you'd better pick up a hobby for that season... because your team is done!

THEMUGG says:
12/11/09 01:08PM

 I realize the vote is supposed to be for "Best CFB Player", not who will be the best at the next level.........but I still spit beer through my nose on occasion when it's mentioned that Torretta won over Marshall Faulk.

 Has it really been 24 years since Bo won the Heisman?

We were robbed of watching a career of one of the greatest athletes ever..............& yes, I was at the Kingdome that night.

DOVJAK says:
12/11/09 01:09PM
it will not be colt   it will be a running back this tear  bol
DOVJAK says:
12/11/09 01:09PM
year 
MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 01:11PM

Oh, it was never really my vote.  My dad gave me his ballot when I was young, because, as an announcer, he never got to see anyone play aside from the teams he was covering.  After he died, the Heisman folks didn't notice that the ballot of a dead guy kept showing up until I voted for a guy I knew at UVa - a back-up tright end.  This apparently alerted them to the fact that something might have been amiss.  Never got another ballot.  Long time ago, now.

MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 01:13PM

My proudest moment was voting for Bo Jackson.  If I recall, he won over Chuck Long by like nothing.  I think I voted for Gordie Lockbaum too, though I don't think I had the balls to put him 1st.

That Faulk guy was ok.  Was he even in the running?  I don't recall. 

DoubleUp4Life says:
12/11/09 01:44PM

Just another Example of what a FantasticFunny/Insightful Brother you are

Suh or Gerhart SHOULD WIN it but the Voting Process is a Complete Fraud/Joke

GAM says:
12/11/09 01:50PM
The legend on MaineRoad grows
MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 01:50PM

Thanks.   I don't get too invested in this stuff, but it's fun to write about stuff other than lawsuits for a chage. 

Speaking of which, how are you able to type in technicolor and with enough fonts and emoticons to start your own funhouse, and still post 15,000 times in two years?     It's truly amazing.  It takes me an hour to get the names of the teams on my weekly pick sheet to show up in color.

rangerz2478 says:
12/11/09 01:53PM
Maine even after the Nebraska game, I still thought Colt had a chance. But fact is, he is getting completely dismissed because of that bad performance.

Even Heismanpundit.com first predicted him to win, but said he underestimated the harm that did to Colt. He changed his mind. Colt has pretty much zero chance to win.
MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 01:53PM

Along with his waistline.

Merry f-ing Christmas, GAM.    I look forward to tailing relentlessly in the bowls.  Too freaking busy at work to catch my breath.  I heard a rumor that Wyoming and Iowa State are in bowls, but that can't possibly be true.  That's how out of it I am.

MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 02:01PM

Well, I'm sure gawing on this for a few hours Sunday will help ease the pain. 

http://ready2beat.com/sports/football/colt-mccoy-girlfriend-rachel-glandorf-photos-and-details

 

GAM says:
12/11/09 02:03PM
And MTSU...

Happy Holidays to you too Maine.

I got you a present
kroch says:
12/11/09 02:21PM

Colt's not going to win it, period.

but how can you say it was a choke job when he still won the game?  and how did the refs bail him out?  there was clearly time on the clock left---even the official was telling Pelini to get back to the sideline BEFORE the review.  both Herbie and Musberger said there was a second left as well and game not over.

it was a boneheaded play, but "almost" only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

i hope Suh wins it.

 

 

 

Gold_Rush says:
12/11/09 02:25PM
I would say that Ingram wins it

after that monster of a game vs Florida

bookieassassin says:
12/11/09 02:25PM


keep in mind those are votes that have been made PUBLIC.....
not COOL to admit you voted for colt......other guys more popular at the moment.....any admission of a mccoy vote would be met with ..."WTF are you thinking?"......(votes are there)....personally looks like Ingram wins (got shut out of others right?)....
NONEED4LUCK says:
12/11/09 02:28PM

yeah, biggest choke job of all time, as well as the number one career win leader in nccaa footies. you are a tool.

NONEED4LUCK says:
12/11/09 02:32PM
Maine, you're on it Brotha. My book has McCoy at -150. I think I might lay it.
koko11 says:
12/11/09 02:33PM

I remember the year Toretta won it from Miami... 1992 the year they played Bama for the NC...I could not beleive how cocky those Miami fans were back then, but we all know what happened after he won that one in the Sugar Bowl...The real winner that year IMO should have been "The Duece" David Palmer who came in 2nd, he was a today's CJ Spiller for Bama in 1992.. RB, WR, QB, Punts Return, Kick Off Return, he just did it all at some point...  
rangerz2478 says:
12/11/09 02:37PM


NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO

Seriousy bro do you not look around to other books? Colt is +600 or better on other sites, and you are going to lay -150?


MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 02:38PM
It takes a lot to make me laugh out loud, but I just did.  Thanks. 
delsgpi220 says:
12/12/09 12:53AM
Maine - Great thread and story!  Maybe someday they will sent you another ballet!

 
delsgpi220 says:
12/12/09 01:34AM
ballot not ballet.....my bad
ShadowWarrior says:
12/11/09 02:48PM
Colt looked like crap against Nebraska and almost blew a chance for the championship, not so smart. I hope Ingram wins it although your points for McCoy are very good.  I think the TX AnM game was the clincher for him.
THEMUGG says:
12/11/09 04:37PM

 LOL, define "contact".........

 I think Gerhart got all his yards after "1st contact".
ksuwins says:
12/12/09 01:32AM

I've placed a $10 wager to win $65 on Colt McCoy.

For the funk of it, I did a Google search and found the following issue with my bet:

"Colt McCoy" returns 829,000 results.

"Mark Ingram" return 1,950,000.  ouch

 

MaineRoad says:
12/11/09 02:41PM

That was directed to GAM and my snuggie.  I'm not laughing at any of the rest of you.  I'm laughing with you.

My first big game at LSU, Palmer ran the opening kickoff back for a TD - right in front of us.  That dude was kinda good.

Yams says:
12/11/09 04:35PM

If most of the country hardly ever see his games, does it really matter? 

People should not be surprised to see Ingram as the favorite.  He was leading the race before the Auburn game and then Colt took the lead (a 1 game lead effectively).  But then Colt shat the bed and Ingram had a good game against a great team and now he is leading again.

I'll admit that I am shocked that McCoy had that brain fart at the end of Nebraska game.  The truth of the matter is that its the last image people will remember of Colt and it sucks for him.

 

gamehenger says:
12/11/09 11:51PM
stiffarmtrophy.com has ingram leading by a few percentage points...

i have never cared for the heisman trophy... i would like for ingram to win it, but im not going to cry if he doesnt. if he doesnt win it, i want colt to win it. what saban could do in terms of that motivating bama even more in the title game, would be outstanding.
BustinPiles says:
12/11/09 11:28PM

Maine a former Heisman voter

I think in this what have you done lately society, Colt McCoy lost the Heisman last Saturday. Ingram will win but this award is rarely about giving it to the best player. I would vote Suh personally.

collectNOW says:
12/11/09 04:08PM
ESPN and most of their "experts" are picking gerhart,but first place votes don't tell the entire story.You get points for 2nd,3rd,etc,and mccoy will be no lower than 3rd on most ballots,but gerhart could be 5th on others.If i had a vote,it would be gerhart because he had zero bad or average games,and i hate the fact that colt got alot of garbage stats from cry baby mack leaving him in with 6 minutes left in the game and up 45-10 and still throwing the ball.  I think gerhart knocks out ingram and colt knocks out tebow,and suh is an "oh by the way" invitee,so it's between colt and toby.My vote would be toby,but my money is on colt because of more 2nd and 3rd place votes.If there is a prop bet for the most 1st place votes,i am taking gerhart
J_Money420 says:
12/12/09 02:23AM
mel kiper just predicted toby 
rangerz2478 says:
12/11/09 02:38PM
Not to mention that -150 is a PAUSED market.


NONEED4LUCK, I will give you 8-1 odds gladly.
rangerz2478 says:
12/11/09 02:50PM
You guys who REALLY think McCoy wins it do not follow the Heisman like I do. See my thread and you will understand why.

I can 100% guarantee you guys, Colt is not going to win the award. 100%.
Bucks10 says:
12/11/09 09:05PM
Funny stuff Maine
ApacheM says:
12/11/09 03:46PM
I don't remember if it was the Mac/beef/Cheese or the Shrimp fried rice recipe but I assume you found it.

Colt for the Heisman!!!

Droxside says:
12/11/09 02:51PM
They set Mark Ingram up to win

it when they gave Colt McCoy the award last night. I would be shocked

if they shut Ingram out because the award is not based on the best

player any more, but players on the best teams. Seriously, Ingram is

not even the best running back in college, much less the best player,

but will most likely win as college football is all about politics and

popularity over substance and fairness...

koko11 says:
12/11/09 04:22PM

Ingram gained 1004 of his yards after 1st contact was made..
koko11 says:
12/11/09 06:18PM

Contract meaning when he broke the 1st tackle...
Hawk_You says:
12/11/09 07:43PM
Who are you???????? and why did you have a heisman vote
Hoofem says:
12/11/09 05:47PM
After reading ICEBLOODS blog now everyone in the world knows he's aDumb ASS of historic proportion!

Colt McCoy is a class act and a Fantastic FootBall player ! and is very deserving of the Heisman Trophy.

Heres my Run Down of the Heisman-

1-Toby G- Great player but His team Lost 4 games wasn't dominating enough I guess .

2-Ingram-had three games under 55 yards and was benched against there arch Rival ?

3-Suh- A great Defensive player - The Heisman is an Offensive award (the trophy shows a person carrying the Footbal Remember) and wasn't Dominating enough The Huskers lost 4 Games.

4-Tebow Great Qb but not this year big boy!

5-Colt McCoy-The Best Player in College Football didn't you see the awards Last night?

13-0 this year Playing for the National Championship, And was the difference in his team playing for the National Title that they will be bringing back to Austin Texas Baby !

Pretty easy vote!

Also did you know Colt McCoy out Rushed Alabamas Ingram the last two games ?

Hoofem says:
12/11/09 06:00PM
Also anyone who said That Colt McCoy has bad decision making capabilities is again not very smart. I have watched Colt Every single game of his brilant career and he knows how to play QB you don't win 46 games without having good judgement and football savy

as well as amazing skills, Colt was knocked down nuberous times against NB and got up every single time if you recall Colt threw a perfect long ball to one of his wideouts and he dropped it Colt drove his team down the field 40 or 50 yards only to have his TE let the ball get stolen from Him. NB played a great Game but feel short Colt and his team scored enough points to win again yeah it was close so what it was a championship game right! If everyone is giving Mr Suh all of the Acclaim he is getting maybe it isn't that Colt Played badly maybe if like everyone is saying Suh Played a great game you cant have it both ways which is it Colt Played poorly or Suh played maybe the game of his life and made it hard on Colt but Colt still won !

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