Written by Johnston von Springer
Since 1935, college football has awarded its best player with the most prestigious award in college football, the Heisman Trophy. Every year in early December, the sporting world looks toNew York Cityand the Heisman Trust to see who will join the elite class of Heisman winners. Leading up to that Saturday night there is constant speculation and consideration for the group of nominees, but usually there is one favorite.
“The Heisman Trophy is so special because it recognizes only one out of the many talented athletes in college football and shows the importance of hard work and dedication,” junior Morgan Gunnels said.
This season junior Stanford University quarterback and 2010 Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck is the front-runner to receive the Heisman. Other candidates that will get consideration from the Trust are senior Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, junior Alabama running back Trent Richardson and junior Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones.
“I think that Andrew Luck should win the Heisman because he has great arm strength and size as well as a good IQ for the game,” senior Grant Cole said.
Luck, at six feet, four inches and 235 pounds has taken college football by storm this season completing over 70 percent of his passes through Nov. 5. Luck is looking like the overall number one pick next April in the National Football League Draft. Luck, who was sought after by the NFL last year, wanted to come back to complete his degree in architecture. After defeating Virginia Tech 40 to 12 in the 2010 Discover Orange Bowl, Luck was named the Most Valuable Player and immediately joined the ranks as one of the players to watch in the 20ll season.
“I think Andrew Luck should win the Heisman because he was runner up last year and this season he has had 2,424 yards and 26 touchdowns,” Gunnels said.
Many voters take the candidate’s team standings in consideration when placing their votes, looking at strength of schedule and the team’s overall offensive and defensive statistics throughout the year. They also look at the integrity of the candidates and how they handle themselves in the spotlight on and off the field.
“Stanford has not lost a game this season and Andrew Luck has lead his team well,” Gunnels said.
Since 1935, the trophy has been issued to different players every year excluding 1974 and 1975 when Ohio State’s Archie Griffin took the award. No sophomore had ever won the coveted award until 2007 when Florida quarterback Tim Tebow took home the hardware; the years following this college football first, sophomores Sam Bradford and Mark Ingram took home the Heisman in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Many say this may be because of better recruiting by universities, but others say better conditioning and work ethic is also a key to younger players winning the award.
“College football players are incredible athletes in the world and do things on a daily basis that set them apart from any other athlete,” senior Seann Matthews said. “The Heisman makes it possible to recognize someone that had an incredible year and even with some of the controversy around the award, it’s still an honor that can’t be ignored in the sporting world.”
The Heisman Fraternity is a brotherhood that is highly prestigious and one that has very limited access. Each former winner gets one vote each year which is counted with the media votes from the six different regions across the country: the Far West, Mid Atlantic, North, East, South and Southwest. Norte Dame and Ohio State hold the record for most Heisman Trophy winners at seven apiece, the most recent being in 2006 when Ohio State’s quarterback Troy Smith was awarded the prize by the Trust.
“The Heisman Trophy has been given out to collegiate football players for years and has helped push collegiate athletes into the national spotlight and is a great honor,” Cole said.
