Kansas and Mizzou just played each other ranked Nos. 2 and 4, respectively.,”As the biggest college football fan I know, this season leaves me shaking my head each and every Saturday. Nearing the year's end, I cannot tell you what is the most head-scratching storyline.
Kansas and Mizzou just played each other ranked Nos. 2 and 4, respectively. Notre Dame stood at 1-9 through 10 games. Appalachian State shocked Michigan back in early September. Miami and Florida State went a combined 6-10 in the ACC. Five teams who at various times were ranked second nationally lost.
With that water under the bridge, I can tell you the most exciting storyline yet to develop. This season, the Heisman race will not be a simple end-of-the-year formality.
Three players put up monster performances week—in and week-out, and for the first time in some time, the Downtown Athletic Club also will invite a degree of tension before the envelope is opened.
This season's top Heisman candidates took a page from 2001, the last competitive vote for all intents and purposes.
Six years ago, dual-threat Eric Crouch beat out Florida quarterback Rex Grossman by just 62 votes. Ken Dorsey, the signal caller for the No. 1 team in the country, came in just 70 votes behind Grossman.
In a couple weeks, the DAC will host dual-threat Darren McFadden, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Chase Daniel, the signal caller for the No. 1 team in the country, Missouri. It seems the Department of Redundancy Department just faxed that memo.
In 2001, Crouch did it all for the Huskers. This fall, McFadden played the part. Yes, I'm likening the Arkansas tailback to the former Huskers option specialist, but just look at his stats. The kid toppled defenses for more than 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2007.
He also finished strong, a necessity for a Heisman contender. On national television against top-ranked LSU, McFadden lined up as quarterback for half of the fourth quarter, ran for 200 yards, scored three times and threw his fourth touchdown of the season.
Unfortunately, the '06 runner-up will finish second again. Don't worry Darren, you will have a senior year without a Nutt for a coach. Keep your head up. Glenn Davis of Army finished second in the Heisman voting in 1944 and '45 before winning in '46.
Dorsey won 34 games in a row, and Chase Daniel hasn't. Nonetheless, Daniel's Tigers stand atop the polls, and Mizzou keeps pushing his "Chase for the Heisman" campaign.
He amassed nearly 4,000 passing yards during a season that came to a head last weekend. In the biggest game in Mizzou history, Daniel completed more than 80 percent of his passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns over rival Kansas.
Though more than a blip on the voter's radar, Daniel could win the most prestigious award in sports with an impressive showing in the Big 12 Championship game. Sadly, many Heisman voters send their ballots in before championship week. Thus, Daniel will have to settle for a Cinderella year.
This brings me to Tebow. Complete with movie-star good looks, an AK-47 for an arm, legs that churn like pistons and a Web site boasting Bunyanesque feats (timtebowfacts.com), Tebow has become nationally renowned.
Tebow ran for more than 800 yards and 22 TDs this year, a great year for a tailback. But, Tebow plays quarterback. He also threw for over 3,000 yards and 29 more scores.
It will be closer than Bo Jackson's 45-point victory over Chuck Long in '85, but the Heisman will be going down to Gainesville.
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