| The Heisman: A Look Back Steve Whitewater |
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| Another college football season is largely in the books and the Heisman Trophy has been awarded, going this year to Florida QB Tim Tebow. I had referenced Patrick Swayze back in my October Heisman assessment article, so here’s to hoping that Tebow’s career does not go the route of “Black Dog” and “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” mediocrity. At the time of the article, I had expected Kentucky’s Andre Woodson to take the Heisman, but he went the way of Atlanta Falcons’ TV ratings and into fairly strong oblivion. In the first of my two-part introspection of college football traditions, I will analyze the Super Bowl-era history of the Heisman Trophy and make fairly obvious and pedestrian observations on its prediction of future professional glory. The second article, coming sometime soon, will look at the insanity behind the obscene amount of bowl games and their true merit on determining college football success. I mean, if Oklahoma State beats IU in the Insight Bowl, have all the Cowboys become a “man!” in Mike Gundy’s mind? The answer will come later, but now let’s look into past Heisman trends and other facts: Heisman Trophy History Due to my overall lack of experience and knowledge of old-school (1940s-ish) football players, I am going to look at the most and least successful Heisman Trophy-winning pro football players of the Super Bowl era. Translation: any winners since 1966. This time period comes full circle, starting with Florida QB Steve Spurrier and ending with Florida QB Tim Tebow. Of course, Spurrier is mostly known for his coaching acumen and sideline antics and not his playing career, but his NFL time was not a complete waste. I am here to determine whose was and wasn’t. Top 5 Busts 5. Rashaan Salaam- This 1994 Heisman winner from Colorado enjoyed some early success as he ran for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie campaign with the Bears. Unfortunately for Rashaan, like most other Bears offensive players, success was fleeting, as he was off the team by ’97. He makes the list mostly because he has the incredible distinction of playing for an XFL team, the Memphis Maniax. In fact, Salaam is the 4th leading rusher in XFL history!! 4. Eric Crouch- This 2001 winner is the all-time total offense leader in the history of Nebraska, rolling up nearly 8,000 total yards in his career. In a precursor of ineptitude to come, however, Crouch only had to beat out “Rex Is Our Quarterback” Grossman in the voting prior to his NFL eligibility. Crouch was picked by the Rams as a wideout, never played for the team, then later got cut by Green Bay and Kansas City. Memo to future running college quarterbacks (and Vince Young and Michael Vick): learn how to pass too- it’s kind of important. 3. Gary Beban- This 1967 winner from UCLA was picked by the Redskins but played only two seasons with the team, sitting on the bench and becoming the first person to wonder if the team’s nickname might be just a little offensive. His apparent destiny as a pro football Hall-of-Famer was cut short by lack of playing time and he was retired by 1970. Beban remains, however, the only Bruin to have ever won the award, something that makes Cade McNown wonder if his college eligibility is actually up or not. 2. Gino Torretta- This 1992 winner took the honor mostly based on his college record (26-1) and not his Heisman challengers (Marshall Faulk, anyone?). Torretta led Miami to a national title berth and threw for more than 3,000 yards, but his NFL career stalled early after he wasn’t selected until the 7th round by the Vikings. Torretta would go on to unceremoniously back up starters in Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, and Indianapolis. Like Rick Astley, Gino may have just been predetermined to be a one-hit wonder. 1. Charlie Ward- You’re probably wondering why Jason White or Danny Wuerffel or Andre Ware or Chris Weinke isn’t holding this top spot. You want to know why? Charlie here wasn’t even picked at all by the NFL! He was taken, however, by the Knicks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft, and in all seriousness, his athletic versatility should be commended. But when you aren’t even selected by the next level of the sport of which you were just named the top amateur, something is wrong. Ward would start for the ’ 99 Eastern champion Knicks and later play for the Rockets. I guess Tebow should avoid that inopportune call from Larry Bird…. Top 5 Stars 5. O.J. Simpson- Before his struggle of a post-career life, Simpson was a great pro football player. The 1968 Heisman winner from USC was the first running back to ever gain 2,000 yards, going for 2,003 in 1973. O.J. would end his career with the 14th most rushing yards in NFL history, 11,236, and play in six Pro Bowls: he was then selected to the Hall of Fame in 1985. Unfortunately for O. J., most people remember him for his costarring role as Nordberg in “The Naked Gun” trilogy than they do his playing career. Has he been in the public eye for anything else? 4. Earl Campbell- The 1977 Heisman winner from Texas would go on to a stellar pro career, leading the league in rushing each year from 1978-’80 and playing in five Pro Bowls. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in ’78, Offensive Player of the Year in ’ 78, ‘79 and ’80, and NFL MVP in 1979 and finished his career with nearly 9,500 yards. His best season was 1980, when he rushed for 1,934 yards and 13 touchdowns. Campbell was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. 3. Tim Brown- The 1987 Heisman winner from Notre Dame set records at both levels: he was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman and then became a prolific NFL receiver. Brown retired in 2005 with the second highest receiving yards total of all time (14,934) and the third most touchdowns (100, tied with Steve Largent) and receptions (1,094). Brown and Jerry Rice formed unquestionably the most distinguished wide receiver combination in NFL history during their Raiders tenure, 2000-’03, and Brown was a nine time Pro Bowl selection. For his long and successful time with the team, Brown is known as “Mr. Raider.” 2. Tony Dorsett- The 1976 winner from Pitt became a very successful NFL running back, going for nearly 13,000 yards and being selected to the Pro Bowl four times, mostly during his time with the Cowboys. According to Wikipedia, Dorsett is also the only football player ever to hold these five distinctions: college football national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, Super Bowl champion, College Football Hall-of-Famer, and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer. He was elected to both halls of fame in 1994. I’m guessing Dave Wannstedt wouldn’t mind having Dorsett back nowadays. 1. Barry Sanders- This 1988 Heisman winner from Oklahoma State had maybe the best single season statistics ever during his junior season: 2,628 rushing yards, 3,249 total yards, 39 touchdowns, and nine games of at least three touchdowns. Barry’s productivity certainly did not diminish in the pros, where he finished his career prematurely with the all-time rushing yards record on his doorstep. Sanders had a co-MVP 1997 season with 2,053 yards and finished his career with 15,269 rushing yards and 109 total touchdowns. He was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Offensive Player of the Year. Sanders’ statistical excellence and overall individual talent make fans feel short-changed about the ending of his career: he retired at the age of 30 prior to the 1999 season, then went on to star in that commercial with other retired players in generic uniforms. Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 with John Elway, maybe the best tandem ever. Sanders’ Lions replacement, James Stewart, followed his more notable namesake went to Washington, but as a Redskins backup and overall mediocre NFL running back. Emmitt Smith’ s status as all-time rushing champion would be negated had Sanders played longer. Tebow’s 2007 Heisman win certainly predicts very little about his NFL future: as has been seen, college football success means little to the professional productivity of future years. In my next installment, I will look at the preponderance of college football bowl games and determine if my Ball State Cardinals can defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the most anticipated bowl game of them all, the International Bowl!! Crap, I guess it isn’t. |