Does the Heisman matter anymore?

[playthrough]

And while we're on the topic, can we get rid of using "Heisman Trophy candidate" as an ID for a player? My ****ing God. Every ****ing guy in ****ing shoulder pads is a ****ing Heisman Trophy candidate.

The oppressive ubiquity of betting content might actually be a boon on this front. Being able to say, "Jeff George, the second favorite for the Heisman Trophy, played as if he wore clown shoes onto the field" is a lot more informative than plastering him - and 90 bazillion other players - with a "Heisman Trophy candidate" ID.

Betting the Heisman is a different way to bet cfb. Daniels' odds were all over the place all season, as high as 40-1 before getting chalky at the end.

Also, give me a reel of Heisman House commercials over the stuffy trophy presentation.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Just watched the 30 for 30 on the 1997 Heisman race. Really well done. No current interviews. All 1997 media stuff. Good choice.

I know so little about college football these days. Just fell out of my bandwidth. But 1997? I was just out of college and covering Big Ten football.

That was such a fun season to cover. And damn, more than 25 years ago. Ooof.

 

[tapintoamerica]

I think the playoff has taken away much of the Heisman interest. There's no longer a news desert as the vote draws near.

 

[BTExpress]

They should have a Punt, Pass and Kick among the four finalists.

(and actually show the damn punting and kicking for once)

 

[Typist Clerk]

There's a lack of locally-written hype in the week before because the Heisman committee told voters if they revealed their vote beforehand, they'd lose their vote in the future. For many, three-quarters of the reason for writing a pre-Heisman column was to announce who you'd voted for and then wait to see if your vote matched. Readers could play along. That's gone now, and the publicity for the award show with it.

 

[goalmouth]

The first Heisman winner, Jay Berwanger, gave the statue to his mother, who for years used it as a doorstop.

 

[Liut]

There's a lack of locally-written hype in the week before because the Heisman committee told voters if they revealed their vote beforehand, they'd lose their vote in the future. For many, three-quarters of the reason for writing a pre-Heisman column was to announce who you'd voted for and then wait to see if your vote matched. Readers could play along. That's gone now, and the publicity for the award show with it.

Didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[Batman]

I think the playoff has taken away much of the Heisman interest. There's no longer a news desert as the vote draws near.

Or much of a break between the regular season and the bowl season. There's only one off week between the two, and even then there's a newfound hype for the Army-Navy game that has filled in some of that void.

 

[Della9250]

There's a lack of locally-written hype in the week before because the Heisman committee told voters if they revealed their vote beforehand, they'd lose their vote in the future. For many, three-quarters of the reason for writing a pre-Heisman column was to announce who you'd voted for and then wait to see if your vote matched. Readers could play along. That's gone now, and the publicity for the award show with it.

Stiff Arm Trophy: Heisman Projections by Kari Chisholm was a must

 

[Typist Clerk]

Stiff Arm Trophy: Heisman Projections by Kari Chisholm was a must

I remember that. Writers were asked in press boxes who their votes were going to. I saved that for my Friday column. That projection also built interest. Now all there is is the release of the attending finalists.

 

[poindexter]

First Heisman trophy winner was in 1935.
How in the absolute **** did voters know what they were voting for, when they didn't see the players?

 

[BTExpress]

Same way people voted for presidents for about a century and a half.

 

[goalmouth]

Going the way of other b ulls hit awards that now include fan voting.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Could argue it lost a lot of its prestige when it was taken out of the Downtown Athletic Club and just became another toy for ESPN.

We also have way too many voters and I'd bet I watch more college football than at least half of them.

 

[DanOregon]

Figured Nissan would "encourage" the winner with an insurance policy and a nice appearance fee - plus the debut of their first "Heisman House" ad during their bowl game.

 

[SixToe]

Figured Nissan would "encourage" the winner with an insurance policy and a nice appearance fee - plus the debut of their first "Heisman House" ad during their bowl game.

I've wondered why some winners are in the ads and others aren't, like Newton. He's as big of a Look At Meeeee! personality but isn't in the Heisman House.

Maybe they won't pay him enough. Dunno.

 

[outofplace]

The LSU QB had just as good if not better season than Burrow but who outside of Baton Rouge has paid attention, or cared?

Jayden Daniels was a lot of fun to watch at LSU. Maybe his rushing numbers get him close, but Burrow's passing statistics were ridiculous and his team was an undefeated national champion, not an also-ran in the SEC.

 

[LanceyHoward]

There's a lack of locally-written hype in the week before because the Heisman committee told voters if they revealed their vote beforehand, they'd lose their vote in the future. For many, three-quarters of the reason for writing a pre-Heisman column was to announce who you'd voted for and then wait to see if your vote matched. Readers could play along. That's gone now, and the publicity for the award show with it.

I am not a journalist. But I think if any organization requests that a journalist censor his work in order to vote in that organization's competition then said journalist should say no thank you.

This includes events like the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I once read a column by Peter King where he said he participates in the Hall of Fame voting and abides by the confidentially rules because "it was good for game". Promoting the sport should not be the responsibility of a journalist, or so I was taught in high school journalism.

 

[outofplace]

I am not a journalist. But I think if any organization requests that a journalist censor his work in order to vote in that organization's competition then said journalist should say no thank you.

This includes events like the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I once read a column by Peter King where he said he participates in the Hall of Fame voting and abides by the confidentially rules because "it was good for game". Promoting the sport should not be the responsibility of a journalist, or so I was taught in high school journalism.

I think that is cover for the real reason, that confidentiality is good for the voters. That way they aren't held publicly accountable for the arguments they make in the room and the way they vote.

 

[BTExpress]

Well, the teams LSU lost to this year were a combined 35-3. A little better than an SEC also-ran (speaking as a fan of an SEC also-ran).