A traditional predictor of the most prestigious award in college football lives on.
In 1987, the Rocky Mountain News in Denver began a weekly Heisman Trophy poll. Every week during college football season the paper asked 10 Heisman voters, including representatives from each of the five Heisman balloting regions, to predict who would win the award. The Heisman poll was distributed nationally by Scripps Howard News Service.
In the last weekly poll of 1987 the voters mistakenly predicted Syracuse QB Don McPherson over eventual winner Notre Dame wideout Tim Brown. But the voters got it right 18 of the next 20 years before stumbling last season, when they picked Texas QB Colt McCoy over winner QB Sam Bradford of Oklahoma.
The Rocky ceased publication in February, but Scripps Howard News Service is continuing the tradition. And if the first poll of 2009 holds true, Heisman history will be made in New York City come December when the Downtown Athletic Club announces this year’s winner.
Florida QB Tim Tebow leads this year’s opening poll, released after three games so voters can get some actual semblance of what is happening this season. Tebow, the 2007 Heisman winner who finished third last year, earned five of 10 first-place votes for 42 total points. He could join Oho State’s Archie Griffin as the only player to win two Heismans.
Cal running back Jahvid Best, who failed to crack the top 10 in Heisman balloting last year, is second with 29 points including three first-place votes after a five-touchdown effort in a win at Minnesota last Saturday. McCoy is third. After suffering a shoulder injury in Oklahoma’s season-opening loss to BYU Sept. 5, Bradford has not played and was not named on a single ballot.
Tennessee has launched a campaign for safety Eric Berry, but he did not receive a vote despite an impressive game against Florida on Saturday.
Voting tabulations are made on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis, with five points for a first-place vote, four points for second, etc. First-place votes are in parentheses.
The opening week’s poll, with statistics from last week:
Player, Position, School, Last Week, Points.
1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida, 24 carries, 76 yards, TD run, 14-of-19, 115 yards passing, int., 42 (5).
2. Jahvid Best, RB, California, 26 carries, 131 yards, 5 TDs, 29 (3).
3. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas, 24-of-34 passing, 205 yards, TD, 2 ints., 23, (1).
4. Jacory Harris, QB, Miami, 20-of-25 passing, 270 yards, 3 TDs, 13.
5. Case Keenum, QB, Houston, Did not play.
Others receiving votes: Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen, 6; Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant, 5; Washington QB Jake Locker, 3; Cincinnati QB Tony Pike, 1.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 53
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
i think Jahvid Best should lead the list.... Tebow looked okay against Troy and Charleston Southern... but Tennessee whipped him...and held him to his first game in 33 games without a touchdown pass.
FearTheVols1252 writes:
I never thought I'd see the day when a fullback wins 2 Heisman's. Ooops, that's right... he's a QB.
cloudodust writes:
My vote goes to Swine Flu for the game he played against Florida.
VolunteerLifer writes:
The idea that the Heisman is always awarded to the best player is a joke. it is obviously an award for only offensive backfield skill players. others need not apply, no matter how good they are. (That is, unless you are Peyton Manning, and the award givers just don't want to give it to you. Then, but only then, can someone else get the award)
I remain with my attitude: who cares who wins the Heisman? It's a joke.
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
Last uyear i heard that someone said Crompton maybe on the list from 2008, what a difference a year makes...
kevin151 writes:
How is Cropmton not on this list??? The guy is a 5 star stud!!!!!!!!
UTisaJOKE writes:
You are just upset becasue a Vol has never won the award.
volzcrushm writes:
The Heisman is a political joke. Just before the bowl games, CBS and ESPN will see what benefits them most, and then they will start making a "beneficial" push of the ones they hope to get to meet on their broadcast. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
GreerVol22 writes:
amen, Tebow has the Flu... thats the only reason we lost by 10.
volzcrushm writes:
I SECOND THIS STATEMENT!!!
caverunner writes:
Honestly, since the Peyton Manning fiasco with the heisman, i really don't put too much stock in it nor in the voters that elect the person to receive it...jmo
volzcrushm writes:
....AND, I SAY IT AGAIN!!
UTisaJOKE writes:
How does CBS benefit from the Heisman? They do not show the award ceremony nor do they broadcast any of the BCS games, so why would they push one person over another? You sound like someone who is complaining about the award just because his favorite team has never had anyone good enough to be called a Heisman Tophey winner.
Sour grapes.
HollySpringsVOL writes:
"In the last weekly poll of 1987 the voters mistakenly predicted Syracuse QB Don McPherson over eventual winner Notre Dame wideout Tim Brown. But the voters got it right 18 of the next 20 years before stumbling last season, when they picked Texas QB Colt McCoy over winner QB Sam Bradford of Oklahoma."
They are going to stumble again if they pick TE-BLOWS. He sure didn't look like the best player in the country against a real defense.
Go Vols!
doctorfingervol writes:
He is also leading in the polls to perform the most circumcisions in division 1 football....what a guy!
doctorfingervol writes:
Even the people at espn will admit today that Peyton was jobbed in retrospect.
REVOL writes:
Heisman = Irrelevent. Just an opinion. It's not possile to say who the best player in college football is. Changes every week at least. Especially in September. Call me back in December. There should not be even be polls for teams until November 1st.
murrayvol writes:
Many among us probably don't know that 92 Heisman voters left Peyton Manning off their ballot altogether.
murrayvol writes:
Originality is not Naffy's strong suit.
VolunteerLifer writes:
If we accept your thesis for the sake of argument, then you are proving my point: apparently 1997 was the only exception and if, according to you, the best college player WAS selected, only during that year did the Heisman actually reflect the best player, whether offense or defense. For every year prior and since, the Hypeman committee has selected an offensive backfield skill player, whether he was the best college player or not.
Why was Woodson tabbed in 97 when so many others like Woodson throughout the years were not? Do you really think that Gino Torelli was the best college player that year that he won? or Danny Wueffel? or Steve Spurrier? Come on. Why can't a great safety or linebacker or DT or center win the award if they truly are the best player in the sport?
The Hypeman is a joke. It is a beauty contest and a popularity contest and rarely has anything to do with who is the best player in the sport.
NeylandWest writes:
Peyton deserved the Heisman, but it did not deserve him.
InertGas writes:
Heard this today: Can't spell flu without UF.
kevin151 writes:
If you still use the term yankee, you need to grow up..... Get over it
Hardrocknox writes:
haha can you even read what you are replying to ? lol , he said " 92 HEISMAN VOTERS LEFT HIM OF THE BALLOT "Lol not voting in 1992 ... you have to a lizard , no fcken clue !!! lol
Munsterlander writes:
Must be a bummer to go through life as an insufferable rear orifice. Loud-mouthed QB? Pot, kettle. Can you do it? Not respond?
50 years from now nobody will care about Heismans in this or any previous decade. Who cares? Woodson - great player. Manning - great player, plus super-bowl MVP. But really, who cares?
How 'bout we argue about what color is prettiest? I bet robbie has an opinion and won't stop arguing until everyone agrees, kinda Taliban style. And whatever color he doesn't like will somehow be tied to Manning or Kiffin. Sad.
OrangeMaelstrom writes:
Umm, could we get back on point, please? As of now, Jahvid Best is #1, Harris from the U is #2, with probably McCoy at #3. Sound reasonable? Berry is great but he will need to statistically have Florida-like games for the rest of the season to make it into the top 3 of the Heisman. Who cares? He's going to win the Thorpe award and be taken in the draft next year well ahead of Tim Tebow...I mean Timmy Swine Flu
OLROCKYTOP writes:
Does anyone on this website care what Tebow does?????
chrisw2967 writes:
Tblow will not win the heisman...Book It
and Fla will not be in the NCG
chrisw2967 writes:
Tblow isnt the best QB in Fla according to ESPN.
Ironcity writes:
Woodson gives games away now just like he did back then. He sucks. Only a person with black colored glasses wouldn't know that.
cgbtn writes:
If you guys are not following Tyler Bray and the Kingsburg Vikings in the Kingsburg Recorder (updated on Wednesdays), you're missing the offensive excitement our QB-less offense is lacking. Last week against the major contender for the conference championship, he threw for 338 yds and three TDs. Maybe some day he'll be leading this poll.
vol98champ writes:
Finally someone with some sense on this post. I said at the time that the Heisman needed Payton much more than he needed that worthless piece of trash. I haven't watched the give away since 1997 and have no idea who wins it each year. Best player in college football my axx.
crimsonviper writes:
Good post cgbtn! Maybe someday KNS will post stories about future Vols.
Way to go KNS.Keep beating that poor ole' horse.
Maybe, someday the old nag will give up the ghost and die.
magentatoes10 writes:
you are obviously a racist
NoSirRee writes:
I sure would like some info about the Ohio game before kickoff, but I guess thats just not as interesting as who's going to win the "prettiest football player award" aka the heisman trophy.
tennezz writes:
Tebow has no chance at winning the Heisman, Crompton is a lock to win this! Crompton is going to have the NCAA record for most passes completed to defensive backs!
Huttdawg100 writes:
I don't see how anyone could vote for Tebow over Miami's Jacory Harris. That guy is playing lights out football, and didn't blink an eye in the 4rth quarter of the FSU game. After last weekend, I see why Marve and company jumped ship. I'm having trouble thinking of another QB that's as cool and calm under pressure.
movol77 writes:
"blah, blah, blah" always makes me sleepy.
stormblast writes:
Charles Woodson wasn't the best defensive back in the nation in 97. He tied for second in interceptions. Played maybe 5 offensive plays a game...Champ Bailey was more of a dual threat than Woodson ever could have been.
Woodson was nothing more than a propaganda tool for ABC to promote the Rose Bowl to take the attention away from the Orange Bowl being played as the real national championship game on CBS. The following year, ABC took the BCS over. Basically, Woodson was nothing more than the cheese whiz on a cracker from hors d'oeuvre tray before the BCS entree was served.
The Heisman trophy lost its appeal to me too. The bottom line is Peyton Manning was the best player in college football in 97. If you go by career stats (the whole not beating Florida idiots argument), then he did nothing to lose the Florida game. He didn't start the 94 game (Todd Helton did), he didn't fumble the ball away the next two years to give the game away (Graham did). Peyton only rewrote the record books.
Terry Fair was a better defensive back than Woodson was.
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
And twelve years later where are they now?
Peyton Manning-Super Bowl Champion MVP and multiple All Pro selection and future Hall of Famer.
Charles Woodson- a decent corner for the Green Bay Packers.
Vol_RobE- still lives in his mom's basement.
Pdiddy10 writes:
when urban said that we didnt try to win the game, that means he thinks that we could have played better and beaten them
Orangeblood13 writes:
they still give that award out?
Really, who cares?
Orangeblood13 writes:
hmmmm
Whats more important? Super Bowl MVP and Super Bowl Ring? or little heisman trophy?
I say Manning 1, Woodson 0
I think Woodson still has tire tracks on him from the Tampa offence lol
midtnfan writes:
all you idiots do is cry about somebody else. worry about your own sorry team for a change.
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
If you followed your own advice YOU would not be here!
midtnfan writes:
you read an article to get some insight and all you read is a bunch of people crying about peyton manning not winning the heisman. get over it people. let's move on.
midtnfan writes:
They would all be kissing his butt.
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
I don't hate Tebow, I think he was as neutralized as possible for college football on Saturday. You do have a wonderful vision, though I must add that Fulmer never would have played Tebow as a freshman.
tennezz writes:
Just like you do!!!
Runningangry writes:
Tebow won't even be the first QB taken in the draft even as a senior. Eric Berry could very well be the first overall pick, or at the very least the first overall defensive player taken as a junior.
Charles Woodson could finish his career and likely not make the NFL Hall of Fame. Peyton Manning could retire tomorrow and be a first ballot inductee. Things even out in the longrun Vol fans. Until then, don't take the bait that the interloper fishermen offer.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.