Monday night ESPN announced Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Montee Ball, Trent Richardson, and Tyrann Mathieu as the five finalists for the 2011 Heisman Trophy Award.
Missing from the Heisman invitee list is not only Case Keenum, the NCAA career leader in career passing yards (18,685) and total career touchdowns thrown (152), but more importantly the best quarterback in college football, Oklahoma State
A credible argument can be made for four of the five Heisman finalists but not having Brandon Weeden on the list in favor of Stanford’s Andrew Luck is unforgivable. Luck’s invitation is an obvious byproduct of preseason media hype and a lack of objectivity by Heisman voters.
The Finalists
Baylor finished the season with a 2-2 record against ranked opponents losing 59-24 to Oklahoma State
The 11-2 Badgers won the Big Ten championship besting Michigan State
Comparing the two running back finalists, Ball averages 135.31 rushing yards per game to Richardson
LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu’s selection as a Heisman finalist is not without some controversy. Mathieu was suspended for the Auburn game during the season after testing positive for synthetic marijuana, leading to the question, “Is that how you want the Heisman Trophy represented?”
Mathieu is an emotional leader for the top-ranked Tigers. He has 70 total tackles, forced five fumbles, intercepted two passes and scored four touchdowns on the season. Two of his touchdowns have come in LSU’s last two games on punt returns against then No. 3 Arkansas and No. 12 Georgia.
Mathieu’s selection may not be wildly popular as his selection may be more of a team nomination than an individual achievement. University of Michigan
Stanford’s Andrew Luck has been invited to his second straight Heisman Trophy presentation by the Downtown Athletic Club. Luck finished second in the 2010 Heisman Trophy voting to Auburn
Luck finished the 2011 season No. 24 in total passing yards (3,170), No. 5 in passing touchdowns (35), and No. 25 in passing yards per game (264.17).
Statistically speaking, Luck is the fifth best quarterback in the Pac-12 let alone college football. Arizona ’s Nick Foles, Arizona State ’s Brock Osweiler, USC’s Matt Barkley, and Oregon State
The only major passing statistic that Luck led the Pac-12 in was completion percentage (70) and quarterback rating (167.5).
Matt Barkley led the conference in touchdown passes (39), had fewer interceptions thrown than Luck (7-9), and was sacked fewer times (8-9). Barkley threw for 3,528 total yards to Luck’s 3,170.
Luck will have the benefit of playing in one more game this season than Barkley - the Rose Bowl. Unless Luck throws for over 358 yards against Oklahoma State
Stanford did not win the Pac-12 North Division or the Pac-12 Conference title. The Cardinal also did not beat a team ranked better than No. 20 at the time of their game during the season.
The biggest snub of the 2011 season has to be Oklahoma State
Even with all of the gaudy numbers Weeden had a 72.6 completion percentage, second best in college football among quarterbacks with 270 or more passing attempts.
Weeden led the No. 3 Cowboys to an 11-1 record and their first Big 12 Conference Title. OSU beat all four Top 25 teams they faced.
The 2011 Heisman Trophy will be announced December 10, on ESPN. Unfortunately the Fiesta Bowl featuring No. 3 Oklahoma State versus No. 4 Stanford does not happen until January 2.
Weeden will get his chance to embarrass the Heisman “Trust” for his snub. He will also get a chance to show the nation that not only is he a better quarterback statistically but also a better quarterback than Luck in head-to-head competition.
After the game maybe the Downtown Athletic Club will change the date of their Heisman Award presentation from during the season to after the final game has been played?
What would you like to clarify?
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