As he did the week before, the Tide back came in tops in both the Scripps Howard Heisman poll and the HeismanPundit.com's own poll. Both services sample actual Heisman voters to get their weekly results.
Ingram had a substantial lead in both indicators, well ahead of Tim Tebow in the former and Colt McCoy in the latter. Tebow was fifth according to the HeismanPundit, while McCoy was third according to Scripps Howard. Stanford running back Toby Gerhart was ranked third and fifth, respectively.
And, as always, we'll end this Heisman update with my own lil' rankings, which I've "dramatically" shaken up given the last two weeks of play. Fell free to bitch away debate intelligently in the comments section below.
1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
2a. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
2b. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
2c. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
3a. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
3b. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
3c. Case Keenum, QB, Houston
3d. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
3e. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
3f. Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
When did Spiller transfer to Nebraska? This is huge news.
Colt McCoy in 8th place?
Wait - this is a joke, right?
In my view, If you play for Alabama, Florida, Texas, USC, Oklahoma, Ohio State, ...or any of the top programs in the country, you should be LESS considered in the heisman race. In fact, unless you have super human numbers, you should not be considered for the heisman at all..
Why? --I am glad you asked--
If you are an offensive player(i.e...quarterback/running back, reciever..) and you, being surrounbded by "pro-bound" offensive lineman/recievers/running backs,--should have better numbers than the majority of other equal players playing for "less-than" top NCAA football programs.
Therefore, the heisman committee should be looking for the "diamonds in the rough" players-who are demonstrating exceptional on the field performances on weekly basis--So people like Mark Ingram from Alabama, yes a good running back, maybe even make pro's, well unless he averages 180 yds- 200 yds plus per game, I would not even consider him--He should be averaging 150 yds per game surrounded by a talented Alabama offensive line---Similarly for Colt McCoy, Tiebow, .... they should be beating teams by 20 or more point per game--they are overflowing with offensive talent
So--I say if the heisman award is to be an honarable award--you must get rid of the high school popularity bandwagon mentality, the money and politics that so surrounds the heisman selection process..
Greg you have an interesting article there with some pretty good points to be considered. But I think the selection folks want it all to come from the big schools. Wish they would listen to you.
If the Tide beat the Gators and Ingram is a big part of that I think it goes his way. We will see.
Greg makes an interesting case, but if you're playing for a top program, it also makes sense that you're playing against more top talent. Let's be real here, the Heisman's going to go to the most talented players in the most talented programs. Your suggestion is kind of like saying they should give the Tony Award for best play to some community theater group because it's not fair to reward the Broadway plays when they have the big-name stars. College football has a lot of awards, and I'm sure there are many that go to smaller schools. But it makes sense that the premier award would go to the premier talent.
John, you know this pro fan doesn't really venture outside the SEC when it comes to college :-) Why Gerhart over Ingram?
How about LaMichael James and Dion Lewis?
Greg,
Deb is correct. The top teams have the top deffensive players in the league that every heisman canidate must face in order to win. Take a guy like Ryan Mathews, who is tearing it up this year. 1500 yards and 14TD's are "superhuman" numbers, but with a schedule of Fresno State, who has 3 major contenders to deal with in Cinnci, Boisie St., and Wisconson; none of whom have a defense that is nationally recognized and generaly win their games by outscoring opponents in shootouts, its hard to look at his numbers the same way. Ingram is number one not becasue of his numbers, which are impressive at 1300 yds. and 10 TD's, but becasue he has done it against VT, Ole Miss, LSU, and South Carolina. Also keep in mind that his numbers are on a team that for the vast majority of his season has been considered by everyone to be a one demensional, run only, team, and played against accordingly. If you need numbers on that check Julio Jones horrid stats for the first 9 Games. Lastly, Ingram gets around 46% of his yards AFTER first contact. He is the most difficult back to bring down in College Football in my opinion. Not to take anything away from Gerhart, I think hes an amazing back, but I think hes been defeating the idea of amazing teams like USC, as opposed to the actual squad this year. Still, what he did against Oregon was insane, and he should be recognized for performances like that, but Ingram has been carrying and undefeated team since Week 1, and no one has figured out how to stop him yet, if you don't count Tenn. holding him to a mere 90 yds a stop. In the end, who you play against has as almost as much of a factor in the race as how you play against them. Roll Tide.
"If you play for a top team you play aginst top talent". Look at Florida's OOC schedule, and USC>
I agree that Ingram is a "good back"-- but he still has an offenisve "Better than good" surrounding cast- and a great defense--that wins games
And that has a great deal to do with his better than good numbers, not great-better than good-
Yes I know he has been going against some top 20 defenses.--REgardless-- not a GREAT back in my opinoin--Now Spiller maybe another story-He is a game changer.
But in regard to quarterbacks,
You guys youre drinking heisman hype Kool- Aid. Kace in point, no pun intended--Look at his surrounding cast--the defense ranks amoung the worst in NCAA div 1--l0ook at the team stats. With a defense in the cellar --most of those teams range from 1-9 to at best 4-6 records--what is Houston? ---8-2 why---Kace Keenum
Look at his numbers in context with his supoporting offensive cast(majority of soph, freshman and a few juniors)--HIs numbers are monstrous against some good teams--compare his stats to Colt McCoy against the same teams--his numbers are out of Colts league. Keenum is the best quarterback in the country--hands down
I am hoping that Ingram gets the award. He deserves it because of his performance on the field, in school, and in his community. He is a great young man and deserves the award.
As for giving the awards to players from the bigger school, I need to remind you that Alabama has never had a Heisman award winner. So, there isn't a big conspiracy to give any Bama players the award. :)
Go, Ingram!
Hey-I love Tim Tiebow, Colt McCoy and Ingram--he may be my brother in Christ. So I love the guy--For all I know Mark--is it --Mark Ingram--may volunteer in numerous ministries--If so he will get a reward--much more valuable than any steel trophy given by the heisman committtee.
But In regards to the heisman, the award is supposed to go to the "best player" in college football. It does not say anything regarding best player and all around scholar/humanitarian/inspirer/good-looking. and goes to the best school.....
In my opinion he is not the best football player in college football this year. He is a good back-probably will develope in the pro's someday if he so desires.
ok its half time and Kennum has almost 400 yds passing and 4 TD's --0 interceptions--26/35 completions
-----In the drizzling rain.....
Can the guy get some respect?---
Please--responses from non-Kool Aid drinkers only
ok its half time and Kennum has almost 400 yds passing and 4 TD's --0 interceptions--26/35 completions
-----In the drizzling rain.....
Can the guy get some respect?---
Please--responses from non-Kool Aid drinkers only
Mark Ingram is the best player in college football!!!! Watch out for TRENT RICHARSON IN THE FUTURE!!!!!!! "ROLL TIDE ROLL" ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE HAS 12 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS and counting.....,the most SEC championships(the best conference in college football history, the most bowl appearances of any college team and the most bowl wins of any college football team.
The heisman is an individual award- awarded to the best/most valuable player--not a team award
Kool Aid peddler--
Alabama Kool-Aid doesn't sell here!
Forget the heisman
The best quarterback in terms of ability and performance, by the way a good person too, Kace Kennum.
Do your own comparisons with Colt McCoy playing against the same teams--there is no comparison
Like I said, it is easy moving the ball down the field when you are surrounded by a bunch of pro bound prospects with a great defense that keeps the pressure on --but do it consistantly every week for 12 games with a group of sophmores and a bottom tier defense who will never play in the pro's--is another story--
I know that media kool aid and the "bandwagon prophets" will help win the hesiman for Colt. I like Colt --seems like a good guy
He is a good quarterback--not the best this year
The best quarterback in the country this year is Kace Keenum! Look at the stats against the good teams The numbers don't lie!
Oh yea Tim Teibow a heck of a guy too!