Orange Mane's Heisman Poll

[Bronco LB 59]

Who is the most outstanding collegiate football player in the country?

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Who is the best player? - Peterson
Who will win the Heisman - Lienart

[SoCalBronco]

Derrick Johnson.
Leinart is not among the Top 40 players in the country.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Derrick Johnson.
Leinart is not among the Top 40 players in the country.

Bet there are some folks in your neighborhood who would disagree.

[FADERPROOF]

I went with Adrian Peterson.

[TheManeMan]

Its very rare to see a a Freshman win the award...I really think that Adrian Peterson is the best player at his position maybe even the best player in the NCAA...but, I think the chances are slim that they give the prestigious award to him...Giving the Heisman to a player that has already won the Trophy the year before is an even slimer chance...Its sad to say but, Jason White has played better than last year, and wont get consideration because he won it last year...So, I voted for Matt Leinart even though IF Reggie Bush had more touches he'd win easily...maybe next year for him...So Leinart was my choice...

[Saulbadguy]

Jason White.

[RunByDesign]

Alex Smith.

[Breck Bronc]

Stefan LeFors has been the most impressive player I've seen this season. He won't win the Heisman because he plays at Louisville and has had to sit on the sideline a few times so prized recruit and future-stud Brian Brohm can get some experience for a series here or there. LeFors isn't just carving up bad teams like Andre Ware and David Klingler in the late 80's/early 90's.

If LeFors doesn't get it then Alex Smith should. I'll be extremely pissed if White wins the Heisman again, or for that matter if Peterson wins it after Willis McGahee finished 4th in 2002.

The best players I've seen this year, off the top of my head;

Stefan LeFors, Louisville
Alex Smith, Utah
Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
Reggie Bush, USC
Devin Hester, Miami
Derrick Johnson, Texas
Braylon Edwards, Michigan
Heath Miller, Virginia
Aaron Rodgers, California
Ryan Moats, Louisiana Tech
Cedric Benson, Texas

Plus, I have to give credit to a guy that I complained a whole bunch about, Brock Berlin, for one of the biggest one year turnarounds I've ever seen a college football player make. He was awful last season and excellent this year. If he played like this last season Miami wins the national championship with their dominant, Vilma/Taylor/Williams/Wilfork/Rolle-led defense. Unfortunately for Brock the defense fell apart this year after 5 games causing his team to lose two games it shouldn't have.

[DB-Freak]

No Clarett on the poll?

I DEMAND A RECOUNT.

[FADERPROOF]

No Clarett on the poll?

I DEMAND A RECOUNT.

Wow, I am so stunned that a post of yours in the college football forum has something to do with maurice clarett.

[DB-Freak]

Wow, I am so stunned that a post of yours in the college football forum has something to do with maurice clarett.
rofl

Thanks. You have brightened up my miserable overnight shift.


Damn........ Now Im off to find an extra pillow for myself.


4321~

[Northman]

Alex Smith.


same here

[Play2win]

I would say Reggie Bush, but he splits time with White. If Reggie was used more as a workhorse, I think we would be giving the heisman to him. I think he is the best football player and football talent in the game right now. He is the biggest difference-maker in the game, but he is just not given the ball enough.

So, I defer to Lienart. He is very good. His acuracy is some of the best I have seen in the college game for a long time. That is his strength. Yes, he does have weeknesses, but he has guided the #1 progam in the country to an (so far) undefeated season. He has made the right decisions to, most weeks, allow that offense to explode and put a gang of points on the board. There have been a few games this year that have been close coming out of the half, but by the time the 4th quarter rolls around, it is out of reach, thanks to Lienart. So, I would want Reggie Bush to get it, but realistically I think Lienart is the choice.

Adriane Peterson is who I would vote for, if he weren't a Freshman. I still say he should get it because of his performances this season, but because of reasons before mentioned, he probably won't. I wouldn't be upset at all if he got it, he's a fun kid to watch! And thats coming from a CU fan. Just not Jason White, he didn't deserve it last year and he doesn't deserve it this year. He showed how much he didn't deserve it last year with his season ending, er, performances.

[Crushaholic]

I voted for Derrick Johnson. It's about time a player on defense wins this idiotic award...

[Mile High Shack]

I would say Reggie Bush, but he splits time with White. If Reggie was used more as a workhorse, I think we would be giving the heisman to him. I think he is the best football player and football talent in the game right now. He is the biggest difference-maker in the game, but he is just not given the ball enough.

So, I defer to Lienart. He is very good. His acuracy is some of the best I have seen in the college game for a long time. That is his strength. Yes, he does have weeknesses, but he has guided the #1 progam in the country to an (so far) undefeated season. He has made the right decisions to, most weeks, allow that offense to explode and put a gang of points on the board. There have been a few games this year that have been close coming out of the half, but by the time the 4th quarter rolls around, it is out of reach, thanks to Lienart. So, I would want Reggie Bush to get it, but realistically I think Lienart is the choice.

Adriane Peterson is who I would vote for, if he weren't a Freshman. I still say he should get it because of his performances this season, but because of reasons before mentioned, he probably won't. I wouldn't be upset at all if he got it, he's a fun kid to watch! And thats coming from a CU fan. Just not Jason White, he didn't deserve it last year and he doesn't deserve it this year. He showed how much he didn't deserve it last year with his season ending, er, performances.

you do realize White has better #'s than Linehart right?
both this year and last year

[Bronco LB 59]

I voted for Derrick Johnson. It's about time a player on defense wins this idiotic award...

I agree wholeheartedly. The award is supposed to be given to the best collegiate football player in the country.

The voters of this award throughout history have pretty much limited themselves to a QB and RB.

A few times they have gone the WR route (Desmond Howard, Tim Brown, Johnny Rodgers was a flanker/wingback) but just last year we heard the numerous WR biases about Larry Fitzgerald (a WR doesn't touch the ball as much as a QB B.S.).

The year Orlando Pace was going for the Heisman (1996), I wanted him to win so badly just to change the frame of minds of the voters. Danny FREAKING Wuerrfel won it!!!

When Charles Woodson won it, I think there were voters that felt he was the best player in the country, but I also feel there were protest votes against Peyton Manning too. Manning didn't have the greatest senior season but there were quite a few voters that wanted to reward him with a lifetime achievement award and there was a major backlash.


Yes, I think the voters need to be more open minded about voting and include offensive linemen and defensive players in their evaluation.

[Play2win]

you do realize White has better #'s than Linehart right?
both this year and last year
He had an amazing team last year, still has a pretty damn good team, top to bottom. Plus, for years Oklahoma and Nebraska play Junior colleges for the first half of their season. Atleast USC is playing big name teams (some who are not as good as they used to be, ala Notre Dame). But when the likes of Cal, Oregon, Washington and Notre Dame you don't get a free ride. Yeah some of those teams are not top 25 anymore, But the Athletic talent is there and USC has to make sure it goes out and plays 100%. Its not like they're playing a team like SouthWestern New Mexico State, wich I am sure Oklahoma and Nebraska have played quite a few times over the years, or teams very much like 'em!!


BTW- Mark Clayton is an amazing WR, and would dream of the day he could be a Bronco. I have been watching him the last few years and he is sure fun to watch. I know we already have enough talent at WR, but I can dream can't I? Mike Williams and Mark Clayton would make a hell of a draft! Williams could be our new TE! :devil:

[Mile High Shack]

OU has played a statistically harder schedule than either USC or Auburn

sorry, big 12 is a lot tougher (south at least) than the mediocre pac-10 (sans Cal and USC)

Texas A&M and OSU and Texas Tech would finish 2nd and at worst 3rd in the pac-10

[FADERPROOF]

I agree wholeheartedly. The award is supposed to be given to the best collegiate football player in the country.

The voters of this award throughout history have pretty much limited themselves to a QB and RB.

A few times they have gone the WR route (Desmond Howard, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1267" target="_blank">Tim Brown</a>, Johnny Rodgers was a flanker/wingback) but just last year we heard the numerous WR biases about Larry Fitzgerald (a WR doesn't touch the ball as much as a QB B.S.).

The year Orlando Pace was going for the Heisman (1996), I wanted him to win so badly just to change the frame of minds of the voters. Danny FREAKING Wuerrfel won it!!!

When Charles Woodson won it, I think there were voters that felt he was the best player in the country, but I also feel there were protest votes against <a href="http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12531" target="_blank">Peyton Manning</a> too. Manning didn't have the greatest senior season but there were quite a few voters that wanted to reward him with a lifetime achievement award and there was a major backlash.


Yes, I think the voters need to be more open minded about voting and include offensive linemen and defensive players in their evaluation.


I believe that no WR has won the award without being the KR/PR as well, Fitz would've been the 1st ever WR to win the Heisman that only played WR.

Obviously I was rooting for Pace to win it in 96, for apparent reasons.

Too often this award is given to the QB on the best team, and it's sad really when players like Fitzgerland, Larry Johnson, and Marshall Faulk all should've won the award.

[Play2win]

OU has played a statistically harder schedule than either USC or Auburn

sorry, big 12 is a lot tougher (south at least) than the mediocre pac-10 (sans Cal and USC)

Texas A&M and OSU and Texas Tech would finish 2nd and at worst 3rd in the pac-10
You might be right, to be honest with you, I haven't really followed college football that much in the last few years, expecially the big 12. I was a big CU fan back when it was fun to be. But then trick-ricky (Nueheisal) completely ruined the whole program. I think he was the one to bring in that female kicker, talk about a bad idea, but he was full of them. Taking the brand-new recruitment class (most of them from California and Texas) Down hill Skiing, getting sauced and playing guitar on the wednesday night before most gamedays, the list goes on and on. Needless to say I don't follow the big 12 that much anymore. I have only watch a few games since split into north and south. I am a much bigger NFL fan, as a matter a fact, Usually when I am watching college it's because of draft interests or NFL considerations.

[Mile High Shack]

You might be right, to be honest with you, I haven't really followed college football that much in the last few years, expecially the big 12. I was a big CU fan back when it was fun to be. But then trick-ricky (Nueheisal) completely ruined the whole program. I think he was the one to bring in that female kicker, talk about a bad idea, but he was full of them. Taking the brand-new recruitment class (most of them from California and Texas) Down hill Skiing, getting sauced and playing guitar on the wednesday night before most gamedays, the list goes on and on. Needless to say I don't follow the big 12 that much anymore. I have only watch a few games since split into north and south. I am a much bigger NFL fan, as a matter a fact, Usually when I am watching college it's because of draft interests or NFL considerations.

yeah..so am I (NFL fan)

but living in Oklahoma, that's all the local sports people talk about.

[epicSocialism4tw]

White is the best and most deserving of the award. He will not win it because he did last season and there is a horrific west coast bias in the voting media. Any time a California boy looks good (not great) he will ride the hype machine all the way to the bank.

Leinart looked just as he should last week against a poor and impotent Notre Dame team, and this is the analysis by the media (particularly Joe Theismann): "the road to the heisman has gone through notre dame "X" amount of years, so that puts Leinart over the top in my book." What? Notre Dame is worthless and has been for 10 years.

And here is the paraphrased analysis of White: "Oklahoma consistently runs up the score on purpose...they are crooked...White is their quarterback so he must be in on it...he won it last year, but oh well, OU might have played the toughest schedule out of all of the BCS contenders, but..." This totally ignores the fact that White has superior numbers, leadership, results and skill to Leinart.

[epicSocialism4tw]

He had an amazing team last year, still has a pretty damn good team, top to bottom. Plus, for years Oklahoma and Nebraska play Junior colleges for the first half of their season. Atleast USC is playing big name teams (some who are not as good as they used to be, ala Notre Dame). But when the likes of Cal, Oregon, Washington and Notre Dame you don't get a free ride. Yeah some of those teams are not top 25 anymore, But the Athletic talent is there and USC has to make sure it goes out and plays 100%. Its not like they're playing a team like SouthWestern New Mexico State, wich I am sure Oklahoma and Nebraska have played quite a few times over the years, or teams very much like 'em!!


BTW- Mark Clayton is an amazing WR, and would dream of the day he could be a Bronco. I have been watching him the last few years and he is sure fun to watch. I know we already have enough talent at WR, but I can dream can't I? Mike Williams and Mark Clayton would make a hell of a draft! Williams could be our new TE! :devil:

This post was so rediculous that I almost didn't even reply, but this seems to be a common misconception among people who are not exposed to the big 12.

The big twelve is the most difficult conference in NCAA D-1. The talent and tradition there is only rivaled by the SEC. Texas is always excellent and will get the shaft again this year to a Cal team that has not played anyone. OSU and Tech are always good and someone has to lose when OU, TX and A&M are in the division. Every year these teams pull off a surprise or two and knock off the power teams. A&M will be in the title hunt again within the next 10 years.

The North division is hurting right now but has traditional powers Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas State. All of which have in recent years been in the national title hunt. Can you say that about any of the other conferences?
The big 12 is the power conference. The media will not gloat over it (and therefore you will not hear as much about it as you should comparatively) because the power teams are small market (OU, NEB, KState, Colorado, TX, etc.)

[FADERPROOF]

I stopped reading once you said that the Big 12 is the most difficult conference in D-1. It's a good 4th toughest of the BCS conferences, with Pac-10 and Big East only being worse.

[dawgstyle17]

I took Peterson.
Big 12? I thought it was the big one and the little none.

[Play2win]

...there is a horrific west coast bias in the voting media.
Ha! West coast bias?!? All I ever hear about is the east coast media bias!

[SouthStndJunkie]

I stopped reading once you said that the Big 12 is the most difficult conference in D-1. It's a good 4th toughest of the BCS conferences, with Pac-10 and Big East only being worse.

I said it last year and I will say it again this year. The Big 12 is VERY overrated.

SSJ

[TexanBob]

All I can say is that you shouldn't be (essentially) the MVP of college football if one of your teammates is good enough to be considered the MVP as well. That cancels out Peterson and White (both's weaknesses are covered by the other) and Leinart and Bush. Which really leaves Alex Smith as my vote, eschewing my bias towards Benson and Johnson.

I expect Leinart will win it, though.

[missingnumber7]

Who did I vote for? Lefors...the mans family is Deaf. He is playing great football. He played at an all deaf school. This Kid is good...will he win the heisman...no...I think Peterson will just because he had great games when White needed him to.

[SouthStndJunkie]

I would love to have seen Braylon Edwards get some more recognition. He came back for his senior year and produced big time and helped his draft stock out a lot.

SSJ

[Ratboy]

Alex Smith. I'm biased towards him, Great player.

[Play2win]

This post was so rediculous that I almost didn't even reply, but this seems to be a common misconception among people who are not exposed to the big 12.

The big twelve is the most difficult conference in NCAA D-1. The talent and tradition there is only rivaled by the SEC. Texas is always excellent and will get the shaft again this year to a Cal team that has not played anyone. OSU and Tech are always good and someone has to lose when OU, TX and A&M are in the division. Every year these teams pull off a surprise or two and knock off the power teams. A&M will be in the title hunt again within the next 10 years.

The North division is hurting right now but has traditional powers Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas State. All of which have in recent years been in the national title hunt. Can you say that about any of the other conferences?
The big 12 is the power conference. The media will not gloat over it (and therefore you will not hear as much about it as you should comparatively) because the power teams are small market (OU, NEB, KState, Colorado, TX, etc.)

Ok, lets just say, for starters, the talent level has always been there in the Big 12, but I am not neccessarily talking about the big 12 I am talking about the TEAMS that OU and Nebraska have played in the begining of their seasons, or the BIG 12 PRE-SEASON.

Before the big 12, there was the big 8, which I thought was a kick-ass conference! I think when it became the big 12, it lost its identity. The big 8 was a power conference, though some teams really stunk (CU for quite a while), but it was an absolute blast, because the lines were drawn...

Now, after looking into thing alittle bit, Nebraska were more the notorious ones with the preferential schedules. But, OU, for being the absolute powerhouse that it was, got off way easy. Just not as easy as Nebraska. The cornhuskers would play teams like Akron, North Texas, New Mexico State and South Florida.

More than anything it was just an ongoing joke amoungst me and my buddies as to who was OU or Nebraska going to start off the season against, North Mexico State or some junior college in Arizona?

Anyway here is who OU has started the first 4 games of there season over some of the last 20 years. Not quite what I would call Powerhouses. ::)

1987 Football Season
9/5 North Texas W 69-14 1-NR AP 75,004 Norman 7-5, NR (Nelson)
9/12 North Carolina W 28-0 1-NR AP 75,004 Norman 5-6, NR (Crum)
9/26 at Tulsa W 65-0 1-NR AP 47,350 Tulsa 3-8, NR (Henshaw)
10/3 at Iowa State W 56-3 1-NR AP 36,050 Ames 3-8, NR (Walden)

1988 Football Season
9/10 at North Carolina W 28-0 4-NR AP 53,675 Chapel Hill 1-10, NR (Brown)
9/17 Arizona W 28-10 4-NR AP 75,004 Norman 7-4, NR (Tomey)
9/24 at USC L 7-23 3-5 AP 86,124 Los Angeles 10-2, #7 (Smith)
10/1 Iowa State W 35-7 10-NR AP 75,004 Norman 5-6, NR (Walden)

1989 Football Season
9/2 New Mexico State W 73-3 15-NR AP 73,250 Norman 0-11, NR (Knoll)
9/9 Baylor W 33-7 8-NR AP 74,600 Norman 5-6, NR (Teaff)
9/16 at Arizona L 3-6 6-NR AP 50,931 Tuscon 8-4, #25 (Tomey)
9/30 at Kansas W 45-6 16-NR AP 44,500 Lawrence 4-7, NR (Mason)

1991 Football Season
9/14 North Texas W 40-2 9-NR AP 69,211 Norman 3-7-1, NR (Parker)
9/21 Utah State W 55-21 7-NR AP 69,057 Norman 5-6, NR (Shelton)
9/28 Virginia Tech W 27-17 6-NR AP 73,200 Norman 5-6, NR (Beamer)
10/5 at Iowa State W 29-8 5-NR AP 42,950 Ames 3-7-1, NR (Walden)

1993 Football Season
9/4 at TCU W 35-3 21-NR AP 40,418 Fort Worth 4-7, NR (Sullivan)
9/11 Texas A&M W 44-14 17-5 AP 68,211 Norman 10-2, #9 (Slocum)
9/25 Tulsa W 41-20 10-NR AP 67,121 Norman 4-6-1, NR (Rader)
10/2 at Iowa State W 24-7 10-NR AP 37,281 Ames 3-8, NR (Walden)

1994 Football Season
9/3 at Syracuse W 30-29 16-NR AP 48,421 Syracuse 7-4, NR (Pasqualoni)
9/10 at Texas A&M L 14-36 15-16 AP 72,577 College Station 10-0-1, #8 (Slocum)
9/17 Texas Tech W 17-11 21-NR AP 62,323 Norman 6-6, NR (Dykes)
10/1 Iowa State W 34-6 21-NR AP 65,821 Norman 0-10-1, NR (Walden)

1995 Football Season
9/9 San Diego State W 38-22 14-NR AP 71,119 Norman 8-4, NR (Tollner)
9/16 SMU W 24-10 14-NR AP 64,217 Norman 1-10, NR (Rossley)
9/23 North Texas W 51-10 10-NR AP 65,829 Norman 2-9, NR (Simon)
9/30 Colorado L 17-38 10-4 AP 75,004 Norman 10-2, #5 (Neuheisel)

1999 Football Season
9/11 Indiana State W 49-0 NR-NR AP 74,119 Norman 3-8, NR
9/18 Baylor W 41-10 NR-NR AP 74,309 Norman 1-10, NR (Steele)
9/25 at Louisville W 42-21 NR-NR AP 41,214 Louisville 7-5, NR (Smith)
10/2 at Notre Dame L 30-34 23-NR AP 80,012 South Bend 5-7, NR (Davie)

2000 Football Season
9/2 UTEP W 55-14 19-NR AP 74,761 Norman 8-4, NR (Nord)
9/9 Arkansas State W 45-7 20-NR AP 74,730 Norman 1-10, NR (Hollis)
9/23 Rice W 42-14 17-NR AP 74,794 Norman 3-8, NR (Hatfield)
9/30 Kansas W 34-16 14-NR AP 74,811 Norman 4-7, NR (Allen)

2001 Football Season
8/25 North Carolina W 41-27 3-NR AP 75,423 Norman 8-5, NR (Bunting)
9/1 at Air Force W 44-3 3-NR AP 56,162 Colorado Springs 6-6, NR (DeBerry)
9/8 North Texas W 37-10 3-NR AP 74,930 Norman 5-7, NR (Dickey)
9/29 Kansas State W 38-37 3-11 AP 75,862 Norman 6-6, NR (Snyder)

2002 Football Season
8/30 at Tulsa W 37-0 1-NR AP 40,385 Tulsa 1-11, NR (Burns)
9/7 Alabama W 37-27 2-NR AP 75,564 Norman 10-3, #11 (Franchione)
9/14 UTEP W 68-0 2-NR AP 74,468 Norman 2-10, NR (Nord)
9/28 South Florida W 31-14 2-NR AP 74,432 Norman 9-2, NR (Leavitt)

2003 Football Season
8/30 North Texas W 37-3 1-NR AP 83,073 Norman 9-4, NR (Dickey)
9/6 at Alabama W 20-13 1-NR AP 83,818 Tuscaloosa 4-9, NR (Shula)
9/13 Fresno State W 52-28 1-NR AP 83,091 Norman 9-5, NR (Hill)
9/20 UCLA W 59-24 1-NR AP 83,317 Norman 6-7, NR (Dorrell)

[Crushaholic]

Ok, lets just say, for starters, the talent level has always been there in the Big 12, but I am not necessarily talking about the big 12 I am talking about the TEAMS that OU and Nebraska have played in the begining of their seasons, or the BIG 12 PRE-SEASON.

There's nothing wrong with a "pre-season", IMO. That gives the coaches an idea on how the team is going to gel before they hit Big 12 play. The NFL has a pre-season where the games don't count. The coaches use that time to evaluate talent and see what needs to be worked on and who shouldn't play. I wouldn't care if every big team in America schedules State U. of the Blind Girls. That's the way to do it until college gets a system like the NFL where games don't count and coaches can evaluate talent in game situations.