Heisman Hopeful or Bust?

By Rhonda Reigstad

The Heisman Trophy is awarded every year to the nation’s top college football player. The hype begins from the first game of the season up until the announcement every year in December.

First off—congratulations to Reggie Bush of Southern California for winning this year’s Heisman. He won by the largest margin of victory ever in the history of the award. Quarterback Vince Young of Texas wasn’t even close and last year’s winner, quarterback Matt Leinart of Southern California, barely received any first place votes.

Winning the Heisman and becoming a part of the “fraternity” is quite the honor. Now the real question looms for Bush and so many winners to come. What will happen to them after they go to the pros? An individual question for Bush is: Will he come back for his senior season or go into the draft in the spring?

Below is a list of the last ten winners. They are as follows:

 

2004 Matt Leinart (Quarterback) Southern California

2003 Jason White (Quarterback) Oklahoma

2002 Carson Palmer (Quarterback) Southern California

2001 Eric Crouch (Quarterback) Nebraska

2000 Chris Weinke (Quarterback) Florida State

1999 Ron Dayne (Running Back) Wisconsin

1998 Ricky Williams (Running Back) Texas

1997 Charles Woodson (Cornerback) Michigan

1996 Danny Wuerffel (Quarterback) Florida

1995 Eddie George (Running Back) Ohio State

Pretty impressive list, huh? Did you notice anything as you were reading that list? All of the winners except one play in two of the most vital positions, quarterback and running back. There are many on there that aren’t even playing in the National Football League any longer. A couple winners of the early 1990s, Miami ’s Gino Toretta, had a horrible career in the NFL and Florida State ’s Charlie Ward, opted for the National Basketball Association.

Does the college system put too much pressure on one trophy? It’s hard to say but one thing is for sure—once the player is inducted into the “fraternity”, they are enshrined forever and expected to have stellar careers in the pros. What’s most amazing is that so many of those coveted trophy winners have mediocre careers and the ones who were in the smaller colleges or not very well known schools are the one who excel.

We can all think of players who came out of small colleges who outplayed the ones who came from the most recognized programs in the country. One that comes to mind for me is the man who holds the most records for a wide receiver. That man is Jerry Rice who played for Mississippi Valley State . If anyone would have said he would hold close to every record for a wide receiver out of college, the critics would have said you were not correct.

The Heisman Trophy isn’t the only award that this happens to. Other prestigious awards that are given out for outstanding play have the same thing happen. The recipients don’t always have the best careers afterwards.

One thing that happens to most any college player is they aren’t ready to take the next step to the pros. Before they realize it, they are playing with the best of the best and guys who have been around for many more years than they have. They are bigger, stronger, and faster. It’s a huge transition and some can make it, others cannot.

Congratulations again to Reggie Bush on winning the most prestigious award in college football. Welcome to the “fraternity” of the Downtown Athletic Club in New York and good luck in your future endeavors.

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