In all likelihood, Reggie Bush is about to join the ranks of Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charles White and Marcus Allen in becoming the latest USC running back to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy. I'm fine with that. The kid is a phenomenal athlete. Watching him break, or in most cases avoid, tackles and carry the ball down the field is nothing short of electrifying. He may well be the most talented player to ever suit up for a college football game.
Now, enough about Reggie. It's all well and good that the pomp and circumstance of the Heisman will be his in which to bathe, but let's all take a closer look at the other young men who will be tearing up long-prepared acceptance speeches come Saturday.
Matt Leinart, the trigger-man for USC has already had his day in the sun but has been invited to the ceremony. Don't get me wrong, Leinart has had a better statistical season this year than his Heisman campaign of 2004 and deserves to be at the ceremony but voters don't like to repeat winners.
Vince Young, who has been heralded as a sort of 'second coming' of the agile quarterback, has also been invited to New York for the pageantry. Young is a worthy nominee as well, but with Reggie Bush likely turning pro and Vince vowing to take another turn with NCAA football, it seems football writers with no imagination have penciled in Young for the '06 award pedestal'at least he won't have to change his speech much.
And that, ladies and gents, is it. There will be only three invitees to the Heisman Award Ceremony. Now that's just not right. It's fine if the sports writers of American want to be completely unimaginative and vote for the same guy. That I can deal with. At least there is a reason behind voting for Bush'he's the best.
What I don't understand is why the Heisman crew won't invite two other athletes who have exemplified themselves on the gridiron.
What about Notre Dame's Brady Quinn? Quinn has more passing yards, more touchdowns, a higher passer rating and more completions than Leinart. Why can't he go to New York?
How about Memphis' DeAngelo Williams who has more yards, more carries and the same amount of touchdowns as Reggie Bush? Why doesn't Williams deserve a trip to NYC and a nice steak dinner?
The point of this award is to acknowledge the best talent in all of college football. In a race in which the outcome is nearly certain, why not showcase those who people may not know about?
