LONGHORNS WON, BUT DID COLT LOSE?
By mark rogers
December 7, 2009
And you can credit Ndamukong Suh for that. I honestly believe the Nebraska DL should get an invite to the Downtown Athletic Club next weekend. He won't, but I think he should. Not that he hasn't been doing that all year (which everybody that hasn't watched Nebraska all year doesn't know), but I have never seen a more dominant defensive performance than the show Suh put on the other night. Absolutely incredible.
Anyway...
After Colt's Thanksgiving explosion against the Aggies followed by Alabama RB Mark Ingram's 30-yard egg against Auburn, Colt had it in the bag.
Most wins of any QB all-time.
Highest completion % all-time.
Best player on one of the two best teams.
The list goes on.
But the table unexpectedly turned on Saturday as the nation watched an underdog Alabama team, led by sophomore Ingram, absolutely dismantle the pre-season unanimous #1 pick that no one thought would win a game by less than 5 touchdowns all year. They were so heavily favored to start the year, I'm surprised anyone played any games at all...they almost just gave Florida the trophy and said, "See everybody in 2010!"
By the way, the Alabama/Florida game was the most-watched college football "non-bowl" game since the 2006 Ohio St/Michigan game featuring a clash between #1 and #2.
And with a record-crowd watching what did Ingram do?
28 carries (tied for his highest total this year), 113 yards, 3 touchdowns on the ground. 2 catches for 76 more yards and a blow-out win against #1 Florida.
A symbolic "chopping down" of the Almighty Tim Tebow and the Florida Angels Who Can do No Wrong. The end of an era at Florida (if you ask me).
Ingram averaged 127 yards against conference opponents this year. That's including his 50 against Arkansas (they didn't need him anyway) and 30 last week against Auburn.
So when voters are headed to wherever it is each of them go to reflect on and make their Heisman pick, they'll have that performance in that context fresh on their minds.
The last time they saw Colt in action? 20-36, 184 yards passing...3 interceptions in a literal last-second, come-from-behind win against a team ranked in the 20s that the nation (and probably most Heisman voters) thought didn't deserve to be on the same field as the Longhorns.
Now listen, you're preaching to the choir here with your rebuttal...
"Nebraska's defense is nationally ranked."
"It's easier to get up to play the defending champs than a 3-loss Nebraska team."
"Colt's had a better career."
"Ingram's just a sophomore."
I know. And I agree. I also know all of Colt's season and career stats and all the school and national records he holds. They are absolutely staggering.
As a Colt McCoy fan, I want nothing more than for his name to be called next Saturday night at the DAC as the 3rd Heisman Trophy winner in UT history.
Ingram is just a sophomore and Colt is the winningest QB OF ALL TIME.
BUT...the thing that will be repeated over and over in voters' ears is that this is a season award, not a career award.
And Colt and Ingram have both had phenomenal seasons...good enough to lead their teams to the BCS Championship game.
But with things neck and neck (like they were headed into Championship Saturday), it will come down to the best performance on the biggest stage.
Winner on that stipulation?
Mark Ingram.
Fitting that the first-ever sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy was knocked out of the National Title race by, quite possibly, the second sophomore to win the award.
I sure hope I'm wrong.
I hope voters will (just this once) look at Colt's career and not the way he ended the season.
The pieces are in place.
Colt McCoy. After-thought as a freshman to just one vote and one win away from being talked about as the greatest college football player EVER.
If he loses the Heisman and Bama wins the Title, Colt will still go down as a great QB. But it won't be surrounded by the kind of lore or have the same ring as "Heisman Trophy Winner and National Champion QB - Colt McCoy."
I hope I'm wrong about the trophy.
Here's another odd fact. I patted Colt and Ingram on the right shoulders this year.
Colt on Saturday at the hotel and Ingram when I ran into him in the parking lot after they escaped against Tennessee...weird.
I do know one thing...that if this wannabe sports writer had a vote? Colt would be one vote closer to etching his name in the Heisman History books.
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