Since we're on the subject.

Why then, do we choose the MVP, Cy Young, etc before the World Series?

So as to reward REGULAR SEASON accomplishment. Same as for the Heisman.

Yeah it's unfair if one guys team didn't make a bowl game and after bowl season the heisman winner got 20 more votes for making a huge game winning play in their bowl game.

JT-I agree, it's done in most sports, but if we go by that logic then why is the regular season team winner of a conference not rewarded with an automatic bid to the college world series instead of a post season tournament winner? I know I'm mixing
individual with team rewards but it just seems to me that if these "post" season
bowl games are supposed to be so IMPORTANT(according to the college presidents) then
I would think individual performances should just be just as important.

We have essentially the two best teams in the country facing each other with the 3 best
players performing against each other's team. What if Young tears up SC and Bush falls
on his face(not likely)?

What's the harm in waiting? Voter's who tossed a coin when picking would then be able to choose more wisely-so to speak .

You are,IMO correct in your statement, but I personally would rather wait to see them
under fire and pressure.

rhbaseball-another good point also but I can't
remember the last Heisman Candidate that didn't
make it to a bowl game-did Marinaro get the
Heisman and not go to a bowl?

Ed Marinaro? He never won the Heisman which is unfortunate for the Ivy league guys. I think he may have struck out on both accounts He did get drafted by Minnesota however. I agree with your premise Moc. This year, more than ever the Heisman could be decided on the field. But hey, this is D1-A football, why decide things on the field?

Here is the complete list from ESPN sports.


1935 Jay Berwanger Chicago


1936 Larry Kelly Yale


1937 Clint Frank Yale


1938 Davey O'Brien Texas Christian


1939 Nile Kinnick Iowa


1940 Tom Harmon Michigan


1941 Bruce Smith Minnesota


1942 Frank Sinkwich Georgia


1943 Angelo Bertelli Notre Dame


1944 Les Horvath Ohio State


1945 Doc Blanchard Army


1946 Glenn Davis Army


1947 Johnny Lujack Notre Dame


1948 Doak Walker Southern Methodist


1949 Leon Hart Notre Dame


1950 Vic Janowicz Ohio State


1951 Dick Kazmaier Princeton


1952 Billy Vessels Oklahoma


1953 Johnny Lattner Notre Dame


1954 Alan Ameche Wisconsin


1955 Howard Cassady Ohio State


1956 Paul Hornung Notre Dame


1957 John David Crow Texas A&M


1958 Pete Dawkins Army


1959 Billy Cannon Louisiana State


1960 Joe Bellino Navy


1961 Ernie Davis Syracuse


1962 Terry Baker Oregon State


1963 Roger Staubach Navy


1964 John Huarte Notre Dame


1965 Mike Garrett Southern Cal


1966 Steve Spurrier Florida


1967 Gary Beban UCLA


1968 O.J. Simpson Southern Cal


1969 Steve Owens Oklahoma


1970 Jim Plunkett Stanford


1971 Pat Sullivan Auburn


1972 Johnny Rodgers Nebraska


1973 John Cappelletti Penn State


1974 Archie Griffin Ohio State


1975 Archie Griffin Ohio State


1976 Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh


1977 Earl Campbell Texas


1978 Billy Sims Oklahoma


1979 Charles White Southern Cal


1980 George Rogers South Carolina


1981 Marcus Allen Southern Cal


1982 Herschel Walker Georgia


1983 Mike Rozier Nebraska


1984 Doug Flutie Boston College


1985 Bo Jackson Auburn


1986 Vinny Testaverde Miami


1987 Tim Brown Notre Dame


1988 Barry Sanders Oklahoma State


1989 Andre Ware Houston


1990 Ty Detmer Brigham Young


1991 Desmond Howard Michigan


1992 Gino Torretta Miami


1993 Charlie Ward Florida State


1994 Rashaan Salaam Colorado


1995 Eddie George Ohio State


1996 Danny Wuerffel Florida


1997 Charles Woodson Michigan


1998 Ricky Williams Texas


1999 Ron Dayne Wisconsin


2000 Chris Weinke Florida State

2001 Eric Crouch Nebraska

2002 Carson Palmer USC

2003 Jason White Oklahoma

2004 Matt Leinart USC

2005 Reggie Bush USC

I thought I heard that Paul Hornung led Notre Dame to a 2-8 record in his Heisman year. I would imagine lots of Heisman winners did not play in bowl games. Mainly because until the last few decades, there weren't that many bowls!

Here’s a few Heisman winners that the NFL jinx missed. Of course Bush and Leinert are yet to be determined.

Carson Palmer USC (One of the best QBs these days)

Ricky Williams Texas (Not sure how proud Heisman is of this selection)

Barry Sanders Oklahoma State (One of best RB in history)

Bo Jackson Auburn (Unbelievable but serious injuries, also great baseball player)

Herschel Walker Georgia (Better in college, but real good)

Marcus Allen Southern Cal (Great NFL career)

Earl Campbell Texas (Great but not a long career)

Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh (One of the best ever)

O.J. Simpson Southern Cal (One of the very best RB ever, see Rickie Williams times 100)

Roger Staubach Navy (One of the best QBs)

Paul Hornung Notre Dame (Maybe even better in NFL)

Howard Cassady Ohio State (My all-time favorite and a pro baseball coach)

Alan Ameche Wisconsin (Great NFL career)

There are several others who had good Pro careers. And yes, many who did not!

IMO - Crouch would not have won the Heisman if a current Devil Rays outfielder would have decided on Nebraska football rather than baseball. That’s because Eric Crouch would have been the backup QB at Nebraska and who knows Carl Crawford might have been the Heisman winner that year. Carl was much better at football than baseball coming out of high school. An option QB with Michael Vick type ability on a National Championship team! Of course, he became a MLB all star by the age most win the Heisman!

Baseball took a super athlete away from football.

CD-Shows how much I know. Thanks for the list. Just used it with my son home from
UNF for Christmas break. Told him I'd give him 5 bucks if he could name 10 Heisman winners.
He tried to use Archie Griffin twice and I wouldn't let him. He then said Steve Spurrier
for his 10th pick. I'm not payin'.

Moc, a couple thoughts....
First, I don't think too many flipped a coin, based on the final vote. That was a giant margin for Bush.

Second, they still have something individual to play for, the NFL draft.

I think making the Heisman choice now makes perfect sense.

Moc,

You were not far off about Ed Marinaro. He was the runner-up in 1971. When you said that, I wasn't sure either and had to go look at the list. I don't know that much either but the Internet these days sure makes me look smart

Here is a little bio on Marinaro:

Ed Marinaro (born March 31, 1950 in New York City) is an American actor and former football player.

Marinaro played college football at Cornell University where he set over 16 NCAA records. He was runner up to Pat Sullivan for the Heisman Trophy in 1971. He went on to play professional football for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks. He was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

After leaving football, Marinaro became an actor. He has been a cast member on a number of television series including The Edge of Night, Laverne & Shirley, Hill Street Blues, and Sisters.