🏈 College Football Needs Defensive "Heisman" Equal

[T&B]

In my opinion it is both a shame, and a total mystery why college football does not have a defensive award equal to the Heisman.

Sure defensive players are eligible to win the award, but lets face it... it's about as likely as a female qualifying for, and making it through SEAL training.

The Heisman ceremony should bring the top 3-4 candidates from each side of the ball together for one EQUALLY prestigious award ceremony that would then give an equally prestigious award to a player from both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

I'm at a total loss why offensive players have seemingly been ordained as more prestigious, or more important somehow, but that is a slap in the face to every kid in the country that balls out on the D-side of the ball.

Obviously this would give the talking heads and fans twice as much to debate, analyze, and talk about at seasons end which would then obviously bring some positive gratification to twice as many players/schools.

Since this is clearly common sense I will not only be posting this here at RTB, but also passing this along to the powers that be so we can get the ball rolling toward a more perfect football world.

 

[bamachine]

The Hypesman is supposed to be for the best player, no matter what position they play, offense or defense but it is just a Hype and stats award, so it is either QB or RB 95% of the time, the other 5% is WR, if they also are a great KR.

Henry probably wins it tonight but the award is still a joke.

 

[T&B]

The Hypesman is supposed to be for the best player, no matter what position they play, offense or defense but it is just a Hype and stats award, so it is either QB or RB 95% of the time, the other 5% is WR, if they also are a great KR.

Henry probably wins it tonight but the award is still a joke.

Yeah thats my point. We all know a QB, RB, or WR is gonna win the H award 99.9% of the time so... bringing in the top 3-4 defensive players of the year so that a defensive player is awarded an equally prestigious award would do a lot to improve the situation IMO.

 

[T&B]

It is a total loss that college football does not have a defensive equivalent to the "Heisman family" that is comprised of all offensive players. It would be fun to compare the two after 20 years or so.

 

[T&B]

Here is another point to ponder... think of all the D-Heismans that Alabama would have won over the years. While Bama has maybe not been an offensive juggernaut over the years, the same cannot be said of the defense. Bama = defensive greatness/tradition

 

[bamachine]

Derrick Thomas would have had one, for sure. Likely Lee Roy Jordan as well. Possibly McClain. We had never had anyone truly dominant on DL or DB, had a lot of great ones but not the best overall defender in the country, until recently. LBs would be where we excelled in that hypothetical award.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Manti Te'o, anyone?

Didn't he finish second to Johnny Fuckwad?

I wonder if there's stats on how defensive players have fared in regards to Heisman viotes, what positions are most common, etc. I would look now but I am about to go out and enjoy this bizarrely warm weather.

 

[T&B]

Charles Woodson (Michigan) is the ONLY defensive player to ever win the Heisman. (DB, 1997)

Of course however he played defense AND offense. ; ) So judging by this criteria Jabrill Peppers is the only D player in the country with any chance what-so-ever to win the H any time soon.

 

[Mr. Pink]

You can't just make an award and deem it prestigious... it takes time, history, and great stories to make it prestigious.

I agree with having a defensive only Heisman type award though. Butkus is about as close as it gets, but since it's only for LBs, a lot of folks get left out.

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[planomateo]

I don't agree, there should be ONLY one Heisman. If you create a defensive equivalent then you're just watering down the Heisman (and it's already been watered down enough already).

Honestly, the Heisman doesn't hold a lot of value to me, some other trophies seem to get it right more so than the Heisman does.

 

[rick4bama]

Charles Woodson (Michigan) is the ONLY defensive player to ever win the Heisman. (DB, 1997)

Of course however he played defense AND offense. ; ) So judging by this criteria Jabrill Peppers is the only D player in the country with any chance what-so-ever to win the H any time soon.

He won that more on the special team didn't he? @TerryP said, " it was for a punt return for a TD" It also kept our beloved Peyton from getting it.

 

[T&B]

@Mr. Pink I dont know man... if you gave the award at the same time as the Heisman as part of the same ceremony with everyone in the country watching on TV I think that would instantly become the most prestigious D award especially for the kids that win it.

 

[OldPlayer]

What's the Bednarik award? The marketing machines behind the trophies are what makes the difference. The Heisman was originated and awarded by the Downtown Athletic Club in NYC until a few years after 9/11 when the club closed. The club had suffered financially for years before folding when members and prospective members couldn't get to the club easily due to the debris field and construction after 9/11. Now the Heisman Trust awards the trophy.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Plenty of trophies to go around.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Manti Te'o, anyone?

Didn't he finish second to Johnny Fuckwad?

I wonder if there's stats on how defensive players have fared in regards to Heisman viotes, what positions are most common, etc. I would look now but I am about to go out and enjoy this bizarrely warm weather.

Suh was a finalist the year HTWMI won it also.

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[bamachine]

Defensive players in the top 5 of the Heisman vote

1948 - Chuck Bednarik, Pennsylvania, 3rd

1952 - Donn Moomaw, UCLA, 4th

1954 - Kurt Burris, Oklahoma, 2nd

1956 - Jerry Tubbs, Oklahoma, 4th

1957 - Alex Karras, Iowa, 2nd

1962 - Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama, 4th

1964 - Dick Butkus, Illinois, 3rd

1968 - Ted Hendricks, Miami, 5th

1972 - Rich Glover, Nebraska, 3rd

1977 - Ross Browner, Notre Dame, 5th

1980 - Hugh Green, Pittsburgh, 2nd

1983 - Terry Hoage, Georgia, 5th

1986 - Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma, 4th

1991 - Steve Emtman, Washington, 4th

2009 - Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, 4th

2011 - Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, 5th

2012 - Manti Teo, ND, 2nd

 

[T&B]

Thats cool that some D players have been invited, but only ONE has ever won the award. I think what I'm suggesting would bring a little more integrity to the award.

 

[T&B]

Plenty of trophies to go around.

For the record I'm not one of those "every player needs a trophy" folks. I do believe that making one side of the ball more glamorous than the other however is a bit askew.

 

[planomateo]

For the record I'm not one of those "every player needs a trophy" folks. I do believe that making one side of the ball more glamorous than the other however is a bit askew.

Considering a QB touches the ball almost every snap and a running back should see 25%-50% of those snaps, it's easy to understand why the Heisman leans more to the offensive side of the ball. They have a better chance at impacting the game.

 

[T&B]

^
A MLB that makes all the defensive alignment calls impacts every snap.

One could also argue that a lock down corner capable of shutting down the opposing offenses best player for the entire game impacts every snap said opposing offense takes.



I'm not understanding the pushback on this idea. Shirly everyone can see that an offensive player winning the most prestigious award in CFB every year is flawed.