A look at what's shaping up to be another exciting race for College Football's most prestigious award

Heisman Fever Inside another Trophy race lthough quarterback Vince Young had impressive credentials and his Longhorns came away with a National Champion victory, from the beginning of the 2005 season there was little doubt that Reggie Bush was going to take home college football's most prestigious award. This year, however, our Heisman Trophy crystal ball isn't so clear. One reason predictions are not easy to make this year is that one of the factors Heisman voters look at is both coming through and not coming through in big games. For example, quarterback Troy Smith of Ohio State was put on every sports writer's Heisman short list after he picked apart Texas' defense in their 27-10 win.

Contrast that to quarterback Brady Quinn, who fell from a pre-season winner to an also-ran after Michigan's 47-21 spanking of Notre Dame. Winning is a factor in Heisman selections, but voters know that it takes more than a good offense to win games - and this fact will work in favor of Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson. A pre-season favorite last year who was hampered by a high ankle sprain, Peterson still managed to rush for a respectable, but not Heisman Trophy worthy, 1,108 yards.

This year Peterson entered the season healthy with an additional 13 pounds of bruising muscle power, which he showed off when he ran for 211 AQuarterbacks such as Chris Leak of the University of Florida are dominating the short lists for the Heisman.

(top row) Kyle Wright, Miami (UM SID); Drew Weatherford, Florida State (FS SID) (middle row) Shaun Carney, Air Force Academy (USAFA SID); Jessie Daniels, LSU (photo by Kent Gidley/UA) (bottom) Brady Quinn, Notre Dame (UND SID)

(top row) Adrian Petersen (UO AMR); Chris Markey, UCLA (UCLA SID) (bottom row) Jonathan Stewart, Oregon (UO SID); Blake Mitchell, South Carolina (SC AMR) yards on 34 carries against the University of Oregon. Unfortunately, the Sooners lost that game 34-33, which drew attention to an Oregon running back, Jonathan Stewart. A virtual unknown at the start of the season, Stewart got Heisman voters' attention with his 144 yards on 23 carries against Oklahoma's always-tough defense. Another factor that favors a Heisman candidate is attending a high-profile school with a great publicity machine, especially those schools that often contend for national championships.

Just look at the schools of the winners of past seven years: 2005-2004, USC; 2003, Oklahoma; 2002, USC; 2002, USC, 2001, Nebraska; 2002, Florida State. You have to go back to 1963, when Roger Staubach of Navy won, to find a relatively small school to win the award. Part of this favoritism is justified. Rushing for 2,000 yards on a team that consistently plays top-20 teams is more impressive than if the player's team is in a relatively weak conference and regularly schedules Division IAA opponents.

As such, an outstanding athlete such as Shaun Carney of Air Force, who in their opening game was eight yards from defeating the University of Tennessee, would have a hard time making a dent on the Heisman. Sorry, Air Force Academy, but the Mountain West conference is not considered as tough as, say, the SEC, ACC or Big 10. Since 1960 there have been four receivers, 20 quarterbacks and 23 running backs who have won the Heisman. Among the leading candidates for receivers this year are Ohio State's Ted Gin, Jr., USC's Dwayne Jarrett and Michigan's Mario Manningham. With all that to consider, who will win the Heisman?

We're picking Peterson, but Troy Smith should provide a stiff challenge, as will Chris Leak, Miek Hart, Kenny Irons and…ah heck, we have no idea. With that, we offer you the following pictorial essay with some of the leading candidates to win the Heisman this year. Who is your choice?

(top) James Davis, Clemson (UC SID) (middle) Chad Henne, Michigan (Wolverine Photo) (bottom row) Dwayne Jarrett, USC (USC SID); Calvin Johnson, Jr., Georgia Tech, (GT SID)

FEATURE STORY One of the most coveted awards in college sports is the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award. The Heisman, which was first awarded in 1936, is given at the end of the reguplayer, playing offense or defense, from any college, is eligible to win the award. The Heisman vote is actually rather simple. The nation lar season to the young man considered the best player in is split into six sections (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, college football. Predicting who will win is the subject of Midwest, Southwest, Far West), each consisting of 175 countless editorials by sportswriters and armchair quartermedia voters culled from the print, radio and television backs.

Everyone has an opinion, but no one can collect ranks. Also, every past Heisman winner casts a vote as their bets until the trophy is presented at the end of the well. Each elector casts a ballot listing his top three choicyear by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City. es, with the top choice receiving three points, the second The Heisman is named for John W. Heisman, the first receiving two and the third receiving one. This method athletic director of the Downtown Athletic Club of New was adopted with the idea of eliminating regional York City.

The trophy sculpture was designed by Coach favoritism, and the player receiving the highest number of Jim Crowley and modeled by Warren Mulrey, a starter on points across all six sections is the winner. the 1934 Fordham Rams football team. Although quarter- Here are the past recipients of all Heisman Trophies backs, running backs and wide receivers from major footsince 1960. Many names you will recognize as athletes ball powerhouses are most likely to win the Heisman, any who have gone on to successful careers in the NFL.

Heisman Memorial Trophy Award Winners Since 1960 Year 2005 . . Reggie Bush, Southern Cal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1982 . .Herschel Walker, Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 2004 . . Matt Leinnart, Southern Cal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1981 . .Marcus Allen, Southern Cal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 2003 . .Jason White, Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1980 . .George Rogers, South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 2002 . .Carson Palmer, Southern Cal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1979 . .Charles White, Southern Cal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 2001 . .Eric Crouch, Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1978 .

.Billy Sims, Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 2000 . .Chris Weinke, Florida State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1977 . .Earl Campbell, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1999 . .Ron Dayne, Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1976 . .Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1998 . .Ricky Williams, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1975 . .Archie Griffin, Ohio State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1997 . .Charles Woodson, Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . .DB/WR 1974 . .Archie Griffin, Ohio State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1996 . .Danny Wuerffel, Florida . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . .QB 1973 . .John Cappelletti, Penn State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1995 . .Eddie George, Ohio State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1972 . .Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WR 1994 . .Rashaan Salaam, Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1971 . .Pat Sullivan, Auburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1993 . .Charlie Ward, Florida State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1970 . .Jim Plunkett, Stanford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1992 . .Gina Torretta, Miami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1969 . .Steve Owens, Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HB 1991 .

.Desmond Howard, Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WR 1968 . .O.J. Simpson, Southern Cal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HB 1990 . .Ty Detmer, Brigham Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1967 . .Gary Beban, UCLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1989 . .Andre Ware, Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1966 . .Steve Spurrier, Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1988 . .Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1965 . .Mike Garrett, Southern Cal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HB 1987 . .Tim Brown, Notre Dame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WR 1964 . .John Huarte, Notre Dame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.QB 1986 . .VinnyTestaverde, Miami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1963 . .Roger Staubach, Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1985 . .Bo Jackson, Auburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1962 . .Terry Baker, Oregon State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1984 . .Doug Flutie, Boston College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QB 1961 . .Ernie Davis, Syracuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HB 1983 . .Mike Rozier, Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RB 1960 . .Joe Bellino, Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HB (top row) J.D. Nelson, Oregon, (UO SID); Willie Tuitam, Arizona UA AMR) Mike Hart, Michigan (Wolverine Photo)

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From BFS Magazine — November/December 2006. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).