Heisman Race Still Up for Grabs
Nov 25, 2001
By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP Football Writer
Heisman Trophy, anyone?
With just one week left before the 900-plus Heisman voters cast theirballots, the race for the Heisman Trophy is as wide open as the chase for thenational championship.
A quarterback quartet of top contenders was reduced to a trio, withNebraska’s Eric Crouch dropping from short list following the Cornhuskers’62-36 loss to Colorado on Friday.
Crouch ran for 162 yards and two TDs, and passed for 198 yards with twointerceptions, but the shocking defeat was probably enough to end his Heismanhopes.
Still in pursuit of college football’s top individual prize are Miami’s KenDorsey, Florida’s Rex Grossman and Oregon’s Joey Harrington.
All three have a game remaining before Heisman ballots are due at New York’sDowntown Athletic Club. Florida could play in the SEC title game on Dec. 8, butthe Heisman votes will already be counted and the award presented later thatnight.
Dorsey appears to have the inside track since he plays for the onlyundefeated among the contenders. Plus, the Hurricanes (10-0) are ranked No. 1.
In Saturday night’s 65-7 rout of No. 19 Washington, Dorsey reaffirmed hisstatus as the front-runner by hitting 14 of 21 for 189 yards, three touchdownsand one interception.
His one blemish? Four interceptions against Boston College, a game Miamistill won, 18-7. For the season, he’s 163-of-274 for 2,417 yards, 22 TDs and 9interceptions.
Miami is at Virginia Tech on Saturday, needing a win to clinch a spot in theBCS’ national title game.
Grossman and Harrington did not play over the weekend, but each has anational stage to give voters a final look. It also helps that their teams arestill in the national title picture.
Grossman’s second-ranked Gators (9-1) play host to No. 5 Tennessee (9-1) forthe SEC East title and a spot in the league’s title game, while Harrington’sDucks (9-1) are home to Oregon State (5-5) in a heated rivalry dubbed the CivilWar.
Grossman’s drawbacks? A 23-20 loss to Auburn in which he threw fourinterceptions, plus no sophomore has ever won the Heisman. Other than that, heleads the nation in pass efficiency, hitting 226-of-344 for 3,534 yards, 32 TDsand 11 interceptions.
Harrington’s shortcomings? A 49-42 loss to Stanford in which his secondinterception set up the winning TD in the final few minutes, plus a lack ofnational TV time. He’s completed 175 of 300 passes for 2,311 yards, 23 TDs and5 interceptions.
HEISMAN BALLOT
If the vote was taken today, here’s my ballot:
1. Ken Dorsey, QB, Miami.
2. Joey Harrington, QB, Oregon.
3. Rex Grossman, QB, Florida.
WINNERS, LOSERS AND MORE
Winners:
1. Florida: Thanks to losses by Nebraska and Oklahoma, the Gators (9-1) canreach the title game by beating No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday, then winning theSEC title game on Dec. 8.
2. (tie) Oregon (9-1), Tennessee (9-1) and Texas (10-1): All of a sudden,these guys are back in the title chase, too. All three have to win out, ofcourse, and then it’s up to the BCS computer.
3. (tie) Colorado (9-2) and Illinois (10-1): After their 62-36 rout ofNebraska, the Buffaloes will clinch a BCS game (Fiesta Bowl) with a win overTexas in the Big 12 title game on Saturday. The Illini beat Northwestern 34-28on Thursday, and then won the Big Ten title outright – and a BCS bowl spot -when Ohio State beat Michigan 26-20 on Saturday.
Losers:
1. Oklahoma (10-2): A day after Nebraska lost, the Sooners blew a chance todefend their national title by losing at home to Oklahoma State 16-13.
2. Nebraska (11-1): The Huskers’ national title run came to a screechinghalt after Friday’s 62-36 loss to Colorado. Nebraska (11-1) could sneak into aBCS game depending on the outcome of the Texas-Colorado game.
3 Michigan (8-3): The Wolverines blew a chance at a BCS game with a 26-20loss to Ohio State.
And more:
Texas (10-1): The Longhorns had a BCS game locked up after beating TexasA&M, but now get to play another game, against Colorado for the Big 12 title.Win and they are automatically in as league champs with an outside shot atplaying for the national title. Lose, and the ‘Horns are probably out of theBCS picture.
AND=
… Notre Dame (4-6) clinched its second losing season in three years withSaturday night’s 17-13 rain-soaked loss at Stanford (8-2). The Cardinal appearheaded to the Seattle Bowl, but the bigger question is where Irish coach BobDavie is headed … The Irish led 13-3 midway through the fourth quarter, butcouldn’t hold on as Kenneth Tolon scored from a yard out with 68 seconds left… In Villanova’s 47-44 loss to William & Mary, Brian Westbrook set the NCAAall-divisions record for all-purpose yards. His 322 yards gave him 9,512 forhis career, topping the mark of 9,301 yards set by Brian Shay of Division IIEmporia State from 1995-1998.
… In rivalry games, Vernon Haynes ran for 207 yards, and Billy Bennettkicked six field goals as Georgia (7-3) beat Georgia Tech 31-17, snapping athree-year losing streak the Yellow Jackets (7-4). Tech may be headed to theSeattle Bowl … New Mexico beat New Mexico State 53-0 … Ohio State’s 26-20win over Michigan was the Buckeyes’ first in Michigan Stadium since 1987 – andnew coach Jim Tressel is 1-0 in the series. The man he replaced, John Cooper,was 2-10-1 against the Wolverines … In losing the Backyard Brawl toPittsburgh 23-17, West Virginia finished 3-8 under first-year coach RichRodriguez – the Mountaineers’ worst record since 1978 … Minnesota beatWisconsin 42-31 and took home Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the first time since 1994… Indiana topped Purdue 13-7 to win the Old Oaken Bucket for the first timesince 1996. Hoosier fans rushed the field and tore down a goalpost to celebrate… Penn State was off to the worst start in school history at 0-4, but theNittany Lions are 5-5 after Saturday’s 42-27 win at Michigan State. A winSaturday against Virginia, and Joe Paterno’s Lions are bowl eligible. Any JoePadoubters now?
