Welcome to the second HP live Heisman blog. I’ll be doing a running commentary during the ceremony. To get the latest comments, just hit ‘refresh’ on your browser from time to time. Feel free to comment below.
6:20 p.m.: The three finalists have arrived at the Nokia Theatre. Down below, someone asked why the Downtown Athletic Club chose to invite only three, instead of four or five, finalists this season. As Fowler explained during the ceremony, it’s their prerogative to invite however many they want, which means Steve Slaton and Ray Rice stay home. Keep in mind, in the old days, only the winner was invited to Manhattan.
6:32 p.m.: Many former winners are congregating in the lobby. The countdown to showtime continues…
6:52 p.m.: Just saw Desmond Howard eating some finger foods. He’s the only former winner here that’s shorter than the statue.
7:46 p.m.: Linda Cohn is doing a little Darren McFadden on air promotion on ESPN. “He’ll be something to see in the NFL” she informs us. I’m thinking the best runs we’ll get to see out of him will come at Arkansas.
8:02 p.m.: Nice opening from ESPN. I think I saw the Naked Cowboy hovering over that street corner the Heisman was sitting on in Times Square.
8:03 p.m.: I’m already getting choked up thinking about how this is one of the ten or so last times I’ll be seeing Fowler, Corso, and Herbstreit pontificating in 2006.
8:05 p.m.: The “Green Room” looks curiously red… scarlet might be more accurate.
8:09 p.m.: Anyone else think Ty Detmer looks more like my insurance agent than a Heisman winning quarterback?
8:12 p.m.: ESPN just showed where Darren McFadden was in relation to other SEC running backs. He’s in pretty good company.
8:15 p.m.: Quinn is probably the most muscular quarterback I’ve seen. He could probably appear on the cover of Men’s Fitness next week. Every time I see him, his biceps seem to be bigger. I’m not sure how he can throw the ball, being so buffed up and all.
8:16 p.m.: I’m sure Smith’s 21 TDs and 0 INTs in the red zone weighed heavily on the voters’ minds when they cast their Heisman ballots.
8:18 p.m.: And there’s “still the only guy from a losing team to win the Heisman” — Paul Hornung. ESPN again copycatting HP with the Hornung anniversary story.
8:21 p.m.: If Brady Quinn doesn’t win the Heisman, it’ll probably be because his haircut made voters think he was an SEC quarterback. Or maybe they thought he was that guy from ‘My So Called Life.’
8:29 p.m.: Darren McFadden must be the toughest guy in the world, as he was walking around New York City in sub-Artic temperatures, with only a sweatshirt on. (Note to readers: HP’s coldness threshold is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.)
8:31 p.m.: Is it just me, or is Bonnie Bernstein channeling Anna Nicole Smith? Time to pick up the pace, Bonnie.
8:32 p.m.: I was chatting with the High School Heisman winners before the event. The male winner was pretty bright and even knew some Heisman history.
8:38 p.m.: Wow, the feature on Troy Smith is not exactly a great tourist advertisement for Cleveland. Huey Lewis and the News said the heart of rock and roll was in Cleveland, but I kinda doubt it after seeing this.
8:41 p.m.: Troy Smith is definitely a great story. People wonder how the Heisman could go to a kid who had such problems. But, Troy Smith is all about overcoming those problems and, ultimately, redemption.
8:43 p.m.: This is about as close to the Heisman as Ted Ginn will ever get.
8:45 p.m.: Troy Smith is just very impressive and a real class act. His honesty is quite refreshing. How could you not cheer for the guy?
8:46 p.m.: I love that face morphing thing, which was first seen in Michael Jackson’s ‘Black or White’ video.
8:48 p.m.: Note to parents, if you want your kid to win the Heisman, make sure he comes from a broken home. Childhood problems = Heisman success
8:51 p.m.: What does Bill Maher have to do with Mohammed Ali?
8:53 p.m.: For those watching on HDTV, do not gaze directly at Mike Rozier’s jacket.
8:54 p.m.: And in the non-surprise of the century, the 2006 Heisman Trophy is awarded to Troy Smith. Congratulations to Troy.
8:57 p.m.: One nice thing about going to an award ceremony knowing that you are going to win is that you have time to write the winner’s speech; and it shows with Smith. Just a very touching, poignant speech. Very impressive all the way around.
Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed the live blog.
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