Continuing his journey toward pop culture icon status, Tim Tebow appears in the latest GQ Magazine.
“My whole life, my dream has been to be a quarterback,” Tebow’s saying, his voice firm and loud as he paces the stage of this darkened arena in Jacksonville, Florida, a microphone in his hands. “And one day, I want to be a quarterback in the NFL. But ever since I was young, people have said, ‘You know what? You might be a better linebacker. You might be a better running back or tight end.’ “
Check out my appearance on this podcast with Vince Mullins from Fantasy College Blitz.
UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow is one of the legendary coaches in Heisman history.
Chew on this factoid: He’s the only coach to have tutored three Heisman-winning quarterbacks.
His first Heisman winner was BYU’s Ty Detmer in 1990. He eventually moved on to USC, where he helped Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart win Heismans in 2002 and 2004, respectively.
Clearly, if anyone knows how to find and develop a Heisman-winning quarterback, it’s Chow. But the list of his students who didn’t take home the trophy is equally impressive and includes such names as Jim McMahon (3rd in the Heisman vote in 1981), Steve Young (2nd in 1983), Robbie Bosco (3rd in 1985), Philip Rivers (7th in 2003) and Matt Cassel (current starter for the Kansas City Chiefs).
We went out to UCLA practice on Tuesday to talk with Chow about his Heisman legacy while hoping to shed some light on the secret ingredient he looks for when trying to find a quarterback.
When you were recruiting Ty Detmer, what about his game jumped out at you?
In my mind, the key is always to look for the mental part of the game. All the good players understand the game and are sharp and know the little nuances of the offense. All that kind of stuff. Ty was fabulous at it. He wasn’t a strong-armed guy, but he was the son of a coach and so gosh-dang bright. I told LaVell Edwards after Ty left “‘Hey, we have to start coaching again,” because Ty could do so much on his own.
Was there a time during his development where you thought he could win a Heisman?
(laughing) I don’t know if you ever actually think about about winning a Heisman, but once he started playing we knew he was going to be a special.
Did you recruit Carson Palmer at all when you were at BYU?
No. We knew who he was, sure, but we never had a real shot at him. But I remember the very first day that I met him at USC. He was just a tremendously gifted player. I think the common thread for all these guys is that they were great people besides being great players. So Carson walked in with Matt Cassel and introduced himself and we’ve had a great relationship since then. He had terrific skills and was so willing to do whatever was asked and it obviously worked out well.
The way he ended up his college career…is that exactly how you envisioned it when you got to USC?
No, there was a time in his junior year when we were just about ready to replace him. But he kept fighting and kept battling. He was just a victim of the circumstances. He started as a freshman and had no idea what he was doing. But it is what it is, and later on in our second year he understood the style and began to flourish.
Do you remember the point where you thought that he had finally turned the corner as a quarterback?
Oh yeah. There were a couple specific plays in Arizona that I remember and then when we came back home and he hit a post route and you could just see his chest come out and he never looked back.
What about Matt Leinart? Compare his process to the others.
His situation was interesting because when he won the job it was going to be either him or Matt Cassel. There were a lot of people who felt like Cassel should get the job. Obviously the choice was not a difficult one because either one would’ve been fine. But Leinart is another one of those smart guys. I remember in practice he kind of used to laugh at the defensive guys and say “You’re not fooling me”, because he understood the offense so well.
He had a great fall camp as a freshman and back then you said he was going to be an All-American one day…
…but then he hit the wall and almost wanted to go home.
So did you ever waver in your original belief that he’d be a great player?
Well, yeah. It wasn’t easy because in that spring after Carson left, there was Cassel and Brandon Hance, who was also a good player, and then Leinart. I remember trying to be fair and making the statement that in trying to be fair we weren’t being fair to anybody because we didn’t give anybody a chance to step up.
Did you feel in your gut, then, that Leinart was the guy? How did the choice come about?
No. It was just hours of talking and arguing with Pete (Carroll) and discussing the situation and that’s how we arrived at it.
What do you think would’ve happened if Cassel had gotten the nod?
I don’t know! (laughing). I saw him in the Las Vegas Airport sitting down about a couple months ago and who woulda thunk he’d be where he is? But it’s wonderful because he, too, is a terrific young guy and he never had the opportunity. When I was at Tennessee, I had already worked out a deal with him. He wasn’t going to get drafted–he didn’t have any film to show anybody, so we had already worked out a deal where he would come in as a free agent. We were sitting there and someone walked in during the seventh round and said “Hey, the Patriots just took your guy”. I said “What do you mean they took my guy?’” And he said the Patriots had seen something, obviously, and decided to go with him and the rest is history. What a nice story.
So now you are back in college. Do any of the guys you see now remind you of your past guys?
I think Kevin Prince has a terrific opportunity to be a good player. He’s going to play four years, or three years, whatever it is. But he’s only a freshman and will have to go through the growing pains as well.
Does he have the building blocks you require to be a great quarterback?
Yes. Yes. He’s bright. He’s a good guy. He’s willing to work.
How many times did you go to the Heisman ceremony?
All three times. Oh yeah. I told Kevin Prince that I’ll go once more (with him) and then I’ll retire.
What was that first time with Detmer like?
Oh, it was exciting. I didn’t even know how to put on the tuxedo they gave us. It was great to see everybody. The pomp that it’s all held with is fun. After all the ceremonies, they have a pretty good time. They block off the bar downstairs and everyone has a great time. I liked seeing all the old Heisman winners. I remember taking my program and walking around and getting them all to sign it.
Was there any guy you coached who you wished would’ve won the Heisman?
Probably Philip Rivers. Again, because he’s such a great young man.
Here is my list of the players with the best chance of actually winning the Heisman. It is not a predicted order of finish, so some players NOT on this list are still going to receive votes and finish somewhere in the top 10, but will in reality have no chance of actually taking home the trophy.
1. Colt McCoy, Texas–Last year’s Heisman runner up has accomplished the impressive feat of keeping up with Tim Tebow’s publicity machine in the offseason. For instance, while Tebow is on the cover of Sports Illustrated, McCoy is on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. McCoy is the senior quarterback of a traditional Heisman power and will help his team compete for a national title. The perception out there is that perhaps he should’ve won the award last year and, as a result, voters will look to him first in 2009. He had fantastic numbers in 2008, but they weren’t so amazing that they can’t be duplicated or surpassed. He will have big games on TV against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M (on Thanksgiving) to impress the voters (and also the possibility of the Big 12 title game). He’s got most of his offensive line returning, plus plenty of weapons at receiver, so his stats should not suffer. Last year, he finished second to Sam Bradford in the Southwest and Far West regions, so much of Bradford’s support in those areas could go his way in 2009. He is a likeable guy and so far has not been oversaturated in the media. All other things being equal, McCoy has the best chance of winning the 2009 Heisman Trophy.
2. Tim Tebow, Florida–In previous years I would not put a player on this list who had already won a Heisman, mainly because I believe there will never be another two-time Heisman winner. However, Tebow is one of those unique figures in college football history for whom an exception must be made. He was the first sophomore to win the Heisman, so if anyone can win it a second time, it’s him. He is helped by the fact that the glow of his Heisman season is two years in the past. If he wins, he would be the Grover Cleveland of the Heisman (Cleveland being the only U.S. president to win non-consecutive terms). I think winning two Heismans non-consecutively is a far more likely possibility than back-to-back Heismans. The advantages Tebow has in this race are legion. He is of course the quarterback for the No. 1 team and defending national champ. He is the most famous player in college football right now and his name recognition is off the charts. He is universally recognized as a great player and many see this season as his chance to establish himself as perhaps the greatest player in college football history. He will once again put up excellent numbers in his inimitable style. He’ll have marquee matchups against LSU, Georgia and Florida State (plus the SEC title game) to make his case. So why isn’t he at the top of this list? Mainly because History is a tough thing to overcome. Heisman voters are fickle and will not give out a second trophy very willingly. The burden of proof for Tebow to win again will be tremendous and it will only happen if there is not a viable alternative. Plus, Tebow Fatigue will play a real factor (we saw it in last year’s vote as well). So don’t believe those who think this race is Tebow’s to lose. It isn’t.
3. Jahvid Best, California–In an era dominated by spread quarterbacks, there is still room for a flashy running back. There has been only one running back Heisman winner in this decade (Reggie Bush) and Best’s style is very similar to that winner. He is coming off a fantastic sophomore year (1,580 yards, 15 TDs, 8.1 ypc) and has a chance to better those numbers if he stays healthy. His big advantage is that he could be seen as the top running back alternative to all the quarterbacks in the race. He also is a dazzling breakaway back who will be a staple of the highlight shows. His big disadvantage is that he plays for a non-traditional Heisman power. This means his Heisman run is at the mercy of his team’s success. It will all boil down to how he does against USC. If Cal beats the Trojans and he does well, then he becomes a serious Heisman contender. The other issue is his durability. A healthy Best likely approaches 2,000 yards and you don’t need accounting college to know he’ll require every one of those yards to have a shot at the Heisman.
4. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State–The last two Heisman winners have been sophomores, so maybe the trend continues here. In order for a sophomore to win, he’s got to play for a traditional power and put up some crazy numbers at the same time. Pryor has the chance to do just that, but it will depend on how well his passing has improved in the offseason. Obviously, he’s a brilliant talent and if he comes into his own in 2009, he can make a serious Heisman run. He’s got a big game in week two against USC in which to establish his Heisman candidacy. If he leads a Buckeye win over the Trojans, he’ll be in the Heisman race all year. If Ohio State loses, he’ll crawl his way back into it as the season progresses–big games against Penn State and Michigan could help–but he will not be a serious factor and will actually be setting himself up nicely for a run in 2010.
5. Daryll Clark, Penn State–Clark had an excellent season as a first-year starter in 2008 and he should improve upon his numbers in 2009. The Nittany Lions have a chance to run the table and if they do, Clark will get most of the credit. His schedule isn’t exceptionally conducive to a Heisman run, but he does play Ohio State. If some of the other candidates mess up or get injured, he could be seen as a viable alternative as long as the Lions are undefeated.
6. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame–You can never count out a Notre Dame quarterback. Clausen has name recognition and should put up pretty good numbers in 2009. The Irish play an easy schedule, so Clausen has a shot at leading his team to a BCS bowl. Of course, his big chance to make a Heisman statement will come against USC (do you see a trend here?). If Notre Dame beats the Trojans and the Irish go on to win, say, 10 games, then Clausen will get some Heisman buzz. His best chance of winning is for the main candidates to screw up and for Clausen to be seen as the reason behind the resurgence of Notre Dame football. He’s got the receivers to have a huge year, but will he actually do it? There’s the rub.
7. Max Hall, BYU–Only one school from a non-BCS conference has won the Heisman in the modern era and that’s Brigham Young. The great tradition of Cougar quarterbacks gives Hall an outside chance at making a Heisman run. Above all, he’s got the schedule to prove his mettle as BYU plays Oklahoma and Florida State in the early going. If the Cougars come out of that unscathed, then Hall will be a legitimate candidate. Whether he’d be able to overcome the McCoys and Tebows is another question, but he’d be seen as a viable alternative if they falter.
8. Jevan Snead, Mississippi–Ole Miss is the hip choice as this year’s dark horse title contender. If the Rebels live up to their billing, it will be because of the play of Snead, who is a potential first round pick. He had a pretty good year in 2008 and if he can improve upon his numbers and keep Ole Miss in the title hunt, he’ll be a Heisman candidate. But if the Rebels lose a game or two, his Heisman hopes will be finished.
9. Noel Devine, West Virginia–Devine has pretty good name recognition and a solid sophomore season to build upon. He’d have to shatter the 2,000-yard mark in spectacular fashion to be a real factor in the race.
10. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State–Bryant is the only multi-purpose athlete in the race. He is already recognized as a fantastic receiver and return man. If he can duplicate what he did last year as a sophomore and maybe drive a stake or two in the hearts of some of the elite Big 12 teams (like OU and Texas), then he can pick up a lot of Heisman votes. Nothing thrills Heisman voters like timely, deadly punt returns and Bryant will have the chance to do just that.
If the vote were held right now
1. Colt McCoy
2. Tim Tebow
3. Sam Bradford
4. Jahvid Best
5. Dez Bryant
6. Eric Berry
7. Daryll Clark
8. Jeremiah Masoli
9. Max Hall
10.Taylor Mays
Sorry, folks, was a bit under the weather today. I’ll have the first HP Heisman Watch of the 2009 season tomorrow.
In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up for the HP Fantasy Challenge by clicking on the banner at the top of this page. The prize: 2 BCS title game tickets!
A few random thoughts as we head into the weekend:
—Auburn has named Chris Todd its starting quarterback. Considering Gus Malzahn’s reputation, I’d put the over/under on Todd’s touchdown passes this season at 25.
—As excited as Pete Carroll is about freshman Matt Barkley, USC’s best chance at competing for a national title is still with Aaron Corp at quarterback. People are quick to forget that Barkley had a 23-18 TD-to-INT ratio as a senior in high school. You don’t want your freshman QB throwing picks in Columbus.
—Another note on USC’s quarterbacks. The Trojans have on their roster a true freshman who led California high schools in passing last year with 4,266 yards and 44 TDs and who also ran for another 608 yards and 2 TDs. He threw for 446 yards against Barkley’s Mater Dei squad last season, outplaying the current Trojan phenom head-to-head. He tallied fewer interceptions than Barkley despite 130 more attempts. But he’s not playing quarterback for USC. Must be an undersized guy with a popgun arm, right? Wrong. He’s 6-5, 230 pounds with a rocket arm. So why is James Boyd playing defensive end instead of quarterback, especially with Corp injured right now? I’ve heard of adhering to a system–and USC seems to prefer quarterbacks who stay in the pocket–but how do you waste a talent like this at defensive end? Just asking.
–By the way, I keep hearing that Pat Haden–a current USC trustee–could be USC’s next athletic director whenever Mike Garrett retires.
—Pat Forde has this cool piece on safeties Eric Berry and Taylor Mays. I find the sidebar by Todd McShay, however, to be a bit absurd. McShay posits that Mays should go ‘somewhere in the middle of the first round’ and makes the mind-bending prediction that both Berry and Mays will be off the board by the 20th pick. Ya think? Here’s a better prediction: Neither will be available after the 10th pick and possibly much sooner than that.
—ESPN’s preseason All-American squad is out. Couple of interesting picks, namely Eric Decker of Minnesota at wide receiver and no Gerald McCoy at all.
—Good story here by Mark Schlabach on the challenges faced by defenses these days in stopping all the new-fangled offenses.
—ESPN’s top 150 high school players for 2009-10 is out. Defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat tops the list.
—CFN thinks Texas will go 9-3. Sorry, I just can’t see three losses on that schedule.
Don’t forget to sign up for the HP Fantasy Challenge, the best college fantasy game on the net. First prize is two BCS title game tickets. If your team makes the title game, you’ll be all set to party in Pasadena!
To join, click here or on the banner above.
anilos forum: Nice blog right here! Additionally your site lots ...
college kids need money: I used to be recommended this web site through my ...
? ??? ?????? ? ??????: Wonderful web site. A lot of useful information he...
mlb apparel: I think that is one of the such a lot vital info f...
pittsburgh steelers clothing: Hey very nice web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonde...
Get free football picks as well as live college football odds at Locksmith Sports. One of the top handicapping services in the business when it comes to helping you win with college football betting.
© 2012 Heisman Pundit. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress. Designed by 
