…this, from a Heisman voter:
“Case Keenum cannot be ignored any longer. He’s everything you should want in a Heisman candidate. He’s putting up record-breaking quarterback numbers and is the best passer in the nation. He’s dramatically bringing his team from behind in big games. He’s beaten three BCS teams (Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State) and has Houston – HOUSTON! — ranked No. 13 in the country. And for all the Tim Tebow supporters out there, just remember this: Keenum’s team put up more points against Mississippi State than Tebow’s team did.”
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Recent HP media mentions: ESPN College Game Day (12/3) ... VS./NBC CFB Talk (12/5) ... SJ Mercury News (12/5) ... Seattle Times (12/5) ... Idaho Statesman (12/5) ... Associated Press (12/6) ... Huntsville Times (12/6)
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Geoff
I agree that Case Keenum shouldn’t be ignored, but if not – why were Graham Harrel and Colt Brennan ignored for the Heisman? It’s like saying, “stats only matter when we don’t have a favorite from a big school…”
Craig
Honestly, Keenum’s Heisman bid is not really propagated on statistics. Yes, Keenum has blown away all competition in passing statistics. But it’s the way he has led his team to victory 3 times in the final minute of the game and another 4th quarter comeback at Oklahoma State. His leadership and calm when everything around him has gone to hell is one of the main reasons that he is this year’s 2009 Heisman winner. Without Keenum, Houston is an average team. With him, they are about to finish the season ranked in the top 10 in the country. If he could play defense too, Houston would be an unstoppable juggernaut.
Geoff
No offense Craig, but I see little logic in your statement. Since when does barely winning mean more than winning big? And since when do 3 close victories and a horrible loss to a bad UTEP team equate to a strong and consistent offense?
Granted, Keenum’s stats are stellar – but to say he is any more valuable to his team than McCoy or Tebow or Ingram is just wrong. Keenum doesn’t mean more to his team just because he plays for Houston…his offensive line still has to block well, his receivers still have to catch his passes, etc.
Lastly, you talk about where Houston would be without Keenum…where would Texas be without McCoy? Florida without Tebow? Look at what happened to a strong Oklahoma team when they lost Sam Bradford.
JMB
“I agree that Case Keenum shouldn’t be ignored, but if not – why were Graham Harrel and Colt Brennan ignored for the Heisman?”
Everyone knew Colt Brennan was an overrated system player putting up big numbers against terrible competition. Graham Harrell on the other hand was considered the Heisman frontrunner last season after Texas Tech beat Texas. His candidacy died against Oklahoma, but he was still in the mix for most of the season.
Geoff
I dunno JMB – I don’t think Graham Harrell was ever a SERIOUS Heisman contender against Tebow, McCoy, and Bradford…his name was always mentioned, but in the discussion of “who could actually win” – Harrell was never a true contender in anyone’s eyes.
Tyler
Geoff, if you watched the game (or even looked at the stats), the defense lost the UTEP game for Houston, the offense was pretty darn good. 42 first downs, 536 yards in the air, another 128 on the ground, Keenum completing 67% of his passes for 5 TD’s and 0 INT’s… and Houston had the ball for only 28:34!
So how, exactly, is a QB responsible for a defense allowing 7 TD’s (I’ll give the offense responsibility for allowing Roddray Walker to return a fumble for a 70 yd TD)? UTEP was a career day for Keenum, and if his defense could have stopped anything more than a peewee squad, they’d have won in El Paso.
Were the Heisman a team award, I wouldn’t even dream of claiming Houston deserved it (let’s face it, you’ve gotta play both sides of the ball, and they just don’t play defense well, if at all), but since it’s for the best INDIVIDUAL player, and he’s really the dominant QB in the country, he’d have my vote. Were he at the helm of a program with a stronger D — I’d say Penn State, but they probably wouldn’t take full advantage of his arm — he’d have them in national title contention.
As it is, I’ll be severely disappointed if he doesn’t hold the Davey O’Brian award at the end of the year, and finish 2nd or 3rd in the Heisman running (presuming a decent finish on the season). Perhaps next year…
Brian
It sounds like the Heisman voter quoted here is making the argument that Houston’s offense is more high-powered and prolific than Florida’s, which,okay, I might go with that.
But he doesn’t make a very good argument that Keenum is a better player than Tebow. And that’s what the Heisman is about, who’s the better player.
Craig
Wait, I’m confused. I thought we judged how good a player is by his performance? So you are asking us to suspend comparisons of Tebow and Keenum because Tebow doesn’t put up the throws Keenum does?
That’s like arguing that Jeffrey Demps should win the Heisman because he would be better than Ingram if he only got as many carries. BUT HE DOESN’T, and you can’t compare woulda, coulda, or shouldas. Ingram>Demps. Keenum>Tebow.
Texas Fan
Keenum loses to UCF, 37-32, a team that Colt McCoy and Texas just beat last week 35-3. He now has two losses. A Heisman QB wills his team to comeback victories, particularly over lesser competition. Can we eliminate him now?
Andy
Yes, we should eliminate him now. His passer rating is slightly inferior to his immediate predecessor at Houston (Kevin Kolb 2006), and his amazing come from behind victories are against the likes of Tulsa! Losses to UTEP and UCF are the final nail in the coffin!
If people are struggling to find a winner, why not go with the two proven team leaders/winners (McCoy or Tebow) or CJ Spiller? Ingram is a fine tailback and will have a great career, but unless he carries Bama in a win over UF, can a tail back who averages 1 touchdown a game really win the heisman (Tebow has as many rushing TDs), especially as a sophomore?