Hypeman Trophy... No Thanks!

Ballots are due in today for the 900+ Heisman Trophy voters across the nation. Big deal right? WRONG! The Heisman trophy has never been one of my favorite awards, trophies, etc. Now that one of Alabama's own FINALLY seems on the cusp of winning it you'd think I'd feel differently. WRONG, Mark Ingram is as deserving as just about any offensive football player in the country. He's tough, about 1000 of his almost 1500 rushing yards are after contact. That's an astronomical stat! Yet I've got news for the Heisman Trophy voters, Mark Ingram isn't even the best player on his football team, little lone all of college football. Rolando McClain is the best football player wearing Crimson this year and easily one of the best across the country.

The best two football players I've seen this year are Ndamukong Suh and Rolando McClain. Sadly though neither of these two beast will even sniff a trip to New York's Downtown Athletic Club. (edit: so I was wrong, Suh is making the trip, but he'll come back empty handed) I took to calling this trophy the Hypeman trophy about 10+ years ago and I won't stop just because one of Bama's own wins it. It's not even an honest award. Supposedly designated as signifying the best player in college football defensive players rarely are considered. I came to my senses and dismissed this award as being as significant as something between a paper weight and doorstop following the 1988 season. You remember that season don't you? Why that's when Andre Ware won the award for throwing for a gazillion yards against high school level talent, not even good HS talent at that. Surely you remember his coach leaving him in the games at Houston even in the 4th quarter with 40+ point leads. Contrast that season to the one Derrick Thomas had, 27 sacks! That's right 27 sacks in one season while being double and yes triple teamed on every passing down. When thinking about the greatest college defensive players of all time, specifically the great Linebackers or Pass Rushers; Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, the list goes on and on! Yet none of them had a senior year like Derrick Thomas, 27 sacks while ALWAYS facing double teams, often triple teams. Twice his senior year he was the National Defensive Player of the Week, most notably against Penn State. In the PSU game they quickly realized they'd have to put a tackle and tight-end on him, then the running back was shaded to his side to pick him up when he'd inevitably beat the double team. Should I mention that the plays were designed to roll away from him yet Tony Sacca became a bruised and beaten meat sack by the end of the game all thanks to Thomas' relentless pass rush. Did I mention he blocked a few kicks including a game winner that year? That's right, I lost ALL faith in the Hypeman trophy in 1988.

To be sure, getting these things right isn't always easy. For instance as good as Suh is, Alabama's Terrance Cody is a better and more dominant nose tackle in Bama's NFLesque 3-4 defense than Suh could think of being. The same is true of Suh as a 4-3 DT vs Cody in the same situation. Given Cody's game winning heroics vs rival Tennessee this year and his impact on the best defense in college football one could make an argument for him being a better DT. Thusly systems and the talent surrounding a player have a huge impact on any one players success.

Yet seeing the Hypeman trophy for what it is isn't so hard either. For several years there's been a trend to simply award it to the best player on one of the top 2 or 3 teams. See this year for an example. So if Bama's Mark Ingram wins the trophy, and surely he or another offensive player will, I'll be happy for him and the university. Yet sadly it'll be awarded to the second best player on Alabama's team. Besides I say give it and the Hypeman Jinx to McCoy!