Heisman 2005: Young vs. Bush

After last weekend's games, it is safe to say that the Heisman Trophy is going to go to either Vince Young or Reggie Bush. It could be argued that after this past Saturday's performance from Mr. Bush the Heisman race is all but over.

Just in case anyone reading this was living in a cave last weekend, Reggie ran for 294 yards, caught for 68 yards, and had 151 return yards, for a grand total of 513 all-purpose yards. Also, in case anyone was living in a cave, the previous record at USC for yards in a game previously belonged to Anthony Davis and the number was 368 yards. This leads into a brief look at both players game-by-game to see statistically who should win the award.

Game 1

Bush runs for 86 yards and two touchdowns, catches four passes for 58 yards, and returns a kickoff 14 yards in a 63-17 win over Hawaii. Vince Young is 13-for-17 for 173 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick. He also runs seven times for 49 yards and one touchdown in a 60-3 win over Louisiana-Lafayette. Decent days for both, but better numbers for Vince.

Edge: Vince Young.

Game 2

Reggie averages 15.6 yards per carry, running for 125 yards with a touchdown, catches three passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, and returns two kickoffs for 16 yards in a 70-17 win over Arkansas. Vince goes 18-for-29 for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while running for 76 yards in a huge 25-22 win at Ohio State. Another high-profile game for the QB.

Edge: Vince Young.

Game 3

Bush runs for 122 yards and a touchdown, catches three times for 43 yards and a touchdown, and has 102 total return yards in a 45-13 win at Oregon. Young is 8-for-14 with 101 yards, one interception, and 77 yards rushing in a 51-10 win over Rice. He's upstaged by a huge Jamaal Charles day and loses ground in the race.

Edge: Reggie Bush.

Game 4

Reggie gets upstaged by LenDale White while managing to run for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also catches one pass for four yards and has 31 return yards in a 38-28 win at Arizona State. Vince throws for 231 yards on 15-for-22 passing with two touchdowns and one pick. He also leads the Longhorns in rushing with 108 and a touchdown in a 51-20 win over Missouri. More receiving would have given this one to Reggie.

Edge: Vince Young.

Game 5

Reggie is again upstaged by White and his four-touchdown day when he runs for 110 yards, catches two passes for 16 yards, and returns a kickoff 17 yards in a 42-21 win over Arizona. Vince has another solid day, going 14-for-27 for 241 yards and three touchdowns while running for 45 yards in a 45-12 win over Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. A touchdown or two would have helped Reggie's cause.

Edge: Vince Young.

Game 6

Reggie's biggest game up to this point in the season where he runs for 160 yards and three touchdowns, catches four passes for 35 yards, and has 70 return yards. He also goes 0-for-1 passing in a 34-31 test at Notre Dame. Vince has a great game himself, going 25-for-29 with 336 passing yards and two touchdowns, while running for 58 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-17 win over Colorado. Reggie would have picked up some ground if Vince didn't have such a huge game.

Edge: Vince Young.

Game 7

Reggie only runs for 51 yards and one touchdown, and only has 18 receiving yards, but he has 116 return yards, including an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 51-24 win over Washington. Vince goes 12-for-22 with 239 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also runs for 45 yards and a touchdown in a 52-17 win over previously unbeaten Texas Tech. Not a great game by either player, but the return yards propel Reggie a little bit.

Edge: Reggie Bush.

Game 8

Bush runs for 97 yards, catches four passes for 40 yards, and has 19 return yards without any touchdowns whatsoever in a 55-13 win over Washington State. Young throws for 239 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on 15-for-30 passing. That's enough to make this week a close week, except that Vince also runs for 267 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-28 win over hapless Oklahoma State.

Edge: Vince Young.

Game 9

Bush has 113 rushing yards with a touchdown, has 27 receiving yards on four catches, and has 21 return yards in a 51-21 win over Stanford. Young is 16-for-27 passing for 298 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 53 yards in a 62-0 rout of Baylor. An average day for both, with Reggie's 9.4 average carrying him this week.

Edge: Reggie Bush.

Game 10

Reggie gets upstaged by LenDale yet again, only rushing for 82 yards and catching one pass for four yards. USC manages to handle Cal 35-10 because of all of the weapons they have. Vince goes 19-for-27 for 281 yards and four touchdowns while beating Kansas 66-14. He has -4 yards running, but it doesn't matter; four touchdowns is great when Reggie didn't have any.

Edge: Vince Young.

Game 11

Reggie has his career day. He runs 23 times for 294 yards (a 12.8 average) with two touchdowns, he catches three passes for 68 yards (a 22.7 average), he returns one punt for 16 yards, and he returns seven kickoffs for 135 yards for a grand total of 513 yards in a 50-42 win over Fresno State. Vince has yet to play game number 11 this Saturday at Texas A&M, but unless he has seven total touchdowns, there's no way he's going to take this one from Bush.

Edge: Reggie Bush.

Game 12

Call this one a helper for Reggie. Vince has had better games seven out of the previous 11 (possibly eight if he has a record-breaking day Saturday) and he should be the front-runner for the Heisman. Reggie's last game garnered him a big boost in support for the award, but he's still trailing. USC plays at home against UCLA in two weeks, and Bush needs to take center stage. UCLA's "defense" is giving up 220.2 rushing yards per game and unless LenDale has the huge game instead of Reggie, then this should be the place where Bush locks up the award.

Most people are ready to bow to Bush and just throw the trophy at him right now because of all of the hype that was surrounding him in the beginning of the year. The truth is, Vince Young has had a better season than Reggie has, and he is more deserving of the award as of right now. This Saturday might secure him the trophy, but in reality, the next Saturday should secure the trophy for Reggie Bush.

Random Notes

Tony Stewart won his second career Nextel Points Cup title with a 15th-place finish in the Ford 400 while race-winner Greg Biffle finishes second in the points standings. Real sports fans continue to not care at all about this.

Stephon Marbury received a standing ovation in the Knicks' first home win of the season over the Trail Blazers. Real basketball fans and even NBA fans continue to not care at all about the Knicks.

Comments and Conversation

November 30, 2005

michael:

reggie bush will win for sure!

December 6, 2005

dj:

reggie bush sucks go horns!!!!!!!! Vince is gonna kill the race just you watch u USC pansy!!!!!!!!

December 7, 2005

Rigsby:

This years Heisman Trophy should go to Vincent Young. He is a more rounded player than Bush. Bush is wonderful and I am sure Vince would love to throw to him but I think the Heisman should go to a well rounded player and not one that is known strictly for running and breaking tackles

January 5, 2006

James:

Bush didn’t do so well vs. a quick TX defense last night. That’s a preview of what will happen to him in the pros. Young looked like an immortal. It appears that the media foisted another Bush upon us.

January 5, 2006

Marc James:

You couldn’t be more wrong, James. Bush had only 13 carries and 82 yards with a TD. That’s a 6.3 average, higher than LenDale White’s 6.2, who really did well and took opportunities away from Bush. Given what he got, he played as well as you could.

January 5, 2006

Bush is a retard:

Reggie Bush is another reason why the heisman choices are based on “who you know”. The guy was outplayed by #21 full back. In addition, he fumbled the ball? Another victom of smoking the pipe, 619 ROFL. Good luck Bush, but you didn’t perform in clutch situations. Heisman winner for 2005 is really Vince. He schooled USC for the team they are… Losers!

April 25, 2006

duncan day:

the heisman should’ve went to vince young because vince dominated every team in the Big 12 including oklahoma sooners in the red river shoot out. Hook’em horns!!!!!!!!!!

January 30, 2007

Connor:

I think that if you go back and look at 2005-2006 College Football season you will find that Vince Young should have without question won the Heisman Trophy. Without a dout he was a sure win throughout the whole season. I think that if the voters were smarter they would have picked the all around player of the league and not a running back that is in his position because he is a wonderful player but was definetly not the best player in college football. Also i think that the Heisman votes should be after the Title Game and not before it!

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