An Open Letter to Heisman Voters

To Every Heisman Voter:

Let me first say that I have long dreamed of having one of the ballots that you get to fill out shortly. Maybe you have filled yours out already. If so, please disregard.

Having said that, I feel that, in one of the strangest and most difficult years ever to choose the winner of the most coveted trophy in college football, the sanctity of the Heisman itself is at stake.

Recently, a disturbing trend has been appearing lately. I see it in the words of sportswriters. I hear it on radio and television. There are many that think that the Heisman Trophy, symbolic of the best player in college football for the season, should simply go to the best player on the best team. And frankly, that has me disturbed.

The Heisman wasn't meant to just crown the top-ranked team's top player. Otherwise, how on Earth could George Rogers win the Heisman at South Carolina in 1980? The Gamecocks were 8-3 on the season. How could Paul Hornung win it at Notre Dame in 1956? The Irish were a disastrous 2-8 that year.

Let's take a look at the top two teams: Florida and Alabama. Alabama has a Heisman candidate in Mark Ingram; Florida in Tim Tebow.

Let's start with Ingram. First, statistically, Ingram is not the top rusher in the SEC. That award goes to Anthony Dixon of Mississippi State. Ingram's a good back, but second, ask yourself this: is Mark Ingram even the best player on the Alabama team? Myself, I think Rolando McClain is the force behind the Tide. Finally, if Ingram wasn't on Alabama's team, would the Tide still be as good? I'd have to say so. In that case, you've got to leave Ingram off your ballot.

Tebow's stats aren't dazzling. Frankly, had Arkansas defeated LSU last weekend, Ryan Mallett would've been the slight favorite as the first-team all SEC quarterback. Mallett's numbers are frankly better. Tebow is being considered for "leadership roles." Admirable, yes, but let's face it, the Florida offense wasn't stellar this year. Florida also rose to the top on defense, so maybe the attention should lean a little more towards Brandon Spikes and a little less at Tebow.

(Note: If you're a voter from Florida, don't send me your "how dare you say anything slightly negative towards the wonder child" comments. I got those last year, and they don't work.)

Would Florida be the same without Tebow? No, but they also weren't the same this year without Percy Harvin. Harvin made the offense unstoppable. This year, the Gator D took control, so no way should Tebow find his way on your top spot.

Let's even look at Colt McCoy of Texas. I like McCoy. He's without question the leader of the Texas squad. Against Texas A&M, he pretty much won the game by himself. My concern though is this: has McCoy really played against anyone? The Big 12 was obviously extremely weak this year, so McCoy's stats weren't really against some solid competition, but rather against a slew of mediocre teams. That gives a tough answer when asked if Texas would still be as good this year without McCoy, because with the schedule they played and the talent all around that team, the answer's no, but the drop off wouldn't be as big as you would think. McCoy deserves to be on your ballot, but I'd put him in the number two slot.

Number one belongs to Toby Gerhart of Stanford.

Forget that Stanford is 8-4. Forget that the Pac-10 plays so late that so many of us haven't seen much of anything out on the West Coast. Gerhart has Heisman written all over him. Without question, he's the team's most valuable player. Without question, he's the top running back in a conference that was loaded with good running backs. With his outstanding performance against Notre Dame, coupled with Ingram's collapse at Auburn, the Doak Walker Award should already be engraved with his name on it. And when asked if Stanford would be as good without him, the answer comes without hesitation: not a chance. Gerhart is the catalyst of Jim Harbaugh's triumphant revival of Cardinal football, which is why Harbaugh pulled Gerhart from a throng of Stanford students after the Notre Dame win to plead his case.

Tebow and Ingram this year were good players on great teams. McCoy was a great player on what probably is a great team, but unproven, and I couldn't vote on "probably." Gerhart took a so-so Stanford team and made them into a solid one. That speaks of the qualities that were the base of the Heisman Trophy, and in a time where the standards of the trophy are truly at question, I humbly ask that you follow the guidelines of the past.

Thank you for your time. And oh, while you're at it, can you find a way to make the NCAA create a playoff?