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The Heisman's fall from glory

© Chuck Bednar

The Heisman Trophy is now officially a joke.

Nothing personal against Ron Dayne, but there is no way you can convince me that he was the best player in college football this season. Dayne is one hell of a player, and his numbers speak volumes as to that fact. The 5-foot-10, 254-pound running back led the Badgers to the Big Ten Conference title and a second straight Rose Bowl. Dayne rushed for 1,834 yards and 19 touchdowns in 1999, breaking 1998 Heisman winner Ricky William's Division I-A career rushing mark with 6,397 yards (118 more than William's).

Dayne is great. He just is not the best.

Who should have won the Heisman Trophy? In my opinion, Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick was most deserving of the honor. Vick, a redshirt freshman, completed 90-of-153 pass attempts on the season for 1840 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also ran for 580 yards for eight scores in leading the Hokies to an undefeated season and a trip to the Sugar Bowl to play for the National Championship.

There are two reasons Dayne won over Vick, who finished in third place behind Joe Hamilton of Georgia Tech. First, the other reason Dayne won the honor is because he broke the rushing record, and the Downtown Athletic Club has a tradition of giving the Heisman to players that set that particular record. I can live with that, even if it does seem that the Club is a little too mired in tradition. What happens when someone more deserving is overlooked because of this policy, as I believe happened in this case?

But the real reason I think Vick was overlooked is because he's just a freshman. And here is where my real problems with the Heisman Trophy begin. Who is this award intended for? The best player in college football? The best senior player in college football? The best offensive player in college football? The most valuable player in college football? I bet not even the Downtown Athletic Club knows for sure, as the award criteria seems to change each year.

If it's meant for the best player, then Vick should have run away with it. From the start of the season to now, he has been the most amazing and most spectacular player in the NCAA. If it's for the best senior player, go for either Dayne or Peter Warrick. But if the Heisman goes to the MVP, you have to look at guys like Joe Hamilton, Thomas Jones, Chad Pennington and Drew Brees. Without each of these players, the fact is that their respective teams would have been sub-.500 ballclubs. And whatever the criteria, leaving Shaun Alexander of Alabama out of the top five is unforgivable.

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