By JOHN E. HOOVER Sports Columnist on Nov 26, 2012, at 8:53 PM Updated on 11/26 at 8:53 PM
GAME POINT
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NORMAN — Texas A&M took the muzzle off its hotshot young quarterback on Monday.
No such drastic changes are required at Notre Dame, where public relations isn’t exactly something the Irish have to brush up on, even if their best player this football season is a linebacker.
Your leading candidates for the 2012 Heisman Trophy, it would seem, are a freshman and a defensive player.
At A&M, it’s Johnny Manziel, purveyor of the “did he just do that?” double-take highlights. At Notre Dame, it’s senior Manti Te’o, owner of arguably the game’s strongest will.
Historically speaking, a longer-established faction of the voting body won’t reward a freshman because the Heisman has, at times, represented something of a career achievement. That stance seems to have softened somewhat, since Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Mark Ingram won as sophomores three straight years from 2007-09.
Also, defensive players have been significantly handicapped by the electorate for one reason or another. Charles Woodson in 1998 — I still think it was a strong anti-Peyton Manning movement, rather than a pro-Charles Woodson movement — is the only defender to win the Heisman since the two-platoon era, and Woodson returned kicks and got time on offense.
On Monday, I asked Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops for his thoughts on the worthiness of either a freshman or a defender winning the Heisman.
“I don’t think there’s any question each should have the opportunity,” Stoops said. “We had that situation with Adrian Peterson being a freshman and he came so close to it (in 2004). A player is a player. It shouldn’t matter what age he is.
“And the other … being a long-time defensive guy coming up in coaching, I’ve never understood (the bias against defenders). I think Te’o for Notre Dame is absolutely deserving when you look at — usually they talk about the quarterback or running back on the best team in the country or whoever had the best record; usually they have a better chance of winning it than anyone.
“(But Notre Dame is) known for their defense and he’s the quarterback of their defense and he’s got … seven interceptions and he’s been the guy all year. He’s been their guy and I don’t think there’s any question he’s a guy that should have a great opportunity to win it.”
Full disclosure here: In 2009, I did not vote for Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. While I appreciated that Suh altered opposing game plans and dominated his individual matchup and had to be accounted for on every play, I could not award my Heisman vote to a player who averaged six tackles a game and ranked 14th in tackles for loss and 15th in quarterback sacks. Heisman winners, in my estimation, should have a more tangible impact than that. Also, the ’09 Huskers lost four games. Winning counts, too.
I won’t divulge my vote today (the Heisman Trust requests that we wait until after the ceremony, and I’ll always honor that), and I won’t go into every characteristic of each of the 18 players I’ve identified as a preliminary candidate. But, having watched Te’o all season, he’s certainly worthy of being in anyone’s discussion. He’s second in the nation in interceptions, is among the leaders at nearly nine tackles a game and is the spiritual and emotional leader of one of college football’s most impressive defenses.
I asked Stoops if some defensive players are good enough to actually merit alterations to an offensive game plan and whether Te’o, who dominated the Irish’ 30-13 win in Norman on Oct. 27, was that kind of player.
“Absolutely. He definitely fits in that capacity,” Stoops said. “You’re always aware of where he’s at and what kind of plays you’re running against him. The only other guy I’ve been around — Suh, I thought, was that way as well, in that you’d better be very careful what plays you’re running around him.”
Stoops went on to say that Te’o was the best defensive player the Sooners faced this season.
“I don’t want to discredit anyone we’ve played against this year,” Stoops said, “but their defense, the way they’ve played all year, the position they’re in and him being the leader and making so many impact plays, by all means he could be a guy that wins it.”
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