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The Case for Keenum
Published: 11/12/2009 1:19 PM
Last Modified: 11/12/2009 1:19 PM

If I had to turn in my Heisman vote today it would go to Houston's Case Keenum.
There is no rule that says you have to cast your vote for a quarterbackk that plays on a national championship contender.
That has been the trend lately but it needs to change.
Guys don't have to play quarterback. More importantly, the Heisman winner doesn't have to play for a national championship contender.
Yes, I think Colt McCoy of Texas is a great player. He is surrounded by great players.
Keenum is a great player surrounded by good players that he makes better by his play. Keenum is the reason Houston is a top 15 team. McCoy is one of the reasons Texas is a top five team.
Keenum has unbelievable numbers. But, that is not the reason to vote for him.
You vote for him because he has unbelievable numbers and he knows how to win games. He made all the plays to rally UH to a wild victory at Tulsa last week. He's done the same thing in the final minute to beat Texas Tech and Southern Miss.
He engineered an upset at Oklahoma State when the Cowboys were ranked fifth.
In other words, he wins games. As long as Houston wins its remaining games, he'll have my vote. Because he's a great player and a winner.
You shouldn't have to play in the BCS championship game to get a Heisman vote.



Reader Comments 3 Total
Arbythree (3 years ago)
I believe the Heisman Trophy should also take into account a person's off the field character. What do we know about Keenum in this regard?

We know a lot about Bradford, McCoy and ofcourse Tebow.
TBone87 (3 years ago)
Reggie, every qb is a system qb! The reason Keenum isn't getting serious consideration is because he is playing at Houston. He is as good as anyone in the country.
BLA (3 years ago)
You can say the same about Bradford last year who, IMHO, was as good as he was because Jermain Gresham is a matchup nightmare which freed up WRs on the outside.

Tebow...avg. QB, excellent athlete, but not having that great a year.

Keenum...even in the one loss had sick, crazy incredible numbers. This is not an MVP award and ESPN has started to try and play it as that...the Heisman trophy is for the best overall QB. Let's all agree, Tebow is a FB who is taking a wildcat snap every play and occasionally throws it from that formation. Colt McCoy...good QB made better by Jordan Shipley. Keenum..outstanding QB. There are a few good RBs out there but none really seem to be game changers.

I agree with Klein. There are 2 players who seem to standout in this race. Case Keenum and Jordan Shipley are the 2 best players right now.

As for what they do off the field...there is another award that takes into account their talent and off the field work in the classroom and in the community. Keep the Heisman Trophy what it was meant to be...recognition of the best player in college football for that year. That is the reason why Andre Ware, Ty Detmer, and Steve McNair (out of Alcorn St.) were able to win and why Gordie Lockbaum (Holy Cross) was able to crack the top 3.

In the past 10 years ESPN has bastardized the trophy ceremony and basically changed how people vote for it. The best player doesn't always play for the best team in the biggest conferences, it is getting confused with the most talented player. The best player is the one who performs at the highest of levels week in and week out. Keenum has done that. AND WHO CARES IF ITS A SYSTEM QB? The player can only do his best with the playbook the coaches give him. Graham Harrell should have been given more props for his season last year. Keenum is excelling against ALL competition (he beat Texas Tech, OSU in Stillwater, and a tough Mississippi State team in Starkville). Tebow has struggled against some of the worst competition in the SEC this year (and should have a loss...thanks ref), McCoy hasn't looked as slick as he did last year and is having a good season because Jordan Shipley is having a great season).

Tell me...who else has performed at the same excellent level every game this year?
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Klein's Korner

Tulsa World senior sports columnist John Klein is in his fourth decade of covering sports. He started his newspaper career at The Daily Ardmoreite in 1977 and moved to the Tulsa World in 1978. He served 10 years as sports editor for the Tulsa World before being named to his current position in 2005. He also spent five years as the Southwest Conference beat writer for the Houston Post. He has won many writing awards and is a former Oklahoma Sports Writer of the Year.

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