Heisman Trophy Isn't What It Seems

No individual award in sports is as famous and recognizable as the Heisman Trophy. Since 1935 the Heisman Trophy has gone out to the best players in college football. The award is awarded to “The outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”

The trophy is not without controversy. Many people think the award should go to the best player in college football and that all the “pursuit of excellence with integrity” jargon is just for show. In 2010 the Heisman Trust revoked 2005 winner Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy because Bush received gifts from an agent while at USC. This proves that integrity and a squeaky clean image means a lot to Heisman voters because Bush was by far the best college football player of 2005.

The Heisman trophy is not as prestigious as it would like to be. People are beginning to realize that the voting process is ridiculous and it is pretty much a ratings grab for ESPN. The Heisman winners are considered a fraternity, and they don’t want any “problem children” in their exclusive club.

This year the voters are in a tough spot. The popular choice to win the Heisman Trophy is Jameis Winston of Florida State. He has all the credentials. Outstanding passing numbers, outstanding rushing numbers, and the quarterback of an undefeated team. There is just one blemish on Winston’s resume. A sexual assault accusation.

If you watched ESPN for any ten minute period over the past month you were sure to see coverage of the Jameis Winston case. This story coincidentally was reported right in the middle of Winston’s Heisman campaign.

In a nutshell, Winston and the accuser definitely had sex, the accuser was intoxicated, and witnesses statements have changed. The thing in question is whether or not the sex was consensual or not. Ultimately, the accuser’s attorney decided there was not enough evidence to prove Winston’s guilt in court so they dropped the case. However, that does not mean Winston is innocent.

Heisman voters and Hall of Fame voters tend to like being the morality police in sports. Pete Rose is omitted from the baseball hall of fame because he gambled on baseball years ago. Rose is the all time leader in hits in baseball history. The hall of fame has not yet inducted Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire, or anyone rumored to be linked to performance enhancing drugs.

The Heisman voters will likely not vote for Johnny Manziel because of an alleged case of him profiting off of his autograph. Despite Manziel having better stats this season than in 2012 when he won the Heisman Trophy.

It’s up to each voter whether they decide Winston is “moral” enough to win the award. But what precedents do they have to look at? What standard are they going to judge morality on? There is no clear standard of morality in hall of fame and Heisman voting.

They took Reggie Bush’s Heisman trophy away for receiving money from an agent. But they let OJ Simpson keep his when it is pretty much known that he is a murderer. Numerous voters and former Heisman winners publicly said how angry they were when they learned about Johnny Manziel allegedly making money by signing his own name. To these people outrage is totally justified when grown men make money based off their talents. But when a man murders two people then robs a memorabilia store owner at gunpoint it is not enough to take away the precious trophy.

The definition of the trophy does not match what public perception of the trophy is. The Heisman Trophy is widely regarded as the best player in college football. The actual awards for the best player in college football are the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards. Even most diehard college football fans cannot name the past five Walter Camp award winners. But even some casual college football fans can name the past ten Heisman winners.

Also, the definition said the award goes to “the outstanding football player” even though only one defensive player has ever won the award. Nobody can convince me that only one time in the award’s history that no defensive player was better than the best offensive player. Defense is half the game and is virtually ignored by the Heisman voters.

A lineman has never won the Heisman trophy and only one has ever been nominated for one, Orlando Pace finished fourth in the voting in 1996. Football coaches and analysts say year round that the game is one at the line of scrimmage. I was taught that lineman are the most important part of the game. Either my coaches lied to me to improve my self-esteem and make me feel important or Heisman voters simply ignore the most important part of football.

The definition of the award should be “The most outstanding player who touches the ball the most, who plays on national television the most, who is handsome, and doesn’t piss us voters off.” That is essentially what the award is today.

I suspect voters will vote for Jameis Winston. The second the accuser’s attorney announced no charges will be filed against Winston he won the award. And deservedly so. He was the best player on the best team in college football this year. But the Heisman trophy needs a makeover of its definition and stricter voting requirements. We are too smart and informed in 2013 to keep regarding the Heisman trophy as this sacred badge of honor.