Heisman 2012 [Sports Vanity]

11-27-2012 | re_nortex

[re_nortex]

At this point of the college football season, with some crucial games still on tap for this weekend, the frontrunners in the Heisman race are A&M's sensational freshman QB Johnny Manziel and game-changer Manti Te'o of Notre Dame. Still in the hunt was once heavily-favored Colin Klein of Kansas State. Vanishing completely after an impressive start is West Virginia's Geno Smith.

I'd personally like to see Johnny Manziel win the trophy this year and the odds are evidently in his favor. But, to play the part of a contrarian, here's what could derail the hopes of those backing him for this prestigious award.

• No freshman has ever won the Heisman. Not only are some voters dead set against that happening but there may be the idea that he'll continue his impressive ways and grab the crown as a sophomore.

• There may be Texas fatigue at play. With Baylor's Robert Griffin III capturing the award last year, voters could be biased against another Texan walking away with another in 2012.

• Similarly, since A&M is now part of the SEC, that may also be detrimental to his cause. The Northern voters participating may likewise be tired of recent SEC (and for that matter Southern) winners.

• The allure of the Notre Dame program may help Manti Te'o. Since they're ranked first and will play in the BCS Championship game, it may be "their turn" with Te'o as the representative of the whole team.

• In the Heisman voting, the season is now over for Manziel and Te'o. An incredible game against Texas could possibly propel Colin Klein back into real contention.

[Coldwater Creek]

Notre

[MissEdie]

He is a good player, but hands down Jaydaveon Clowney from USC (The University of South Carolina) is far better.

[dfwgator]

And Manziel didn’t beat Florida.

[dfwgator]

Actually, though even then, I knew Manziel was something special

"A&M’s future is very bright, Manziel looks like he’s going to be a star, they are recruiting lights out." posted on Mon Sep 17 2012 15:04:33 GMT-0500

[MrChips]

Apparently, not against LSU or Florida. I do agree that he is a very good player most of the time. And I loved the SC-GA game!

[MrChips]

Apparently, not against LSU or Florida. I do agree that he is a very good player most of the time. And I loved the SC-GA game!

[T-Bird45]

I think UTex still has some say in whether Klein gets to a BCS game, not to mention how Kent State might figure into the mix.

[dfwgator]

Klein will carve up UT.

[crosshairs]

Klein will carve up UT.

Like a Thanksgiving turkey.

[Man from Oz]

Yes Sir, you are correct. Counting chickens.... Klein will have to have a A ++++ day with zero mistakes..

[Buckeye McFrog]

Are any of them open and vocal Christians?

That will help you handicap it, since we all know that Tim Tebow went to the bottom of the pile once he came out as “one of those”.

[petitfour]

The winners since Tebow have all been vocal Christians, haven’t they?

[crusty old prospector]

Klein is good but some middle school coach in Colorado should have taught him proper throwing mechanics. It is down right painful to watch him throw the ball. I heard they sent him to the Peyton Manning camp or some such place but they said it was a lost cause.

[crusty old prospector]

RG III?

[jungleboy]

The Kansas-State kid, Klein, mentions his Faith in Jesus every time he is interviewed.

Also, he he the only contender that has a game yet to play before the vote?

[T-Bird45]

Yes Sir, you are correct. Counting chickens.... Klein will have to have a A ++++ day with zero mistakes..

Speaking as a fan of a team (OK State) that is one cross-eyed ref's blown/missed goal line fumble call from beating UT, I'm in favor of the scenario you have proposed above. I'm originally from KS and likely would have gone to K-State if I had finished HS there instead of in OK.

[Mozilla]

My Chiefs never have it easy. I was all pumped about them coming in first for the April draft. They had competition for weeks, but now they are the only one win team in the NFL. However, and the post-game hosts didn’t mean to say the QB choices would suck in this upcoming draft, the two QBS that people had been suspecting would go first or in the top of the draft, Matt Barkley and Geno Smith, have been underachieving so now they look a whole lot worse. And Kansas City needs a better QB than Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. Quinn is a dud who was drafted in the first round.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Just as voters were enthralled with being in on voting for the first black president, so too will they want to elect the first freshman Heisman winner.

[onyx]

I like Johnny Football!

I think they’re going to give it to Notre Dame’s Teo Manti.

[onyx]

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