Toby Gerhart is Stanford’s running back who carried a mediocre team to an 8-4 record and a bowl berth. He led the nation in touchdowns (26). He was second in rushing yards per game (144.7). He averages 200.3 yards against ranked opponents.
Now, despite being the best player in the nation this year, he has little chance of winning the award he most deserves: The Heisman Trophy. Why? Stanford approached Gerhart about mounting a Heisman campaign several months ago. Gerhart refused. Yep, while guys named Tebow and McCoy happily use the media to proselytize their faith or their own name, a top-level college football athlete refused a hype machine. Now that’s special.
“It seems like 50 percent of the Heisman is preseason hype,” said Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. “Twenty-five percent is playing for an undefeated team. And 25 percent is what they actually do.”
Will the voters see through the hype and the preseason talk? I doubt it. Look who’s at the top of all the AP and Coaches polls. Because Florida, Alabama and Texas were deemed more worthy in August than TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State, they’ll be playing for the national championship.
Yes I’m a little biased here, but it’s for more than the fact that I went to Stanford. The kid played out of his mind. He didn’t play on a team that was supposed to contend for a bowl game, let alone a national championship. Some (including Sports Illustrated) are wondering out loud if he’ll get ignored because he’s not black. When you think about his prospects of winning the trophy, you have to consider his race or preseason predictions as deciding factors, because there’s no legitimate reason for him to not win it.
Yet because of him, his team succeeded. He had to carry more than anyone else in the nation (literally and figuratively). For that, he deserves the award.
Since the only way to win the award is to have your name hyped long before the season, let me start on the Andrew Luck campaign right now.
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 3:33 PM
I think Gerhart is a great player, but what I don’t understand is why a lot of people are using him as an example of a player with insane numbers on a mediocre team that should win a Heisman. Every year in college football there’s a “Toby Gerhart” type player…a guy who plays for an average team, puts up insane numbers, but doesn’t get any recognition. There are players in the MAC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA (look at the QB for Houston this year) who put up insane numbers, but people would laugh at the suggestion of them winning a Heisman. I’m also a Cal grad, so I guess I have my bais as well, but I don’t see what makes this guy any different than players in years past who put up great numbers on mediocres teams, and therefore get no Heisman recogntition…
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 5:46 PM
There’s no doubt Gerhart is a great college football player. But this has to be one of the worst comments you’ve written, in a loooooonnnnngggg line of bad comments. He’s not going to win the Heisman b/c he’s black? The last I checked, both McCoy & Tebow are white. And how many other candidates for this year’s Heisman are black? The only one I’ve heard mention is Ingram.
You trump your Stanford degree a lot. But this latest comment shows that you’re just as ignorant as other gay Republicans are. And, contrary to your frequent protests about being racist, you AGAIN show that you have problems with race.
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 5:49 PM
My post should’ve read, “He’s not going to win the Heisman b/c he’s not black?”, and “The only one I’ve heard mentioned is Ingram.”
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Joetx, I didn’t say that. Other people have wondered if a white tailback will get ignored because he’s white. I didn’t say it. A black columnist for Sports Illustrated said it. And a columnist for the San Jose Mercury-News said it. I didn’t. I personally don’t think that’s why, but the fact that people are grasping at straws like that tells you how crazy it is that he won’t win it.
George, players have put up crazy numbers in bad conferences and been ignored. But Stanford played like 8 teams that were at one point ranked. Currently half the Pac-10 is in the Top 25. That’s no mediocre schedule. And did you watch him play? I watched about five of their games and he was incredible.
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Let’s face it. Running backs just aren’t as pretty as quarterbacks. And there are numerous studies that show, all other things being equal, success goes to the more attractive. With a few exceptions like Reggie Bush and O.J. Simpson, you just don’t see RBs becoming models or actors, or otherwise able to cash in on their looks. BTW the two I mention just happen to be from California which has a reputation of Hollywood setting a lot of store by good looks. The same could be said for Florida’s modeling industry and we know where the likeliest candidate for this year’s Heisman is coming from.
Prettiness trumps race??
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Hey Sportsinlife. Bradford won it last year and in my opinion, he ain’t pretty. But he bested two white guys, so I guess I really don’t have a point. I’m just saying that based on looks alone I’d let Tebow or McCoy proselytize and eat crackers in my bed (or I’d eat crackers off their ample jockstrapped backsides in my bed) before I’d lay a finger on Bradford. Not that any of them would be interested, mind you, I’m just saying.
As to Cyd’s opinion piece, why Gerhart over BSU’s 12-0 QB who has thrown 38 TD and only THREE interceptions this year? He’s just a product of the system so he shouldn’t qualify, right? Looking at Stanford’s numbers, the QB has had less passing attempts than Gerhart has had carries. Product of the system? Gerhart’s had a great year and I love it when he pulls his helmet off after a tough run (seems like he pulls his helmet off and gasps for air after every run), but I don’t think he’s most deserving (or more deserving than some of the other contenders).
All 900+ Heisman voters have opinions, just like Cyd and everyone else who thinks their guy should win, and this year, my opinion is that opinions will win out over numbers.
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 PM
the QB’s are the prettiest that’s for sure, and McCoy and Tebow are just plain yum! the west will go for Gerhart, the midwest for McCoy and the South split between Ingram and Tebow so it depends on the northeast i guess who takes it, i’m guessing McCoy, if he lights up Nebraska as he should…..
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 PM
I agree with Cyd that it is a travesty that Gerhart won’t win the Heisman, and I have no association with Stanford other than my Huskies play them once a year in the Pac-10.
What I find really funny is how certain “regional” fans claimed that Stanford was facing a bad defense, etc. but fail to look up the even worse defenses that their Heisman hopefuls faced as well.
From Ted Miller’s Pac-10 blog.
http://espn.go.com/blog/pac10/post/_/id/5803/did-gerhart-get-a-break-vs-a-bad-defense
Being a West Coast person, I personally am sick of the SEC, Big 12 and the East Coast bias. The bias extends from pre-season poll rankings to player hype.
And yes, Toby the Tank Engine is just as pretty as some QBs out there. And be sure to check out his butt on the baseball field. Not only that, but the guy is a first team Academic All-American, getting good grades while majoring in Management, Science, and Engineering. AT Stanford.
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 PM
When will the terrible negroes stop oppressing and making hellish the lives of underprivileged white boys from Stanford?
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 AM
“When will the terrible negroes stop oppressing and making hellish the lives of underprivileged white boys from Stanford?”
Ouch!
Pretty is as pretty does.
There have always been a lot of pretty “negroes” out there. It is only since the civil rights movement that we allowed ‘all’ to notice.
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Hey George,
Stanford doesn’t play is some podunk conference in the middle of America. They soundly clobbered top-10-ranked UO and USC in consecutive weekends, with Toby shouldering most of the burden. Further, this Stanford team was 1-11 a couple years ago. Other Heisman hopefuls all play on consistently top teams, who are expected to win regularly and land the best recruits/athletes at all positions on the field.
Toby’s 26 rushing TDs is an all-time PAC-10 record. Yes, better than Reggie Bush, Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, OJ Simpson, and the long line of amazing running backs the conference has seen.
Screw your head on correctly and appreciate the talent that makes Toby so special to watch.
And finally, I’m very sorry that you went to Kal.
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Too bad Stanford sucks ass….
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 12:49 PM
@ Cyd -
1. You cited the Mercury News article, which came up with the lame idea that Gerhart won’t be considered b/c he’s a white RB, so either directly or indirectly YOU are asserting that 1 of the 2 reasons he’s not being considered for the Heisman is b/c he’s not black.
2. You wrote, “When you think about his prospects of winning the trophy, you have to consider his race or preseason predictions as deciding factors…” So yes, YOU are ONCE AGAIN asserting that he’s not being considered for the Heisman is b/c he’s not black.
3. The SI article you linked was written by a white woman. Plus, NOWHERE does she make the argument that Gerhart is being ignored for the Heisman b/c he’s white.
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Gerhart would be a deserving winner. He was tremendous in the two Stanford games I watched this year (USC and Notre Dame). Equally deserving would be Colt McCoy. I hope it comes down to those two.
Two players who will get no consideration (because of the overall failure of their team) who have also had spectacular years are Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate of Notre Dame. btw, I’m a Notre Dame hater – so those views are unbiased by any ND rooting interest.
The one player I fear will win it is Tim Tebow. Especially if Florida beats Alabama this Saturday. The more I’ve watched Tebow this year, the more I’m convinced he’s more a product of Florida’s system and Urban Meyer’s coaching than any individual greatness. All I ever see Tebow do it run through gaping holes or throw short completions to wide open receivers underneath.
Please football gods, let anyone other than Tebow win the Heisman!!!
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Quote Mike:
—
Gerhart would be a deserving winner. He was tremendous in the two Stanford games I watched this year (USC and Notre Dame). Equally deserving would be Colt McCoy. I hope it comes down to those two.
The one player I fear will win it is Tim Tebow. Especially if Florida beats Alabama this Saturday. The more I’ve watched Tebow this year, the more I’m convinced he’s more a product of Florida’s system and Urban Meyer’s coaching than any individual greatness. All I ever see Tebow do it run through gaping holes or throw short completions to wide open receivers underneath.
Please football gods, let anyone other than Tebow win the Heisman!!!
—
I agree, I think the two frontrunners should be Toby and McCoy. And agree totally with your Tebow sentiments.
He’s pretty, and is a very good college player, with admirable determination and drive, and honorable character, but…
He is totally a product of the system he’s in and is surrounded by a talented team. If you look closely at his mechanics, the guy has a weird throwing motion with a long-ass windup release, and he throws a wobbly ball. He gets away with his passing in college, but in the pros there’s no way those sexy cornerbacks and safeties that sportinlife lusts after wouldn’t be able to get in the passing lanes to pick it off.
As for rushing, he can bull-run his way in college, but he’s not going to be able to do that in the NFL. And he’s not quick enough like a Vince Young or even McNabb to be able to “elude” pro tacklers.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Hedwy-
The Heisman isn’t handed to the person who is the best pro prospect. It’s (supposed to be) given to the best college football player.
How is Gerhart not a product of the system? He’s run more than the QB has thrown. Why is the Stanford “system” not: give Gerhart the ball? What’s the difference? I think the “system” talk is BS (other than one example I’ll get to in a second). A runner on a passing team is not going to win the Heisman because he’ won’t have the numbers. And vice versa for a QB. The only exception I can think of in recent memory is USC when both Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart had “Heisman-worthy” seasons.
Hedwy, I totally dig you (you post AWESOME pics!), but I’m a Gator man and my opinion is that Tebow is an exceptional college football player on the #1 team in the country (hopefully still #1 on Sunday), and he probably means as much to his team’s success or more than anyone in the country – he should win the Heisman (although I think McCoy probably will win it and I’m happy about that).
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 10:46 PM
I hear ya, Gator, and agree that the Heisman is awarded to the BEST college player. Not best quarterback, or most popular, or prettiest.
“The Case for Toby Gerhart”
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/14806/the-case-for-toby-gerhart
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:19 AM
After Saturday’s games, unless something really weird happens in the voting, it should come down to Ingram and Gerhart. Either would be a great choice.
Hopefully Florida’s loss to Alabama will finally put an end to Tim Tebow being shoved down our throats relentlessly.
For years, watching a golf tournament involving Woods or a college football game involving Tebow meant having to sit through non-stop hype and ass-kissing. The hero worship TV Sports has given to these two has been so over the top at times it’s been absolutely nauseating.
It’s astonishing that people seem genuinely shocked by the backlash against athletes like Tebow and Tiger Woods.