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ESPN's Sportsnation question today is who will will the heisman next year. Choices are Chris Leak, Brady Quinn, Troy Smith, Adrian Peterson, and LenDale White. Quinn is leading, but I find the Troy Smith vote interesting and an example of the Buckeye covered haze that people from Ohio seem to live in. In Ohio, Smith is getting 71% of the vote. In the rest of the country combined, he is getting 19% of the vote.

Why are you surprised that so many Buckeye fans think one of "their" players will win the Heisman? Do you not think that if Omar Jacobs was returning and on that list that we wouldn't all vote for him? I just don't get why some people around here have such a problem with Ohio State and why they are so surprised at the level of obsession their fans have.

Plus, if you think it is outrageous to think Troy Smith will win the Heisman, did you watch the last two games of the year? I realize they weren't against the best defenses in the world, but he was incredible and clearly outplayed golden boy Brady Quinn. Ohio State's schedule is setting up to not be that tough next year. If Smith plays like he did late in 2005, he will be in NYC for the Heisman presentation in 2006.

I wonder how much cash he would have on hand for that trip

98_BG_GRAD wrote:Why are you surprised that so many Buckeye fans think one of "their" players will win the Heisman?

That's my point. I am not surprised at all. Buckeye fans can not see the race clearly if one of their own is involved. No other state in the country has Smith leading the poll, only Ohio.

98_BG_GRAD wrote:...Ohio State and why they are so surprised at the level of obsession their fans have.

Because that obsession keeps them from thinking freely and clearly.

98_BG_GRAD wrote:Plus, if you think it is outrageous to think Troy Smith will win the Heisman, did you watch the last two games of the year? I realize they weren't against the best defenses in the world, but he was incredible and clearly outplayed golden boy Brady Quinn.

I am not saying he won't or can't win. Just pointing out how the voting was going. Petersen is getting support from not only Oklahoma, but also other Big 12 states. LenDale White (who outplayed this years Heisman winner in the Rose Bowl) is getting support outside of California. But Smith is getting nothing outside of Ohio. I find that interesting.

Troy Smith is developing into a fine college QB, but I would still be surprised if he won the Heisman. His biggest problem is holding onto the ball. He seems to fumble a LOT...when a guy runs as much as him he's got to hold onto the ball like a tailback.

If healthy I think Peterson takes the trophy. Quinn is likely his next best competition. I am inclined to put Troy Smith probably 3rd, based on his improvement this year. I am surprised that so few around the country are voting for him, however, because he did play one heckuva bowl game. It's gotta be that most people just don't see him surpassing Quinn & Peterson.

LenDale White won't even be playing college football next year, most likely.

98_BG_GRAD wrote:I just don't get why some people around here have such a problem with Ohio State and why they are so surprised at the level of obsession their fans have.

The funny thing is some folks cannot believe the obsession I, and many others here, have for BG Football. When OSU is rammed down your throat day in and day out, it gets very annoying. There are 39 colleges and universities in Ohio playing football. You'd never know it the way the media kisses OSU's butt. One thing that po's me big time is when some guy asks "Don't you root for OSU, too?" Umm....no. I did not attend OSU and don't root for them. "But you're from Ohio!" And??????
And the majority of OSU fans? Forget trying to talk about any other college team in the nation...let alone Ohio. They don't exist.

From what I've seen, I think Ginn is a much more exciting and dangerous player than Smith. Ginn is a threat to score EVERY time he touches the ball. I would think he would be a candidate for the Heisman before Smith.

Falconfreak90 wrote: From what I've seen, I think Ginn is a much more exciting and dangerous player than Smith. Ginn is a threat to score EVERY time he touches the ball. I would think he would be a candidate for the Heisman before Smith.

Ginn's way too inconsistent to be a serious Heisman contender. He actually had a pretty poor year this year, although had a fantastic bowl game.

I agree about talking football with OSU fans. Cannot stand Buckeye fans, and I consider myself one. I root for the team, but my god can some of their fans be thickheaded and downright stupid.

Warthog wrote:

98_BG_GRAD wrote:Why are you surprised that so many Buckeye fans think one of "their" players will win the Heisman?

That's my point. I am not surprised at all. Buckeye fans can not see the race clearly if one of their own is involved. No other state in the country has Smith leading the poll, only Ohio.

98_BG_GRAD wrote:...Ohio State and why they are so surprised at the level of obsession their fans have.

Because that obsession keeps them from thinking freely and clearly.

98_BG_GRAD wrote:Plus, if you think it is outrageous to think Troy Smith will win the Heisman, did you watch the last two games of the year? I realize they weren't against the best defenses in the world, but he was incredible and clearly outplayed golden boy Brady Quinn.

I am not saying he won't or can't win. Just pointing out how the voting was going. Petersen is getting support from not only Oklahoma, but also other Big 12 states. LenDale White (who outplayed this years Heisman winner in the Rose Bowl) is getting support outside of California. But Smith is getting nothing outside of Ohio. I find that interesting.

"That's my point. I am not surprised at all. Buckeye fans can not see the race clearly if one of their own is involved. No other state in the country has Smith leading the poll, only Ohio."

I bet Quinn is leading indiana, I bet peterson is leading in Oklahoma. Why is it interesting troy smith is not getting anything from outside Ohio? Because he has been overlooked his whole career. He started the season sharing with Zwick (mistake except for the games he was suspended) they had two losses early. Then they started hitting on all cylinders he was finally able to find a rythm once he took the job from zwick full time, and people didnt start ntoicing him until the last 3 games including the fiesta bowl. He is going to be big time next year. the reason he has nothing outside of Ohio is because he is virtually unknown throughout the country. You can bet they are starting to notice. You can bet the Texas defense is going to get shaken up next fall. You can bet he will be top 5 for heisman. now that Ginn is learning how to play WR (CB and QB in HS) he may be up there as well.

hammb wrote:

Falconfreak90 wrote: From what I've seen, I think Ginn is a much more exciting and dangerous player than Smith. Ginn is a threat to score EVERY time he touches the ball. I would think he would be a candidate for the Heisman before Smith.

Ginn's way too inconsistent to be a serious Heisman contender. He actually had a pretty poor year this year, although had a fantastic bowl game.

I agree about talking football with OSU fans. Cannot stand Buckeye fans, and I consider myself one. I root for the team, but my god can some of their fans be thickheaded and downright stupid.

Ginn is still learning the position of WR. He was a CB and a QB in HS. not a WR. He is finally learining how to play it and you saw it during the Fiesta Bowl. he started comming back for the ball when troy had to scramble, he is finally running good crisp routes and shaking off defenders, he is finally calming down and catching the ball before he runs.

I agree he had a poor year but he is starting to get the position. look out.

yawn

Here's my top three heisman hopefuls for next year:

1. Vince Young, watch out Archie

2. Marcus Vick

3. Brian Calhoun

Sentimental favorite: Omar Jacobs

Dayons_Den wrote:Here's my top three heisman hopefuls for next year:

1. Vince Young, watch out Archie

2. Marcus Vick

3. Brian Calhoun

Sentimental favorite: Omar Jacobs

No way any of those guys beat Carson Palmer.

Mike Hart will run away Heisman .

I'm not at all surprised that Smith is taking Ohio. In fact if he didn't, I would really wonder what was going on. Early last season ESPN put out a poll for the dark horse candidate for Heisman in which Omar was a candidate. He was taking Ohio by a fairly good margin if I remember correctly. Regardless of the outcome, though, posters on this site were so excited to see him on the list that we went to the site and voted for him. Some including myself found ways to vote more than once. The point is that I don't think OSU fans are acting any differently than what we would in this instance. The OSU debate on this site recently is getting tiresome. There are many fans of both schools that are quality individuals and many that aren't. I am a huge BG fan, and admit that living in a Big Ten stronghold region is frustrating at times. I think that BG wants to be seen as equals in the football world with OSU, but there are many out there, not necessarily on this board, that belittle our love for our university. This attitude is not a new thing but it wears on an individual and can make us defensive. This often then equates to a strong dislike of OSU, which I share with many on this board. That said I don’t' think that any argument should be cast personal in nature, and I think many of them have, especially on this topic. I really hope that we can all take a look at ourselves and continue to feel strongly for our views, and keep the personal attacks and slams to a minimum. Hopefully I'm not overstepping my bounds being a relatively new poster, but that's just my opinion, which I believe is supposed to be as good as anyone else’s on the internet. Go BG!!