What chance does a player such as Omar Jacobs have against someone like Matt Leinart in the Heisman race? Leinart won the national championship, but he was surrounded by so much talent (including another Heisman candidate) that not many guys could hope to compare. I know it's idealistic to say that the Heisman should be based on individual performance, but how can you overlook a quarterback who, when compared to the Heisman winner, threw for 680 more yards (4,002), eight more touchdowns (41) and two fewer interceptions (four)?
-- Pat Thome, Strongsville, Ohio
I'm as big an Omar Jacobs fan as the next guy, but c'mon -- you can't make a straight-out comparison of statistics between players who aren't facing the same level of competition. According to CollegeBCS.com, Leinart played the nation's 20th-toughest schedule last season, Jacobs the 103rd. This is not to say Jacobs isn't an outstanding player, because he is. Those numbers you referenced were in his first year as a starter. And we all know by now that MAC quarterbacks are legitimate.
Jacobs certainly is on the Heisman radar, but even with big performances in the season-opener at Wisconsin or Boise State two weeks later, chances are he's going to fade from the limelight during the regular season while players like Leinart and Vince Young are on TV every weekend. A more realistic goal is simply to get invited to New York.
From SI.com's Stewart Mandel's mailbag
From SI.com's Stewart Mandel's mailbag
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools."
- Ernest Hemingway
- Ernest Hemingway
It bothers me that people say even with better numbers, the competition doesn't compare. Omar hardly played in the 2nd half...think of his numbers if we left him in. Personally, I'm glad we didn't run up his stats, but people aren't realizing he didn't see much of the 4th and 3rd quarters last year. Maybe if he threw for 6,000 yards and 60 TDs then people would start putting him on the same level as Leinart regardless of competition.
"To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the project manager, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be."
Metz:
True about the numbers, but I still maintain he's correct.
Last year, at the top of BG's schedule were Oklahoma (L), Toledo (L), NIU (L), Memphis (W).
On the other end of the schedule were the wins: BG played Temple, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Ball State, SEMizzou State. Put Ohio and Marshall in the middle and you still have a pretty weak schedule. I mean, you're looking at five teams that were Bottom 10 regulars and a I-AA opponent.
Meanwhile, USC played Oklahoma (W), California (W) and Arizona State (W), who were all top 25 teams. Oregon State and UCLA were .500 teams, while Oregon and Washington State were a game below. Arizona and Washington were patently bad.
Their OOC games were Notre Dame, BYU and Colorado State. Super tough? No. But they hovered around .500. Compare that trio to Temple and SEMizzou.
It's a tougher schedule in a tougher leauge. That simple.
Yes, Omar could have had 60 TD passes, but I honestly don't think that would have swayed anyone's opinions.
True about the numbers, but I still maintain he's correct.
Last year, at the top of BG's schedule were Oklahoma (L), Toledo (L), NIU (L), Memphis (W).
On the other end of the schedule were the wins: BG played Temple, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Ball State, SEMizzou State. Put Ohio and Marshall in the middle and you still have a pretty weak schedule. I mean, you're looking at five teams that were Bottom 10 regulars and a I-AA opponent.
Meanwhile, USC played Oklahoma (W), California (W) and Arizona State (W), who were all top 25 teams. Oregon State and UCLA were .500 teams, while Oregon and Washington State were a game below. Arizona and Washington were patently bad.
Their OOC games were Notre Dame, BYU and Colorado State. Super tough? No. But they hovered around .500. Compare that trio to Temple and SEMizzou.
It's a tougher schedule in a tougher leauge. That simple.
Yes, Omar could have had 60 TD passes, but I honestly don't think that would have swayed anyone's opinions.
