Why A Clemson Player Will Not Win the Heisman
The Heisman Trophy was created in 1935 by the Downtown Athletic Club to recognize the “most valuable player east of the Mississippi”. After the death of John Heisman, the club’s athletic director, the award was named in his honor and broadened to include players west of the Mississippi. Heisman was a Clemson football coach between 1900-1903.The Heisman is awarded annually to the outstanding playing NCAA football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. It is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust in early December before the postseason bowl games. Nowhere in this definition does it say “ the player with the most gaudy stats.”In today’s Heisman era, it’s gaudy stats that rule the day and players like Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne will never seriously be considered for the Heisman. Why?
They rarely get to play past mid-way of the 3rd quarter. Nine of the last ten Heisman winners played on teams that had little or no defense to back them up, thus making it necessary for quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson and of recent Joe Burrows to finish out games and throwing to the endzone late in the 4rh quarter. . All of these quarterbacks were responsible for having to outscore the other team. Trevor Lawrence, on the other hand, would get his team to a big lead at the half, or midway through the 3rd, and he was taken out. It’s the Dabo way.Lawrence is a leader, he exhibits all the qualities of what a Heisman winner is supposed to be. Against Ohio State, he faced one of the best defenses in college football. He adjusted, persevered, took the tigers on his back and led them to a come from behind victory. Against Charlotte, he played two series in the 1st quarter. Two series and Coach Swinney took him out. Yes, it was Charlotte, but this is the same Charlotte that Lamar Jackson threw/ran for 8 touchdowns a couple of years ago and it just happened to be the year he won the Heisman. No, Dabo doesn’t care about individual awards. To him, it’s a team sport and there are team goals.Clemson is loaded again in 2020, and will more than likely blow through the season in similar fashion as 2019.
Big leads will lead to pulling out the starters to prepare the next level players for the lengthy season. Most of Clemson’s scores are lopsided not only due to the talent on the first team units, but the second and third team that are as talented as most team’s first units. They are hungry and Dabo lets them play. Thus, there will be no Heisman in Clemson’s future until the true meaning of the award is enforced.The award is given out prior to the post season games. All the heroics in the bowl games and playoffs do not weigh into the decision. That’s too bad, that is usually when Lawrence and Etienne really have the opportunity to show the voters. If it were changed, Deshaun Watson would have won the award over Lamar Jackson. Hence, as good as Trevor Lawrence is, that’s just the nature of Clemson, and the nature of the award.
One is awarded annually to the outstanding player in NCAA football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. It is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust in early December before the postseason bowl games.
