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Reaction: Weinke or Heupel Who is more deserving of the Heisman Trophy?Posted: Wednesday November 08, 2000 1:17 PMUpdated: Wednesday November 08, 2000 1:54 PM
Who do you like? Weinke's cannon arm or Heupel's play making? This year's Heisman Trophy race is nearly as tight as the presidential election. CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel and Trev Alberts went head to head to debate their choices for college football's most prized individual award. We asked CNNSI.com users for their vote, and you certainly didn't disappoint. Here is a sample of the more than 900 responses we received: I have to side with Trev Alberts on this one. Weinke is average at best, and has shown that he can easily be flustered under a little pressure. On top of that, his age should be taken into consideration. He is an average of eight years older than the rest of the players in the league. Do you think Fred Taylor might shine if he went back and played for his high school team again? Lastly, I would just like to add that character should be taken into consideration. He passed up a chance to enter the NFL, where he should be, because they were not impressed enough with him to project him as a first-round draft pick. So, he decides to go back and get another national championship and the Heisman (arrogant) and become a first-round pick next year. I think he will be disappointed.
Trev, you forgot to mention that Weinke threw for 500 yards against Miami in that loss. Also, don't forget that Weinke drove the Seminoles for what would have been the game winning touchdown, but the defense couldn't hold like Heupel's defense has all year in those big games. Also keep in mind that Weinke drove the Noles for what would've been the game-winning field goal, if they only had a kicker. The real deal will be settled when Weinke wins his second national championship and Heupel losses the Big XII championship to Nebraska throwing three interceptions, and his defense finally collapses.
Mr. Alberts, Chris Weinke did not lose to Miami by himself. The defense failed to hold Miami with less than two minutes to go. Weinke came in with less than, I think, 45 seconds and got his team in position for a game-tying field goal. If, again, I remember correctly, Weinke threw for over 400 yards that day against a VERY good Miami defense.
I'm reminded of The Little Rascals verses the rich kid in their classic car race. To pick Weinke is too pull for the rich kid in the car his daddy bought him.
Unless I missed something, I don't seem to remember Josh Heupel being the only player on the field for OU this season, thus Trev Albert's contention that "he" is undefeated is a bit silly, just as is his contention that Chris Wienke "lost" to Miami. While I can't disagree that without Heupel, OU may be a much worse team, I do disagree with Alberts that without Weinke, FSU would be just as good. If that is the case, why is there so much concern in Tallahassee next year concerning the quarterback position? Why is Marcus Outzen not getting more playing time? The reason is that when you have the best player in college football, the drop off behind him is significant.
Mr. Mandel's article pointed out something very interesting. Heupel has better stats, is undefeated, and plays on the No. 1 team in the nation. And he was trying to make a case for Weinke?
I'm really beginning to think that Trev Alberts doesn't watch any football on Saturdays and just relies on Fred Hickman and Vince Cellini to tell him what happened. Oklahoma is undefeated, but Heupel is one of 22 starters for that team. Together, THEY beat Nebraska, not Heupel by himself. The Heisman Trophy is an individual award and should not be decided by the merits of one's teammates. Heupel certainly deserves Heisman consideration, but ridiculous arguments like that one from Alberts actually make me feel Weinke deserves it even more. You take Chris Weinke out of the FSU offense and they've got no shot at a national title. Hey Trev, I know you're still a little sore that you guys couldn't beat FSU in the 1993 and 1994 Orange Bowls, but don't take it out on the best player in the nation, Chris Weinke.
This article is ridiculous. Drew Brees deserves the Heisman more than any other candidate. He has played the toughest schedule, has the worst surrounding players, and is about to take Purdue to the Rose Bowl. Brees' top receiver isn't even 6-feet tall. Weinke's teammates are all potential NFLers and Heupel has outstanding receivers that he only has to loft the ball Randy Moss-esque to. I don't know why all of you writers are so blind. It would be a shame not to reward Drew Brees for all that he has done for Purdue and college football.
Come on, Trev. You're so fast to criticize for losing to Miami, but did you forget that Weinke throw for almost 500 yards against that great Miami team? Or, were you expecting Weinke to play defense and make field goals too. What else are you looking for? He has put his team in a position to win every game he has played at FSU. That was when he had was diagnosed as having color blindness against N.C. State. Weinke wins Heisman and back-to-back championships.
I hate to see people make ignorant statements on something they obviously do not know a thing about. If Mr. Alberts would have watched more than one or two Seminoles' plays this year, he would know that Weinke has hit players downfield more times than not. Maybe last year, that was the case with Peter Warrick in the lineup, but heck, who wouldn't throw to the best player in college football? Mr. Alberts needs to know the facts before he makes outlandish statements and portrays himself as a fool.
"Would you pass on that cannon arm, brilliant leadership and ability to read defenses?" Stewart, have you even watched an OU game? Josh Heupel is 10 times better at reading defenses. Ten times better at leading his team, and maybe you missed it, but the kid has a cannon arm as well. And, Trev is correct, without Weinke, Florida State would have the same record. They would have still lost to Miami. Heaven forbid they give the Heisman to Weinke if Flordia State is going to the Orange Bowl, because then it will be obvious that Lee Corso and all of the people he brainwashed were wrong.
Josh Heupel is the BEST player in college football this year. He is the reason why Oklahoma is undefeated. He should win the Heisman. Weinke's a good player on a very good team. His completion percentage is not nearly as good as Heupel's. He has thrown for so much yardage because he is trying to pad his numbers.
This Trev Alberts guy has no business writing a review if he doesn't watch college football. I'm one of the biggest FSU fans on the planet, and his little crack about Weinke's 5-yard passes that turns into 80 thanks to Snoop's nifty moves is ridiculous. This isn't Hal Mumme and the Tim Couch, UK offense. Chris Weinke airs the ball out more than any other quarterback in the country. And I've got news for you pal, Oklahoma didn't win the Nebraska game on offense, it was all about the Oklahoma defense after the first six minutes. Scoring 31 points on the Nebraska defense isn't what beats Nebraska. It's holding them to less than 40 that wins you games. Stop giving all the credit of Oklahoma's incredible season to Mr. Huepel, and give it up for the defensive effort that team has put out all season long.
I believe that if Oklahoma wins out and Heupel continues his brilliant play, he should undoubtedly win the award. The scenario of beating Nebraska twice in one year is far more convincing than throwing for 500+ yards against a Clemson pass defense that was riddled the week before against Georgia Tech. I was convinced that Josh was a true winner when I saw him stand in the pocket against Kansas State continually taking hit after hit and still completing pass after pass. He is a true winner with the heart of a lion and the acumen of the game which is second to none. His stature and arm strength should not factor into the vote, as well as the question as to who will be the better NFL quarterback. Heupel is a true warrior, the No. 1 quarterback on the No. 1 team.
So let's get this right Mr. Alberts, one has to beat a high-ranking team to deserve the Heisman? Who does Oklahoma play besides an overrated Nebraska team year in and out? Look at the caliber of FSU's non-conference schedule as compared to Oklahoma's. Any given team can be beaten on any given day -- that is a fact, so you can throw out all that garbage about Heupel beats better teams than Weinke. I have not even heard anything about Heupel until this year. Where was he before now? Weinke has done it every year since he has been at FSU, but has been snubbed every time until now. I am not taking anything away from Heupel. I just don't think that he deserves the Heisman because he is undefeated. Quit living in a fantasy world, Mr. Alberts.
If Heupel doesn't win it, I guess the question is, what does a player have to do to win it? If a player is the focus of the offense, leads the nation statistically and plays for an undefeated, No. 1 team, and loses ... what is the requirement? It's obviously not the best college football player in the country. If Weinke played for OU would the Sooners be No. 1? I don't know. If Heupel played for FSU would they have won in Miami? You bet. We may get a chance to see Heupel beat Miami at Miami. It's just a shame it will happen after the trophy has been awarded to Weinke.
Heupel should win, hands down. The Heisman is supposedly for the best college football player this year. That doesn't mean "my player's career was better than yours." The only thing past years' performances have to do with the Heisman is and should be to narrow the preseason favorites. Heupel came out of nowhere to become a favorite. That is how it should be. Barring a complete collapse in the last games of the season, if anyone other than Heupel is awarded the trophy, it would be a travesty. Weinke got his stats against weak opposition. Heupel could have had a thousand yards against Baylor, but the coaching staff wisely chose to protect him from the risk of injury. OU will need him in the next few weeks. They would not be nearly the same team without him ... Can FSU say the same?
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