THE WINNER OF the 2002 Heisman Trophy, awarded to the nation's most outstanding college football player, should be University of Miami sophomore running back Willis McGahee.
McGahee should run away with the Heisman just as he did against Florida State on a pass in the flat earlier this year. Some say this race is as tight as Bush vs. Gore, but McGahee should be flashing the Heisman pose Saturday night in New York.
He ran for 1,686 yards and 27 touchdowns on 262 carries. He was The Stud, the strongest and fastest player on the best team in the nation. Apologies go out to Iowa quarterback Brad Banks and Penn State running back Larry Johnson, but they aren't playing in the Big Game.
They aren't playing for No. 1.
They'll either be watching or waiting for the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl, along with other Heisman quarterback candidates such as USC's Carson Palmer, Marshall's Byron Leftwich and Washington State's Jason Gesser.
Oops, we forgot one, McGahee's teammate, Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey.
Sorry, Ken. Great career. You made some clutch plays during the past two years. But most of Miami's offense and passing success this year came off the running of McGahee. And when it came to big games, Dorsey struggled against Florida and Florida State.
So, let's kick him off the train early.
McGahee was like a Honda or Toyota. Consistent, dependable and durable week after week.
"He meant more to his team than any of the others, and was instrumental in them having an undefeated regular season," said Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN's NFL draft analyst. "Of all the big names, he was the most consistent in big BCS games, and when they needed a play, he was the guy that propelled them to victory."
You can't say that for all of these guys.
Johnson had 2,015 rushing yards and 341 receiving yards. But 1,142 of those came against Illinois, Michigan State, Indiana and Northwestern, who were ranked 96th, 110th, 113th and 117th in rushing defense.
Where was Johnson against Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State?
He averaged 151 all-purpose yards but was not a factor.
"Contained, that's where he was," Kiper said. "He caught a lot of passes in some of those games, but wasn't a factor running the ball."
Now consider this: If McGahee had padded his statistics against marshmallows such as Florida A&M; (six rushes for 60 yards) and Connecticut (11 rushes for 107 yards), it's safe to assume he would have rushed for more than 1,800 yards.
So, goodbye Johnson.
Let's get rid of Leftwich, too.
A physical specimen with a big-time arm, he started disappearing when the injuries started mounting during the season. Plus, he goes to Marshall. We're talking Heisman; it's big-time stuff.
It's not supposed to be for West Coast guys either, but since the West Coast coaches complain about being overshadowed by their eastern brethren, Palmer's name keeps coming up in the Heisman discussion. Palmer certainly has a stronger and more accurate arm than Dorsey (he threw for 566 yards more). Palmer has good size, and completed 288 of 458 passes with 32 touchdowns.
But Palmer played well in only the second half of the season. He only became a serious Heisman candidate after wins over UCLA and Notre Dame. But when he went head-to-head against Gesser, Gesser's Cougars won, 30-27, in overtime on Oct. 5.
Last week, Gesser turned in a heroic effort in Washington State's 48-27 win over UCLA to earn a Rose Bowl spot against Oklahoma. So, wouldn't that rule out Palmer?
Gesser against Banks is no contest. Who meant more to his respective team? Banks. Who was more of a double threat? Banks led the nation in passing efficiency completing 155 of 258 passes for 2,369 yards and 25 touchdowns, while throwing only four interceptions.
He ran for 387 yards and five touchdowns while Iowa lost only one of 12 games.
So, that leaves us with only Banks and McGahee. Both played well in big games, and both were invaluable to their teams. But Iowa sneaked up on teams this year while everyone wanted to knock off Miami, the defending champion.
Iowa lost one game, and Miami didn't lose any. Palmer lost two, and Johnson didn't show up for the big ones. Use any comparison you want, and everything always comes back to McGahee.
He is the man.
There is belief that McGahee won't win because he is an underclassman, and that he'll split votes with Dorsey, which might allow Palmer enough votes to win. That would be a shame.
Watch the videos. Watch McGahee gain the tough yards inside as well as outside. Watch him take short passes and screens and turn them into big gainers, like he did when he turned a simple pass in the flat into a 71-yard gain that set up a crucial touchdown against Florida State.
Over a career, there might be better players. But in 2002, Miami's McGahee was the best college football had to offer.
RACE FOR THE HEISMAN
THE FINALISTS
Brad Banks
Iowa quarterback
Passes attempted 258
Passes completed 155
Percentage 60.1
Yards 2,369
Touchdowns 25
Interceptions 4
Efficiency 166.08
Ken Dorsey
Miami quarterback
Passes attempted 350
Passes completed 194
Percentage 55.4
Yards 3,073
Touchdowns 26
Interceptions 10
Efficiency 147.98
Larry Johnson
Penn State running back
Carries 251
Yards 2,015
Average per carry 8.0
Longest run 84
Touchdowns 20
Willis McGahee
Miami running back
Carries 262
Yards 1,686
Average per carry 6.4
Longest run 69
Touchdowns 27
Carson Palmer
USC quarterback
Passes attempted 458
Passes completed 288
Percentage 62.9
Yards 3,639
Touchdowns 32
Interceptions 10
Efficiency 148.3