30 for 30: The great heisman race of 1997

[ScWildthing61]

Caught this on TV last night.

3 hall of famers and the 4th guy(who many at the time thought would be better than the other qb who was a heisman finalist that year) being arguably the biggest bust in nfl history.

For those who may not know Michigan CB Charles Woodson(only defensive player to win the heisman) edged out Tennessee QB Peyton Manning with Marshall WR Randy Moss and Washington St. QB Ryan Leaf being the other two finalists.

I knew the Tennessee fanbase got pissed over this(was young back then so I didn't get how big a deal it was at the time).

Wonder how the Gamecock fans viewed this, was it:

OH THIS IS TOTAL BS!

or

Ha, Ha, take that and like it Tennessee!

 

[Debo77]

recorded it...haven't watched it yet but will let you know

 

[ToddFlanders]

Total BS. I think sportswriters (one of the lowest forms of life on the planet) tried to make a point because everyone thought the Heisman should have been handed to Manning (and it should have been). He was arguably the greatest college QB’s ever (as in, you can make that legitimate argument - I’d vote for someone else for the #1 spot). Woodson was great, but a guy like Champ Bailey was better than Woodson (on both ends when they played both ways). And Champ got nowhere in the Heisman voting because the point was made the year before.

 

[ScWildthing61]

Total BS. I think sportswriters (one of the lowest forms of life on the planet) tried to make a point because everyone thought the Heisman should have been handed to Manning (and it should have been). He was arguably the greatest college QB’s ever (as in, you can make that legitimate argument - I’d vote for someone else for the #1 spot). Woodson was great, but a guy like Champ Bailey was better than Woodson (on both ends when they played both ways). And Champ got nowhere in the Heisman voting because the point was made the year before.

Playing devil's advocate here for a minute, Woodson's play was a big factor in Michigan going 12-0 and winning part of a national title in 1997. As good as Bailey was in 1998 at Georgia, they still only managed to go 9-3 not getting anywhere near a conference title, let alone a national title, losing their 3 biggest games that year(2 of them in blowouts).

 

[18IsTheMan]

Caught this on TV last night.

3 hall of famers and the 4th guy(who many at the time thought would be better than the other qb who was a heisman finalist that year) being arguably the biggest bust in nfl history.

For those who may not know Michigan CB Charles Woodson(only defensive player to win the heisman) edged out Tennessee QB Peyton Manning with Marshall WR Randy Moss and Washington St. QB Ryan Leaf being the other two finalists.

I knew the Tennessee fanbase got pissed over this(was young back then so I didn't get how big a deal it was at the time).

Wonder how the Gamecock fans viewed this, was it:

OH THIS IS TOTAL BS!

or

Ha, Ha, take that and like it Tennessee!

I lived in Chattanooga, TN at the time and HATED UT even more than Clemson. It's hard to recall now but UT was a premier program in college football, and I was living in the belly of the beast. Those were the days when we were a mere speedbump for UT, and a small speedbump at that. To say I hated them is a gross understatement.

That said, even I knew it was a joke for Peyton not to win the Heisman. It was just laughable.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Playing devil's advocate here for a minute, Woodson's play was a big factor in Michigan going 12-0 and winning part of a national title in 1997. As good as Bailey was in 1998 at Georgia, they still only managed to go 9-3 not getting anywhere near a conference title, let alone a national title, losing their 3 biggest games that year(2 of them in blowouts).

Michigan's undefeated season was definitely a factor - maybe the biggest factor. I think it's important to note though that as a CB, the best QB's he faced that year before winning were: Billy Dicken, Purdue (15th in the nation in passing yards), John Hessler, Colorado (27th in the nation in yards), Mike McQueery, Penn State (38th), Jay Rodgers, Indiana (42nd), Ron Powlus (49th). And then they keep getting worse and worse.

My whole point was that if Woodson was so good that he should win the Heisman against a generational QB talent, then the next season a player with much better stats, playing against arguably harder competition at the same position, should have at least made it to New York. Instead Bailey was 7th and behind five QB's of marginal talent when compared to Manning.