Heisman Trophy malaise

[Mr Janny]

This isn't a spicy take, by any means, but can you think of a major sports award that has lost its meaning and gravitas to the same degree that the Heisman Trophy has?
I feel like the shine has almost completely come off this apple. The candidates feel like an afterthought. We already know who's going to win. Make no mistake, Caleb Williams deserves it. But if you look at the history of the award this century, there are only something like 5 non quarterbacks. It's just feels very run of the mill, anymore, and not nearly as prestigious. Perhaps my memory is assigning more significance to bygone days.

 

[brianhos]

I kind of agree. I just don't care. I can't honestly tell you who won last year. Anymore it's just the QB's from the top4 teams anyway.

 

[theshadow]

I think part of it is there was a stretch where the Heisman winner didn't really go on to have a notable NFL career. The Heisman was sort of their peak, and then they just faded away.

Winners since 1999:
Ron Dayne
Chris Weinke
Eric Crouch
Carson Palmer
Jason White
Matt Leinart
[blank]
Troy Smith
Tim Tebow
Sam Bradford
Mark Ingram
Cam Newton
Robert Griffin III
Johnny Manziel
Jameis Winston
Marcus Mariota
Derrick Henry
Lamar Jackson
Baker Mayfield
Kyler Murray
Joe Burrow
Devonta Smith
Bryce Young

 

[isutrevman]

I think part of it is there was a stretch where the Heisman winner didn't really go on to have a notable NFL career. The Heisman was sort of their peak, and then they just faded away.

Winners since 1999:
Ron Dayne
Chris Weinke
Eric Crouch
Carson Palmer
Jason White
Matt Leinart
[blank]
Troy Smith
Tim Tebow
Sam Bradford
Mark Ingram
Cam Newton
Robert Griffin III
Johnny Manziel
Jameis Winston
Marcus Mariota
Derrick Henry
Lamar Jackson
Baker Mayfield
Kyler Murray
Joe Burrow
Devonta Smith
Bryce Young

I think Mariota was the last time I watched the ceremony. Most years I'll see a headline the next day "So-and-so wins the Heisman" without realizing it was even that weekend.

 

[Williowa]

Suppose Lamar Jackson is the last one to win it without being in the playoffs.

 

[isufbcurt]

I think its still cool. And I watch the ceremony every year.

 

[isucy86]

Agree with OP. It's been a lot of years since it has mattered. Not sure it has any more prestige than the Davey O'Brien Award or Outland Trophy.

 

[Bigman38]

It still feels as unique to me as it ever has. A year like this doesn't leave a whole lot of intrigue though.

Maybe it's an exposure thing? Gameday does a bio on players every week, websites do more articles etc. than they ever have. So the ceremony up to the trophy presentation is a rehash of info we already know.

 

[isufbcurt]

I think its still cool. And I watch the ceremony every year.

LOL I got "dumbed" because I like the Heisman trophy LOL

 

[tim_redd]

It's been lame ever since Peyton Manning. It rarely goes to the most outstanding player in college football anymore.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I don't really care about it anymore. I'm happy for the winner but it's just a QB's award. I stopped caring as much after Troy got ******.

 

[exCyDing]

I think it lost its prestige when it stopped going to (arguably) the best player and started going to the best player that was the quarterback for a blue blood program in contention for the national title. Or, if that wasn't an option, the best player who was a running back for a blue blood program in contention for the national title.

Honestly, it started to wobble a little in the 90s with some questionable winners:

• 1992: Gino Torretta over Marshall Faulk
• 1995: Eddie George over Tommie Frazier
• 1996: Danny Wuerffel of Troy Davis

 

[mj4cy]

I stopped caring once Troy Davis got snubbed.

 

[JP4CY]

LOL I got "dumbed" because I like the Heisman trophy LOL

He's a troll

 

[Mr Janny]

I think it lost its prestige when it stopped going to (arguably) the best player and started going to the best player that was the quarterback for a blue blood program in contention for the national title. Or, if that wasn't an option, the best player who was a running back for a blue blood program in contention for the national title.

Honestly, it started to wobble a little in the 90s with some questionable winners:

• 1992: Gino Torretta over Marshall Faulk
• 1995: Eddie George over Tommie Frazier
• 1996: Danny Wuerffel of Troy Davis

I'd throw Charlie Ward in there as well. The "best" football player chosing basketball over football contributed to the diminishment.

 

[JP4CY]

In regards to the OP, I thought when Lanning was snubbed for the Hornung was an outrage.

 

[3TrueFans]

This isn't a spicy take, by any means, but can you think of a major sports award that has lost its meaning and gravitas to the same degree that the Heisman Trophy has?
I feel like the shine has almost completely come off this apple. The candidates feel like an afterthought. We already know who's going to win. Make no mistake, Caleb Williams deserves it. But if you look at the history of the award this century, there are only something like 5 non quarterbacks. It's just feels very run of the mill, anymore, and not nearly as prestigious. Perhaps my memory is assigning more significance to bygone days.

View attachment 106484

Every sports award ever. Are their any sports awards that are announced that garner a response bigger than “oh cool, insert name here won insert award here”?

 

[JP4CY]

Every sports award ever. Are their any sports awards that are announced that garner a response bigger than “oh cool, insert name here won insert award here”?

I do like the Walter Payton award.

 

[ISUATC]

It used to be must watch tv for me. Now I can't remember the last time I watched it.

 

[cyclones500]

I came to terms with award's "significance" quite a while ago. As mentioned, generally it's best player on nationally prominent team, not always "most outstanding." Also as Janny and others noted, having it become more and more a QB award has reduced the "anticipation" aspect, but I think that's partly because rushing game has become emphasized less and less in the past couple of decades. So in a typical season, we're fairly certain (1) It'll be a QB (2) QB will play for a team in serious contention for national title (3) most likely from an expected or traditional power program.

Also like most awards it has vague criteria not well-defined. (I feel similar about halls-of-fame stuff, but that's separate).

It still carries an amount of traditional prestige, but I don't pay close attention.

Irony, though, if by chance and Iowa State player gets into serious mix on occasion, I'd be into it (even if not selected).