The Buzz: Heisman news and views
The 2015 Heisman race now enters its ninth week. Continuing our traditional weekly feature on Heisman.com, we’ve rounded up the latest news and updates from around the media world to help keep you posted on what’s happening with current contenders and past winners.
(Disclaimer — The Heisman Trophy Trust and Heisman.com does not endorse any college football player for the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The information contained here serves as a platform of information for fans and media, and is not intended to contain a definitive and comprehensive list of possible contenders.)
The Buzz…
Heisman Watch Watch
The status quo remains in the Heisman race after a fairly uneventful weekend of games. Leonard Fournette of LSU continues to gather up accolades despitesitting out due to a bye week. Said Alabama coach Nick Saban (in preparation for next week’s game against LSU):
“We thought he was a fabulous player in high school, the No. 1 running back in the country,” the coach said. “And I think, bigger than that, my opinion of him was he’s a really, really fine young man — great family — and it’s no surprise to me that the guy has developed into one of the premier players in the country and arguably the best running back in the country.”
TCU’s Trevone Boykin continues to be hot on his tail after another big outingagainst West Virginia.
Even Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen had to give Boykin his props:
Clemson’s DeShaun Watson is starting to emerge, too, while Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, Memphis’ Paxton Lynch, Alabama’s Derrick Henry, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and Baylor’s Corey Coleman continue to get mentions here and there … Here’s a case being made for Bowling Green’s Matt Johnson … And what about Navy’s Keenan Reynolds, who just broke the NCAA career record for rushing touchdowns?
Writes the Annapolis Capital Gazette:
When all is said and done, Reynolds will rank alongside Roger Staubach as the greatest quarterback in Navy history. If Staubach could win the Heisman Trophy in 1963, why can’t Reynolds at least be a legitimate candidate in 2015?
Richard Sherman, not surprisingly, likes McCaffrey … One thing’s for sure: The race for the 81st Heisman is sure to heat up this weekend as Florida State takes on Clemson, TCU is hosted by Oklahoma State and LSU meets Alabama.
The Heisman Dinner
Interested in attending the 81st Heisman dinner? Want to witness college football history in person? You can buy tickets here.
NFL Heisman Update
* Carson Palmer went 23 of 38 for 374 yards and four touchdowns as the Cardinals beat the Browns, 34-20.
* Johnny Manziel came off the bench to go 3 of 6 for 12 yards in Cleveland’s loss to Arizona.
* Mark Ingram rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries and added 39 yards on four catches as New Orleans topped the Giants, 52-49.
* Jameis Winston was 16 of 29 for 177 yards and a touchdown, plus 24 rushing yards on three carries (with one TD), as the Bucs beat Atlanta, 23-20.
* Charles Woodson had four tackles and an interception as Oakland defeated the Jets, 34-20.
* Marcus Mariota sat out another game following a sprain to his MCL that occurred two weeks ago against Atlanta.
* Cam Newton and Carolina will take on Indianapolis and two-time Heisman runner up Andrew Luck on Monday Night Football.
* Sam Bradford and the Eagles had the week off.
Odds and Ends
Tim Tebow dropped by a University of Kentucky pre-Halloween party for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Billy Cannon will be the featured guest on Nov. 17 in Natchitoches, La., for a book signing at the state’s Sports Hall of Fame and History Museum … Another look at Cannon’s Halloween run from 1959, courtesy of Nola.com … Norm Chow was just fired by Hawaii, but let’s not forget that he coached Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart in their Heisman-winning seasons, says Ivan Maisel of ESPN … A dozen finalists were recently named for the ‘academic’ Heisman … Herschel Walker reached out to the Washington Redskins ownder Dan Snyder about Robert Griffin III:
“They don’t seem to have him in the game plan at all,” said Walker of Griffin at a stop on the Heisman Trophy media tour. “And it’s sad because I think R.G. has got a lot of talent. And what I’d like to see is Mr. Snyder, if you don’t mind, send him to Dallas. I think he’d love to go down to Dallas and play for the Cowboys.”
Heisman House Update
Steve Spurrier and George Rogers highlight the latest edition:
