Marshall stars didn't win Heisman, nor should Wolfe
by Ralph Russo
The Associated Press
Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe is about to rekindle one of college football's great debates: Should a player who mostly faces second-tier competition be considered worthy of winning the Heisman Trophy?
The answer is no, but the best little back in college football -- Wolfe is 5-foot-7 and 177 pounds -- is on his way to making an impressive case for those who say otherwise.
Coming off a career-high 353 yards against Mid-American Conference rival Ball State, Wolfe is set to run away with the Division I-A rushing title. He has 1,181 yards, while only one other player (Ray Rice of Rutgers) has even cracked 800.
"We see that every week from him,'' NIU Coach Joe Novak said after Wolfe ran wild against Ball State. "I'd love to tell you we coach that, but he is one of the most instinctive runners ever to play this game. He was phenomenal tonight.''
But as good as Wolfe is, he's not better than Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson or Cal tailback Marshawn Lynch. Wolfe, who came into the season with 3,236 career yards rushing, could play for a Big Ten team and play well -- as shown by his 171-yard effort against Ohio State to start the season.
But would he be better than Michigan's Michael Hart? Probably not.
It should also be noted that Ohio State had a big early lead against Northern Illinois and Wolfe played against some second-teamers in the second half.
Heisman voters haven't shown much love to players outside the major conferences. In 1990, BYU quarterback Ty Detmer won the award, but the Cougars were only six years removed from a national title. Hardly a mid-major team in the mind of most.
Since then the Heisman winners have played for glamour schools and national title contenders. Guys who put up big numbers against sketchy competition get just enough support to earn a trip to New York for the trophy presentation.
Randy Moss finished fourth in the Heisman balloting in 1997 playing for Marshall. Moss' quarterback, Chad Pennington, was fifth in 1999. Playing for Division I-AA Alcorn State, Steve McNair finished third in '94.
So how many yards does Wolfe need in his senior year to change the trend? Is 2,500 enough? What if he gets 3,000?
At his current pace, Wolfe will challenge the NCAA records Barry Sanders set in 1988, when he ran for 2,628 yards and 238.9 yards per game. Sanders' marks were set in an 11-game season, when bowl games didn't count in season totals.
Wolfe will play 12 regular-season games and possibly a MAC title game and a bowl; all those games will count in his season totals. Regardless, Wolfe is on his way to one of the best seasons a college running back has ever had.
Wolfe plays at Miami, Ohio, next week.
The RedHawks' run defense is allowing 182.2 yards per game.
By the numbers, Wolfe's toughest remaining test comes in two weeks at Western Michigan, which is sixth in the nation in run defense at 59 yards allowed per game.
A home game against Temple follows the Western Michigan game. Only Novak's conscience will keep Wolfe from getting 300 against the Owls. The Huskies have a nonconference game at Iowa on Oct. 28.
So here's hoping that Wolfe puts his name all over the NCAA record books and even earns himself a trip to New York -- to watch someone else win the Heisman in early December.
A few of us NIU fans already emailed Ralph Russo for his garbage article. This guy needs a serious reality check because of his BCS-lovefest.
Let's just hope Mr. Russo doesn't have a Heisman vote.
Right now, I truly believe Wolfe is the front-runner (or at least in the top three) and IF HE CONTINUES HIS AMAZING STATS and someone from a big-time program doesn't stand out, Wolfe has a shot. Too many national reporters are now on his side not for him to have a legitimate chance.
I emailed that idiot earlier today, as well. As much as I would like to believe otherwise, Wolfe won't even break into the top two in the voting, no matter what his stats are this year and for his career. As dumb as this writer is, he is right about one thing - the Heisman is a beauty contest and there is no chance for those not from a 'glamour' school or national title contender to win it. Then there is the east coast bias.
Garrett should win the Doak Walker for top running back. At least that one doesn't come with an NFL jinx. The jinx is due to the fact that many of these Heisman winners were not really the best in college football at their position - just overhyped star players at a national chmpionship contender program.
I hope GW stays healthy and has a great rest of the season - except for Oct. 14 in Kalamazoo.
MileHighBronco Wrote:I emailed that idiot earlier today, as well. As much as I would like to believe otherwise, Wolfe won't even break into the top two in the voting, no matter what his stats are this year and for his career. As dumb as this writer is, he is right about one thing - the Heisman is a beauty contest and there is no chance for those not from a 'glamour' school or national title contender to win it. Then there is the east coast bias.
Garrett should win the Doak Walker for top running back. At least that one doesn't come with an NFL jinx. The jinx is due to the fact that many of these Heisman winners were not really the best in college football at their position - just overhyped star players at a national chmpionship contender program.
I hope GW stays healthy and has a great rest of the season - except for Oct. 14 in Kalamazoo.
+1
The Doak Walker should be a more important award than the Heisman since it's more realistic. How can you seriously say a certain top QB is better than a top RB? Was Joe Montana better than Barry Sanders? But I have a feeling Peterson may win that one too. I'd almost rather have Wolfe win the Doak Walker instead of the Heisman since the Heisman's a joke. And why does everybody say the player's team has to do well for the player to win the Heisman and at the same time try to claim that the award goes to best player? And of course, nobody but QBs, RBs, and WRs ever win, which is silly.
I am not going to get into the debate because I go both ways on it. But since I did jab at NIU fans before the OSU game, I will correct an error on the writer's part.
Everything Wolfe did against the Buckeyes was on their first-string. They did not put reserves in on defense until the very end. In fact, it caused a lot of consternation in Columbus leading up to the Texas game about how the D let Wolfe do whatever he wanted in the second half especially.
KStud Wrote:I am not going to get into the debate because I go both ways on it. But since I did jab at NIU fans before the OSU game, I will correct an error on the writer's part.
Everything Wolfe did against the Buckeyes was on their first-string. They did not put reserves in on defense until the very end. In fact, it caused a lot of consternation in Columbus leading up to the Texas game about how the D let Wolfe do whatever he wanted in the second half especially.
You are correct. The Buckeye fans were very worried about their defense after our game.
KStud Wrote:I am not going to get into the debate because I go both ways on it. But since I did jab at NIU fans before the OSU game, I will correct an error on the writer's part.
Everything Wolfe did against the Buckeyes was on their first-string. They did not put reserves in on defense until the very end. In fact, it caused a lot of consternation in Columbus leading up to the Texas game about how the D let Wolfe do whatever he wanted in the second half especially.
Just for complete accuracy - OSU played a lot of players on D that day, but that was due to rotations and not because they put in their second string after getting up on us. I saw at least 5 or 6 LBs play in the first half, but I've seen that in the other OSU games also.
But the bottom line is correct - OSU didn't pull all their starters against us, nor did Wolfe rack up yardage against OSU's second string - he had 164 combined yards at halftime, and 108 were in the first quarter. And on his TD pass, he went 7 yards through three defensive starters with no blocking help.
Sorry NIU fans, but Wolfe will finish 3rd at best.
Culpepper finished 3rd in 1998. If he was on a BCS team I think he would have won it quite easilly, but because he wasn't he's automatically knocked down a peg.
More reason the BCS SUCKS.
The Knight Time Wrote:Sorry NIU fans, but Wolfe will finish 3rd at best.
Culpepper finished 3rd in 1998. If he was on a BCS team I think he would have won it quite easilly, but because he wasn't he's automatically knocked down a peg.
More reason the BCS SUCKS.
We're quite aware of the the obstacles he's facing in this regards. At best I hope some of these clown writers are taking what they're saying right now to heart rather than just pandering for readers.
HuskieDan Wrote:At best I hope some of these clown writers are taking what they're saying right now to heart rather than just pandering for readers.
lmfao
Sportswriters????? Pander for readers???
Do they do anything else??
lmfao
axeme Wrote:HuskieDan Wrote:At best I hope some of these clown writers are taking what they're saying right now to heart rather than just pandering for readers.
lmfao
Sportswriters????? Pander for readers???
Do they do anything else??
lmfao
Drink and scarf up free buffets.
The Knight Time Wrote:Sorry NIU fans, but Wolfe will finish 3rd at best.
Culpepper finished 3rd in 1998. If he was on a BCS team I think he would have won it quite easilly, but because he wasn't he's automatically knocked down a peg.
More reason the BCS SUCKS.
I think the potential Wolfe situation is a totally different situation compared to Culpepper, Moss, Pennington, or other "mid major" players. In a way its a test case. The difference is he has a legit shot at breaking a record really nobody thought could be pushed let alone broken. Writers will have a philosophical tug of war when they vote. Vote for a great player from a big time program (specifically in the case of RBs a player with lower stats, possibly substantially lower) or the guy that put up mind blowing stats against all comers, but played for a "mid major" conference.
Either way I really hope Wolfe's run continues. It's great for Northern and its great for the Mid-American Conference.
greenbrier41 Wrote:The Knight Time Wrote:Sorry NIU fans, but Wolfe will finish 3rd at best.
Culpepper finished 3rd in 1998. If he was on a BCS team I think he would have won it quite easilly, but because he wasn't he's automatically knocked down a peg.
More reason the BCS SUCKS.
I think the potential Wolfe situation is a totally different situation compared to Culpepper, Moss, Pennington, or other "mid major" players. In a way its a test case. The difference is he has a legit shot at breaking a record really nobody thought could be pushed let alone broken. Writers will have a philosophical tug of war when they vote. Vote for a great player from a big time program (specifically in the case of RBs a player with lower stats, possibly substantially lower) or the guy that put up mind blowing stats against all comers, but played for a "mid major" conference.
Either way I really hope Wolfe's run continues. It's great for Northern and its great for the Mid-American Conference.
That is a huge difference....absolutely no one ever would have thought Sanders record would be broken no one!!!
Wolfe has a legit chance to break 2000 yards during the Iowa game... if this plays out...look for the Iowa game to be picked up nationally and a weekly wolfe countdown to begin...getting ahead of ourselves sure....but the next three games are at Miami, at WMU and Temple in dekalb..certinaly attainable...
If, and a huge if, Wolfe can break sanders record...wolfe has to be considered the favorite...regardless od conference..LT(4th) did not do it, Faulk(2nd) did not do it (FYI Faulks Sna Diego State team finished 5-5-1 that year)
Wolfe has a chance(slim) to do something none of these guys have done...thats what would give him a legit chance at winning
Even if GW were to break Barry Sanders rushing record, it's Troy Smith's award unless he or the Suckeyes collapse.
niu79 Wrote:Even if GW were to break Barry Sanders rushing record, it's Troy Smith's award unless he or the Suckeyes collapse.
Yeah, the top 3 (Smith, Quinn and Peterson) are hard to overcome. Wolfe will get some votes and an invite if he keeps at this pace. But the best I seem him finishing is 3rd or 4th in balloting.
Wolfe is a great back! I have seen Michael "The Burner" Turner have big games in the NFL as a backup this year to LT2, Chester Taylor is a star in the NFL, but I still think he is a very long shot to win regardless of his gawdy stats (He would have good if not great stats if he was in a BCS conference, but I do not he is on the Petterson/ Slaton/ Hart level). His best shot is at second place IMHO. I know the game of football (played all my life and was all state player in OH, my father played in the NFL) and the BCS conferences have their rule in college football. Sucks but it is true!
SeniorBearcat Wrote:Wolfe is a great back! I have seen Michael "The Burner" Turner have big games in the NFL as a backup this year to LT2, Chester Taylor is a star in the NFL, but I still think he is a very long shot to win regardless of his gawdy stats (He would have good if not great stats if he was in a BCS conference, but I do not he is on the Petterson/ Slaton/ Hart level). His best shot is at second place IMHO. I know the game of football (played all my life and was all state player in OH, my father played in the NFL) and the BCS conferences have their rule in college football. Sucks but it is true!
ahem, 2005 NIU vs Michigan
Hart - 27 attempts 117 yards 4.3 avg 12 long 1 TD
Wolfe - 17 attempts 148 yards 8.7 avg 76 long 1 TD
If you want to argue that NIU had a better defense then Michigan I would love to hear it.
Quote:ahem, 2005 NIU vs Michigan
Hart - 27 attempts 117 yards 4.3 avg 12 long 1 TD
Wolfe - 17 attempts 148 yards 8.7 avg 76 long 1 TD
If you want to argue that NIU had a better defense then Michigan I would love to hear it.
The award is for this year, not last year (it is not a career award). Hart only had 1 hamstring for that game (hurt the hami before the year started and ended up only playing half a season), 100+ yards was not that bad an effort. Hart scored 3 TDs against Central Michigan (2006) in half a game, lets see if Wolfe can do that. Don't get me wrong here (I am a MAC fan), Wolfe is an awesome back that will play in the NFL, but I am not sure if he is a top 3 college RB. Usually like 10 RBs per year make it to the NFL, only time will tell who is the better back. I think he should get a chance to be in NY with the best players in college football, but I do not think he should win the award