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After reading that Heinicke has been named as a finalist for the Walter Payton award, I got to thinking about the very unique circumstances in which Heinicke could find himself. Although I have not verified this, it would seem, that given the nature of the awards (one traditionally given only to Division I-A football players and the other reserved only for Division I-AA players), no one has ever won both the Payton and the Heisman.

Should he win the Payton award this year, Heinicke just might find himself with the opportunity to do just that - right here at Old Dominion.

Just a thought to mull over amongst all this dither about C-USA.

Cheers!

Bit of a lofty goal, but an interesting theoretical. I won't give it much thought right now. He's got enough pressure on him already. I think if he plays well and we get to the National Championship game, that's all we can ask. If we do indeed get there, I think he will be the most deserving candidate for the Payton Award.

The next two years are full of exciting opportunities and possibilities for Taylor Heinicke and for ODU Football. I'm just happy to be along for the ride.

(11-28-2012 10:43 PM)CameramanJ Wrote:  Bit of a lofty goal, but an interesting theoretical. I won't give it much thought right now. He's got enough pressure on him already. I think if he plays well and we get to the National Championship game, that's all we can ask. If we do indeed get there, I think he will be the most deserving candidate for the Payton Award.

The next two years are full of exciting opportunities and possibilities for Taylor Heinicke and for ODU Football. I'm just happy to be along for the ride.

The award is not based on post season play. the votes for the Payton Award have already been counted and will be known to the public in the mid Dec.

The Payton Award, since it is in FCS is probably given to the most deserving player as it should be. The Heisman Award, because of all of the publicity surrounding it, is probably given to the most deserving player from a major team. I have never heard of a Heisman Award being given to a player not from a major colleege football team.

Having said that I would love to be proved wrong, since this is all opinion and is not based on any research.

Wood Selig was talking about this on the Nick Cattles show. Said they only other sophomore was Adrian Peterson. Then seemed to imply how great professionally and collegically Peterson was.

I think he got his Adrian Peterson's mixed up. Anyone else hear it?

there was an adrian peterson that played for the bears (he's not in the leauge right now I don't think) around the same time that the big time AP came out of college. two different players.

also, I have a bad feeling that TH is going to get screwed out of this award this year b/c the voters are biased against us for moving up.

(11-29-2012 09:56 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Wood Selig was talking about this on the Nick Cattles show. Said they only other sophomore was Adrian Peterson. Then seemed to imply how great professionally and collegically Peterson was.

I think he got his Adrian Peterson's mixed up. Anyone else hear it?

At Georgia Southern, he ran for just over 9000 yards in four years and set many NCAA records. He also finished as a top 3 finalist all 4 years. He was talking about the right one.

(11-29-2012 10:08 AM)ODU_NYG Wrote:  there was an adrian peterson that played for the bears (he's not in the leauge right now I don't think) around the same time that the big time AP came out of college. two different players.

also, I have a bad feeling that TH is going to get screwed out of this award this year b/c the voters are biased against us for moving up.

I have heard of at least three voters that are planning not to vote for him. I am not sure how many people vote, but I think the fact that he is a Sophomore is really going to hurt his chances.

(11-29-2012 10:08 AM)Old Dominion Navy Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 09:56 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Wood Selig was talking about this on the Nick Cattles show. Said they only other sophomore was Adrian Peterson. Then seemed to imply how great professionally and collegically Peterson was.

I think he got his Adrian Peterson's mixed up. Anyone else hear it?

At Georgia Southern, he ran for just over 9000 yards in four years and set many NCAA records. He also finished as a top 3 finalist all 4 years. He was talking about the right one.

I don't he was. He talked about professionally and kinda chuckled about how well he did for himself.

I mean the other AP did play in the NFL, but never made a name for himself and wouldn't be used as an example of guys performing well professionally.

Time to take a look at some of the numbers that were put up by the three Walter Payton Award finalists.

Eric Breitenstein FB Wofford

Yards 1,653
Avg. 6.8
TD 16
Team record 8-3

Opponents of note with yrdg./td.
GSU 102/0, ASU 123/2, Citadel 110/2, USC 125/1

Miguel Maysonet RB Stony Brook

TD 21 Rush / 1 Rec
Yards 1,881 Rush, 43 Rec
Avg. 7.6
Team record 10/2

Opponents of note.
Syracuse 158/1, Army 220/2, VU 160/2

Taylor Heinicke

TD 35 Pass / 8 Rush
Yards 4,156 Pass, 377 Rush
Avg. 12.4 Pass, 3.4 Rush
Comp. 67%
QB Rating 157.6
Team record 10-1

Opponents of note.
UNH 730/5, 61/1, UR 306/2, 42/1, VU 239/2, 32/0, TU 264/1, 71/2, JMU 357/4, -10/0.

Of course comparing stats of running backs and quarterbacks is an apples to oranges proposition, but those are the numbers. I feel like the two RB (especially Maysonet) had great seasons, but TH had an eye-popping season. To put TH's season into some perspective his season was fairly comparable to Steve McNair's Senior season at Alcorn St. when he won the Walter Payton Award and finished third in Heisman balloting. Heinicke's accomplishments came against superior competition.

IMO Taylor Heinicke has won the Walter Payton Award, and the voting should not have been too close.

(11-29-2012 08:44 AM)Monarch Nation Wrote:  The Payton Award, since it is in FCS is probably given to the most deserving player as it should be. The Heisman Award, because of all of the publicity surrounding it, is probably given to the most deserving player from a major team. I have never heard of a Heisman Award being given to a player not from a major colleege football team.

Having said that I would love to be proved wrong, since this is all opinion and is not based on any research.

Steve McNair came the closest...I think he finished 3rd in the Heisman voting and won the Walter Payton award that same year.

I mean he'll have a shot at it next year too right? since we'll be FCS independent?

(11-29-2012 03:15 PM)pandorazboxx Wrote:  I mean he'll have a shot at it next year too right? since we'll be FCS independent?

At first glance that sounds correct, but the fact that we will have more scholarship players might have some implications.