If Johnny Manziel Wins the Heisman - jmik58's Blog

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If Johnny Manziel Wins the Heisman Stuck

Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:18 AM.

(19)

The Manziel Mania needs to stop. It's ludicrous, illogical, offensive, and comedic. But the hilarity of the madness is quickly trumped by panic.

My god, what if he actually wins?!

If you're like me -- once you've paused from a good laugh or eye-roll -- you quickly look back at America and realize they aren't kidding. These guys, past winners and current pundits who cast a vote, are serious. Johnny Manziel is a legit contender for the Heisman Trophy in 2012.

You might say, "Well, fine then, I guess the Heisman just doesn't mean what it used to." The problem with that way of thinking is that the Heisman can't be defeated by debate. It does and always will mean what it used to. The Heisman is an evolving award that matches pop culture. The masses -- and voters -- decide what the Heisman means.

If this Manziel campaign tells us anything, the most coveted individual award in college football is less about stats and performance. It's about being cool, creating a moment, and leaving us emotionally stirred.

How else do you explain the campaign to elect Johnny Manziel president of the college football tree-house?

Picking Manziel to win the Heisman would be like earning honorable mention in your conference and then first team all-state recognition. He's not even the best in his conference and is barely one of the top twenty quarterbacks statistically in the entire country.

But the Heisman doesn't care. If you haven't noticed, numbers lost their key to Heisman City a long time ago. America and the voters love Manziel's innocence as a freshman and the story that comes with it. When the Aggies took down the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, that defining moment was created.

The story is what America truly loves and few plots are as captivating as that of David defeating Goliath. Not only did little Johnny Football take down the Giant, but he did it in the monster's own desolate death-trap.

If Johnny Manziel wins the Heisman, the award will mean what it always has. The bronzed stiff-arm wasn't created for the best player or the most skilled. In their own words, the Heisman Trust seeks "...the most outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence..."

It's about the pursuit -- the chase. It just so happens that the defining visual of college football's best chase scene of 2012 was Manziel's Aggies triumphing over the mighty Crimson Tide. That is this season's most emotional moment when tiny David (or Johnny) stood over the defeated Crimson Tide army.

The Heisman doesn't mean what you or I envision. The Heisman is what it was and always will be, and in 2012 it may very well belong to Johnny Manziel.

Sound Off: Should Johnny Manziel win the 2012 Heisman Trophy?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper

Comments

# 1 Dolphin_17 @ Nov 20

It doesn't need to stop. He's been very good, you can't deny that. And I'm not saying that because I like the Aggies. If he had no chance, I'd say give it to Te'o, but he has a chance. Don't laugh at the people who believe he can win. That's no joke, because he can (and I hope he will)! And what's with that "it's about being cool"? Manziel's numbers have been very good, even compared to Tebow or Newton. Look it up!
Why don't you just say you don't like Manziel? Easier and less insulting. I mean, there comes a guy around, who is a good person, unselfish, plays great and as soon as they can there are people who bash that player. Like they are jealous and don't grant him his success!

# 2 IowaAJ @ Nov 20

This is a year where he could win it because there really aren't a lot of options. The kid had his Heisman Moment winning at Alabama I say he is the favorite right now.

# 3 mmayorga15 @ Nov 20

I agree with everything Dolphin_17 and Aggies67 say. His stats are more than comparable to Tebow's and Cam's the years they won the Heisman. Plus let's not forget the Aggies lost a very close game against LSU, which they dominated the first half of, that had they won would put them on track to not only the SEC Championship, but perhaps the National Championship. Also, in my eyes I feel Manziel being a Heisman contender is more legitimate than the Honey Badger being in the race and look where he is now.

# 4 EHS_25 @ Nov 20

And you think Collin Klein is a legitimate Heisman candidate?.... He cant throw, yet he gets a lot of hype. How can a guy that cant throw be up for the Heisman and the Nations Best QB, There are 20+ QBs i woud select over him without even hesitating. Manziel has put up better numbers than Cam Newton and Tim Tebow did in the years they won, and he is doing it as a freshman in the SEC. But i think the Heisman now goes to who has the best story, not who is the best player.

# 5 rynecandy @ Nov 20

First off, I'm a Former Ag ('01).......so of course this is a biased opinion. Looking at the stats in the list linked, JM only has 7 TD less than the #1 QB.....he has more YDS & YDS/A. Also I think most just still have the belief that the Heisman should go to the best player, who is not a fish. Finally the Heisman has never been to the "best player".....had it really been about the best, we would have had more Defensive Players winning the award. The award, itself, is biased to QB, RB, and WR.

# 6 ggsimmonds @ Nov 20

Pretty bad article. The only argument he seems to use is that JM is not top 20 in QB rating? Instead of arguing why JM should not win he merely asserted that it would be a travesty if he did.

# 7 faceman1209 @ Nov 20

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a Bama grad ('10) and this is a pretty uninspired article and an even worse argument against Manziel winning. This is an overall down year in college football. There are no great players this year like the years when Tebow and Newton won. Klein showed you what he was all about in Waco, and Manziel has only gotten better as the year has gone on. If he wins it, congrats to the kid. He will have earned it. Who cares that he's a Frosh?

# 8 jmik58 @ Nov 20

Thanks for the comments everyone. Just to clarify, this column is not an argument as to why Manziel shouldn't win the Heisman. Instead, the point is that Manziel's numbers, story, and team success don't make him worthy of winning the Heisman this year based on how I view the most outstanding player. Te'o at Notre Dame would be my pick or even Murray at Georgia (especially if they take the SEC). Furthermore, the bottom line of this piece (if you get beyond the idea you think this is all about hating on JM) is that I'm pointing out Manziel IS worthy of the Heisman because the Heisman isn't an award for the guy with the best numbers, etc. There is no set criteria. The Heisman winner is whoever captivates the nation and the voters. The Heisman is defined by different standards each and every year and it is evolving. If he does win, good for him. This piece is less about Manziel and more about the Heisman itself.

# 9 TheEubster @ Nov 20

Te'o, really? He's tied for 3rd in the country in INTs. Impressive. He is not in the Top 40 in a single other defensive statistic. He is a very good LB (arguably the best in the country, but there's a certain Georgia LB who could make a pretty damn good case for that) on a very good defense. He also happens to have a very good story. Does that make him the best player in college football? Not by a long-shot. Manziel is going to break Cam's SEC single season total offense record by a good margin and he's done it against the 4th toughest schedule in the country. He's #2 in the country in total offense in what is considered the most outstanding defensive conference in the country. He deserves the Heisman Trophy. Period.

# 10 hanzsomehanz @ Nov 20

Manziel is the MAN! go Johnny! The man has "it"; Klien had it too but lost his buzz when KState crumbled against, - I forget who.. but Manzy took down the Tide Pride!

# 11 ggsimmonds @ Nov 20

No matter who is selected or who you may think deserves the Heisman there will be a number of people who think someone else deserves it more.

# 12 Marvc @ Nov 20

Umm actually Johnny footballs stats are better then Optimus klein from kansas st. So Im really not sure what your saying. Did you even look at his stats ? Or did you just assume he didnt have good stats?!?!