Being an alum of Penn State, a distinction that all 3 members of the I'll Be Frank staff hold, nothing is as fun as the start of the football season. Football was all we had, it's all that has ever mattered at the school. You go to that school to watch football games and party, academics are a far third on a list of importance.
So you arrive back a State College about a week before classes begin, you catch up with friends that were lost during the summer, hit up College and Beaver Aves for some good ol' fashion drinking, and enjoy the few days before school starts.
The first week of classes is a joke. It's syllabus week, at PSU the tradition is you only go to class long enough for the professor to outline the structure of the class, and then you are free to make your way back to College and Beaver and resume the drinking.
So Friday comes, classes are finally done, what's there to do? How about Power Hour? Maybe some beer pong or flip cup? It doesn't matter, it's friday, you're back at school with your friends, the girls are still skinny and tan (as anyone who has ever been to PSU in the winter can attest, once the temperature drops, the hoodies go on, the tans are lost, and we, men, are forced to stare at hooded monsters in spandex and furry boots (trust me, some girls should not be wearing spandex.)) Anyways things could not get much better. The weather is still beautiful and tomorrow when you wake up, it will be time once again for JoePa to hike up those khaki pants and lead his players onto the prestine grass of Beaver Stadium, with 110,000 friends cheering them on.
So after a night at Cell Block for $1 shots, or the Saloon for Monkey Boys, you head up to Canyon Pizza for a slice of grease and pepperoni, or maybe you go to the underrated Grillers for burgers and fries, or maybe you throw a curveball and hit up DP Dough for a calzone, once again it doesn't matter, it's Friday night and you're in college.
So Saturday morning rolls around. It's 7 a.m. and you just went to bed at 3. You feel like you were on a weeklong Purple Drank bender with JaMarcus and Lil' Wayne, but you throw on your replica jersey, grab a case of beer and head up to the stadium.
You get there and your ambitious friends (possibly still awake from the night before) have set up their 2001 Ford Ranger in the Intramural fields. They have bloody marys, beer bongs, and Dizzy Bat. Old people in RVs are friendly as can be to the obnoxious students that surround them, offering up food and beverage without regard. Still buzzed from last night, you crack open that first beer and feel the Natty light dribble down your gullet.
As the drunken stupor from last night reappears, you struggle, worse than Lou Holtz's pronunciation of words ending in S, to give friends directions to your tailgate.
"Look for the Penn State flag next to the RV and blue tent, we are right there."
Yeah that narrows it down a bit.
So everything is perfect, you are back with friends, the girls are still hot, the weather is nice, the beer is flowing, and football is back.
And with that I will run through a list of Heisman hopefuls for the 2010 season.
The players are in no specific order. They will be accompanied by their 2009 stats as well as their current odds to win the award.
Mark Ingram - QB - Jr. Alabama +400
2009: 1,658 rushing yards, 17 TD, 334 receiving yards, three TD - Heisman Trophy
Ingram pulled off the double double in 2009, he came away with the Heisman and his Alabama Crimson Tide won the National Championship.
There is no doubt that Ingram is a beast and deserved to win last year, albeit, in a down year where the nominees weren't as prolific as in recent years. Nonetheless, the trophy still resides on Ingram's mantle, yet it will be hard to repeat. Only Archie Griffin repeated as Heisman winner, and like Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, the winners preceding Ingram, the odds are not in his favor.
The emergence of runningback Trent Richardson should take away carries from Ingram. It appears that Alabama may try to employ more of a two-headed attack in the backfield. Also if Greg McElroy improves, the passing game should shine with the ever dangerous Julio Jones. But if Alabama can hold onto the top spot, Ingram will most likely be the reason, and will be in high contention to win again.
EDIT - Now it appears that Ingram will miss significant time due to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday morning. This severely hurts his chances of repeating, and gives Penn State a minor chance on September 11.
Ryan Mallett - QB - Jr. Arkansas +1000
2009: 3,627 passing yards, 30 TD 7 INT
Last season Mallett led the SEC in QB rating, passing yards, and passing touchdowns and there is no reason why he can't duplicate this effort. He threw 5+ TDs three times in 2009, stats that Heisman voters salivate over.
The 6'7" transfer from Michigan (you think ol' Richie Rod up in Ann Arbor is now wishing he wouldn't have put all his eggs in the Terrelle Pryor basket) led Arkansas to Top-10 rankings nationally in scoring offense and passing.
The Razorbacks return 9 starters on offense, including receivers Joe Adams, Greg Childs, and Jarius Wright, as well as running back Dennis Johnson.
Terrelle Pryor - QB - Jr. Ohio State +350
2009: 2094 passing yards, 18 TD, 779 rushing yards, seven TD
Going into the season, Pryor is the favorite to win the award. As long as his lungs can sustain the beating they took from cigarette after cigarette at The Headkeeper, he should be in contention all year long.
Pryor had all the hype going into college after a phenomenal highschool career in J-Town. It was actually surprising that Scaife family didn't rename the Tribune Review to the Pittsburgh Pryor Paper.
After a few years of mediocrity but with glimpses of superstardom, Pryor finally had his coming out party against Oregon at the Rose Bowl in which he threw for 266 yards and 2 TDs, and ran for 72 additional yards.
Ohio State will be televised nationally more than enough to make Pryor a household name to even novice fans. OSU have taken the reins off of their star, and if the Buckeyes can make a run at the title, Pryor should have the numbers to make the trip to New York in December.
Dion Lewis - RB - So. Pitt +1200
2009: 1,799 yards, 17 TD
2009 was nothing short of amazing for the freshman out of Blair Academy in New Jersey. To prove how great his season was, Lewis broke Tony Dorsett's 36 year record for rushing yards by a freshman.
Last year Lewis ran for 100+ yards in 10 games. In the last 4 games of the season he ran for over 150 yards. In Pitt's bowl game, Lewis ran for 159 yards against a UNC defense ranked 6th in the nation.
The recent trend has seen sophomores win the award, but Lewis faces challenges brought upon by 6 new starters on offense including the QB position.
If Pitt can win the Big East and make it to a BCS game, Lewis will certainly be a big part of the success. If he doesn't win the award this year, he will be a favorite to win it in 2011.
Kellen Moore - QB - Jr. Boise St. +1500
2009: 3536 passing yards, 39 TD 3 INT
Absolutely ridiculous numbers for Moore as a sophomore at Boise. He led the team to an undefeated season and has his team ranked in the Top-5 going into the 2010 season.
Boise returns all but one starter as they begin their charter season in the WAC. Playing in a semi-larger conference can only help the Broncos and Moore.
Boise faces another Top-10 team in Virginia Tech to open the season, and if they can get past the Hokies, they should vie for another undefeated season and a chance at the National Championship. By starting in the Top-5, they won't have to pass as many teams as in years past, and do in fact have a chance to play for the championship and their first ever Heisman.
Jake Locker - QB - Sr. Washington +1200
2009: 2800 passing yards, 21 TD, 388 rushing yards, seven TD
Not overly spectacular numbers from the player that Mel Kiper projected as the number 1 pick in the 2010 draft, but with another offseason under his belt, he will look to improve those numbers, solidfy his draft position, and make a run at the Heisman.
It's hard to believe that someone would pass up the opportunity to go #1 in the draft, but I guess the risk of injury didn't concern Locker. I guess Sam Bradford proved that even if you get hurt you can still be the top pick.
His game and skill set translates better to the pros, because his supporting cast at Washington isn't all that good and will ultimately prove to be the downfall for his Heisman contention.
Case Keenum - QB - Sr. Houston +1200
2009 statistics: 5,671 passing yards, 44 TD
Keenum led the nation in passing yards, distancing himself from #2 by 1,400 yards. Last year he was 3-0 against BCS conference schools and threw for 500+ yards 4 times.
Houston being a small school may make it hard to get the national attention he deserves, but if he is able to put up similar numbers and become the all-time leading passer in NCAA history, he will make headlines.
Ultimately, he will fall victim to being a "system" quarterback, as were the likes of Graham Harrell and Colt Brennen.
Jacory Harris - QB - Jr. Miami (FL) +1500
2009: 3,352 passing yards, 24 TD 17 INT
The obvious knock on Harris is his decision making that produced the 17 INTs in 2009. However, his electric playmaking skills were able to bring Miami out of the abyss and to a 9-win season. Miami starts the year in the Top-25 and if Harris can produce similar numbers with less picks, and makes the U a formidable contender in the ACC and nationally, then he will get some votes for the Heisman.
Harris doesn't lack confidence, he told Sportingnews.com that if he makes the Heisman ceremony, "I'm gonna wear a pink suit to the ceremony, pimp cup and all." Maybe put some Drank in that cup.
John Clay - RB - Jr. Wisconsin +1200
2009: 1,517 rushing yards, 18 TD
A likely candidate to lead the nation in rushing yards and TDs, Clay will be the focus point of the Wisconsin offense.
Clay finished 2009 with 6-straight 100 yard rushing games. If he can lead Wiscy to the top of the Big Ten, then he might just follow in the footsteps of Badger great Ron Dayne and earn a trip to New York.
Noel Divine - RB - Sr. West Virginia +1400
2009: 1,465 rushing yards, 13 TD
With a unsettled QB situation in Morgantown, the 5'8" playmaker will undoubtedly be the focal point of the Mountaineers offense.
His speed, quickness, and agility make him a threat to go the distance every down. He is no stranger to the SportsCenter and the highlight reel, which is huge in terms of national recognition. Could develop enough hype to be this year's C.J. Spiller and make a run at a slot in New York. If WVU can get back to the top of the Big East that will go a long way in helping this "devine" runner's Heisman hopes.
My Heisman pick:
Ryan Mallett
A Top-10 offense in 2009, 9 returning starters, including all of last year's playmakers, Mallett will be given the opportunity to duplicate, if not surpass his outstanding numbers from a year ago. Arkansas has a chance to be the surprise team in the SEC this season. As with any Heisman contender, the more your team wins, the better your Heisman resume looks. Winning in the SEC is magnifide due to the strength of the conference. Mallett should also make a run at Locker and the #1 overall spot in the 2011 draft.
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