Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:14 pm EST

The crop for Saturday's ceremony for that trophy they give out every year -- you know, that one, in New York -- might be the most generic, boring crop of candidates you could possibly imagine: Hey, let's pick the quarterbacks off the top three teams! They were on TV all the time!
But however tired you are of hearing about them, you can't deny Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow this: They're also the most prolific class of finalists in the last two decades.
I don't know if it seems that way off the top of your head, but just compare these three quarterbacks to the dozen quarterbacks who have been named "Most Outstanding" since 1988 (plus a couple legendary second-place finishers who could have won it, Vince Young and Peyton Manning). This is easy, since the trophy's been won almost every year since 2000 by a quarterback whose team is playing for the mythical championship (with the exception of Carson Palmer, Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush in 2005, who -- like many of his colleagues -- is lucky the vote came before the bowl game). If you ignore how often they throw (sorry, Andre and Ty) and account for what happens when they do, this is how the trio from 2008 stacks up against best quarterbacks of the past two decades (order is according to pass efficiency rating, with the best number in each category in red):

Hey, a clean sweep. By the numbers, any of the three finalists this year could have been (maybe should have been) the favorite in just about any other year for the past 20 years.
Dr. Saturday is a college football blog edited by Matt Hinton. Email him tips and feedback.

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215 Comments
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I remember last year when Tebow won with the "best passer efficiency rating of any QB to win the Heisman," I had more than one friend at UF who misinterpreted that to mean he had the best passer efficiency rating of any QB ever. It was then that these people learned the true meaning (or lack thereof) of the Heisman.
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Where would Graham Harrell's numbers this season fit into your chart? Are they comparable to his quarterbacking counterparts?
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I agree that all three candidates are phenomenal QBs, but if these are indeed were the only criteria for selecting, then I wish we could have seen Zac Robinson in NYC, or David Johnson of Tulsa.
All this makes me think it's almost coincidental that these three guys have the best stats. All play in a spread, which inflates completion percentage (while not necessarily making the QB more effective) and relies on superior athleticism of the receivers to gain yards after catch. I think we can agree that these three finalists had far superior talent surrounding them than a player like Robinson or even Harrell. So I guess what I'm trying to say is: It's still just the QBs of the three best teams.
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It's too bad Harrell wasn't invited though. He deserves to get out of Lubbock for at least a weekend.
Colt's going to win this one. He is definitely the most deserving with what he accomplished. They're all great, but as VY said: the trophies coming "All the way to AUWWSTIN TEXAS BABY! It's just too bad we don't get to bring the NC trophy back too. We most definitely deserved it. Maybe next year we'll schedule the Citadel towards the end of our season too.
Congrats Colt!
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Colt wins it this year.
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Anyone that knows me knows my belief in the Sooners as the greatest team and institution of all time, however,
after watching Tebow against Bama, I was extremely impressed.
Strikes in late 3rd and 4th were unbelieveable. Not set, moving firing 35yds at the last minute, right in stride,
pretty spectacular.
I'm with leech, its all a bunch of BS, Harrell orchestrating drive and closing the deal against UT, what he's done for team, he should be their. Everybody forgets Sooners practice against that every day. UT just now on the up after coping OUs off playbook, but still having to rely on scrambling and intermurial type plays.
Be very interesting to see teams line up and see who will dictate. One thing for sure, if fla thinks OUs defense soft
their going to learn a painful lesson. McCoy Granger, Beal, English, will eat them up. All these great SEC denfenses will pare in comparison to the atheletes and speed they will face.
Offensively, no need to project. Fla won't get to QB with front 4, will have to force issue on blitz. OUs D will get to Tebow on a 4 man rush more than visa versa.
Should be a great game.
Go Buckeyes.
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win the Heisman this year. The media will decide the winner on this one..and the media wants the National title game to be heisman winner versus heisman winner. Take a GOOD HARD LOOK at that list and think objectively. Take out the four current candidates and there are 13 QBs listed over the years....3 are in the NFL....and only one is actually playing in the NFL..That being Peyton. Vince and Matt are benched in favor of well adjusted veterans and will probably melt the rest of their career away sitting on the bench (no more than 2 years more for either of them..and Vince didnt even win the award but he was a media darling). I cant name any names but the best collegiate player was probably on a team that has a losing record or went7-5 or worse but since the media doesnt highlight mediocre teams,they are not considered for such an award. The heisman trophy is a joke and has been for the last 20 years. Before anyone (UT idiots) try to discredit my opinion....Graham Harrell will not be drafted by any NFL team but at least he will be spared the humiliation of being played up by the media and its pawn voters...while Bradford and McCoy will be exposed once they are drafted and cant produce at the next level..if they are drafted at all..which will be even worse. Tebow stands a chance at the next level..but it wont be playing QB. Tebows best shot is to beef up a little more and switch to Tight End..because there isnt much call for a 220 pound QB who can lower his shoulder and deliver a blow...career wouldnt be very long in the NFL.. But a Tight end with no fear who will run routes across the middle with no hesitation will make it..OU and UT have not put a QB into the NFL that actually made a career out of it..Vince has one foot out the door already...Chris Simms..please..daddy;s name got him where he went..and that wasnt very far.none of OU's winners made it very far into the NFL if at all. The best collegiate player should be a natural who will go into the NFL and shine there as well. But the heisman has become the biggest piece of politicized garbage in America. Harrell will sign as a free agent and disappear in the shuffle...Bradford and McCoy will be drafted and exposed as frauds in the NFL (and they claim any Tech QB is merely a system player HA HA). Both players are above average college players..but they are no where near the best players in the NCAA. The "best collegiate player" isnt a QB and isnt even in consideration for the heisman
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