Manti Te'o for Heisman

[Irish Insanity]

ESPN threw it out last night that with a win a strong performance by our D and a W this up coming weekend, he will be a legit contender.

 

[RuntheBall]

We have a new leader for Heisman! (according to the ESPN fan poll)

Heisman Vote

 

[PraetorianND]

We have a new leader for Heisman! (according to the ESPN fan poll)

Heisman Vote

AWESOME!!!!

 

[ND NYC]

We have a new leader for Heisman! (according to the ESPN fan poll)

Heisman Vote

how do we vote in that poll?
showed results but no opportunity to cast a vote

 

[PraetorianND]

how do we vote in that poll?
showed results but no opportunity to cast a vote

There is a button at the top left to vote. Kinda hard to see.

 

[phork]

Geno Smith is second. Poll is invalid.

 

[clashmore_mike]

I did see Manti was up to #2 on ESPN's 11 member Heisman voting behind optimus.

 

[NDGirlzRock]

Alright question!

If Manti has a huge night on Saturday against OU, how much does that help his chances with the Heisman? Also, what constitutes a huge night in your book?

I'd say middle to upper teens in tackles and a either an INT or a caused/recovery fumble would be considered monster numbers.

 

[NDdomer2]

Alright question!

If Manti has a huge night on Saturday against OU, how much does that help his chances with the Heisman? Also, what constitutes a huge night in your book?

I'd say middle to upper teens in tackles and a either an INT or a caused/recovery fumble would be considered monster numbers.

First, welcome Irish Envy.

Second, you are spot on with your thoughts on what a monster game would be.

If Manti had a night like you mentioned and that int or forced fumble would come on say a game ending drive it would most definitely help his Heisman status.

 

[irishfan]

I did see Manti was up to #2 on ESPN's 11 member Heisman voting behind optimus.

#2 according to Heisman Pundit and SI as well. Just need to keep winning games and have KSU slip once and he could leap Klein.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

it's certainly possible. the defense will have to carry us on saturday to have any chance. if we win, he's likely to be at the center of the reason why. that'll get more votes.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

If we are undefeated and KSU isn't at the end of the regular season, I would not be shocked to see Manti holding the Heisman. Just nuts to even think about.

 

[ulukinatme]

If we are undefeated and KSU isn't at the end of the regular season, I would not be shocked to see Manti holding the Heisman. Just nuts to even think about.

I think if we run the table, Manti gets it.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I think if we run the table, Manti gets it.

If we run the table but KSU runs it I don't think we'll be in the NCG which will hurt Manti's Heisman chances a lot.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

If we run the table but KSU runs it I don't think we'll be in the NCG which will hurt Manti's Heisman chances a lot.

If we run the table, we will be in the NCG over KSU. We add 2 wins over Top 10 teams.

We'd have 5 wins over ranked (3 top 10 - then or now) opponents, they'd have 4.

 

[ulukinatme]

If we run the table, we will be in the NCG over KSU. We add 2 wins over Top 10 teams.

We'd have 5 wins over ranked (3 top 10 - then or now) opponents, they'd have 4.

Thats kind of my reasoning. Plus, you have to expect that if we somehow run the table, no matter how impressive KSU would be doing the same, we're going to generate even more noise in the media and Manti will be the perfect guy to give the award to. His story, his leadership, his ability to raise the expectations and abilities of those around him would all factor in I think. Not slighting Klien here, but I think there would just be too much attention to ignore a 12-0 ND with this schedule.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

Stumbled across this while clicking through EDSBS (and the millions of places it links to):

BSDebate: Mauti, Te'o and the Heisman Trophy - Black Shoe Diaries

Now, take a look at the Notre Dame defense. You're going to have to because there are no other recognizable names on the roster (OK, maybe you know about Bennett Jackson, but that's about it). Te'o leads the team in tackles and the next closest teammates trails him by 29. He ranks third in the nation and first on the team with four interceptions. He has outperformed his teammates during every game this season and it really hasn't been close. He is the lynchpin of the most dominant defense in America outside of Alabama.

Now, yes, Mauti has very similar numbers, almost identical, in fact, I understand that. But if you took him out of the Penn State defense and replaced him with Mike Hull, would you truly see a noticeable difference? The Penn State defense is stacked with future NFL players like Gerald Hodges, Jordan Hill, Deion Barnes, Adrian Amos, maybe Hull, maybe Glenn Carson, etc. Add that to the fact that Hull might be more athletic than Mauti, Penn State would still have a top-tier defense without The Mullet. As I said above, you take Manti Te'o out of the Notre Dame defense and I believe it is a vastly different, fairly more inferior unit.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Stumbled across this while clicking through EDSBS (and the millions of places it links to):

BSDebate: Mauti, Te'o and the Heisman Trophy - Black Shoe Diaries

Now, take a look at the Notre Dame defense. You're going to have to because there are no other recognizable names on the roster (OK, maybe you know about Bennett Jackson, but that's about it). Te'o leads the team in tackles and the next closest teammates trails him by 29. He ranks third in the nation and first on the team with four interceptions. He has outperformed his teammates during every game this season and it really hasn't been close. He is the lynchpin of the most dominant defense in America outside of Alabama.

Now, yes, Mauti has very similar numbers, almost identical, in fact, I understand that. But if you took him out of the Penn State defense and replaced him with Mike Hull, would you truly see a noticeable difference? The Penn State defense is stacked with future NFL players like Gerald Hodges, Jordan Hill, Deion Barnes, Adrian Amos, maybe Hull, maybe Glenn Carson, etc. Add that to the fact that Hull might be more athletic than Mauti, Penn State would still have a top-tier defense without The Mullet. As I said above, you take Manti Te'o out of the Notre Dame defense and I believe it is a vastly different, fairly more inferior unit.

Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix aren't noticeable names on ND's defense? Ummm, ok.

 

[ulukinatme]

Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix aren't noticeable names on ND's defense? Ummm, ok.

Who is this...Louis Nix? I've heard of Irish Chocolate grin:

 

[gkIrish]

Sorry if already posted. This kid deserves the heisman. Amazing on and off the field

Manti Te’o writes emotional email to parents of dying 12-year-old girl | Dr. Saturday - Yahoo! Sports

Dealing with own grief, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o comforts parents of dying girl - College Football News | FOX Sports on MSN

 

[BurningRiver]

Another interception, another double digit tackle game, another win. Heisman.

 

[STLDomer]

Only one to have any sort of Heisman moment so far this year I have seem.

IMO it should be:

Klein
Te'o
McCarron
Miller


Thomas, Geno and others still in it, Jarvis Jones might get back into it after this week ( had something like 2 FFs (game-clinching one), 2 FRs, and a couple sacks)

 

[peoriairish]

Jones has been hurt too much. And there is no way Geno is still in it. He would be a 8-10th round pick if coming into the draft right now. He's atrocious.

I kinda agree with your top 4 though. I would put it at 1a and 1b with Klein and T'eo though.

 

[aubeirish]

Easily.

 

[philipm31]

If we run the table but KSU runs it I don't think we'll be in the NCG which will hurt Manti's Heisman chances a lot.

How?

The Heisman is NOT about bowl games. It is about what you have done in your body of work during the previous four months.

Whether or not ND is in the NCG is totally irrelevant to the Heisman. This year it might actually go to the best player in the nation instead of to the best player on the best team in the nation, which would be nice to see it actually have some legitimacy again, after the way that RGIII came out of nowhere to win it even though his team has 3 Losses.

 

[Black Irish]

Te'o put himself at #2 in the Heisman race with 11 tackles, an INT, and that bone-crunching sack on Jones tonight. That's not Irish Kool-aid talking either, that's the truth.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

How?

The Heisman is NOT about bowl games. It is about what you have done in your body of work during the previous four months.

Whether or not ND is in the NCG is totally irrelevant to the Heisman. This year it might actually go to the best player in the nation instead of to the best player on the best team in the nation, which would be nice to see it actually have some legitimacy again, after the way that RGIII came out of nowhere to win it even though his team has 3 Losses.

Because Manti is at a huge disadvantage because he's a linebacker and not being on one of the top 2 teams in the country would kill his chances for late voters. I was wrong and we will leapfrog KSU with a win at USC though, and I think Manti took the lead tonight with his stellar game.

 

[ACamp1900]

Things can obviously change, but right Now it's a two horse race,... Klein and Teo

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Things can obviously change, but right Now it's a two horse race,... Klein and Teo

McCarron is close on the outside but after that it is just a huge drop off. Oregon spreads the production around too much to have a Heisman candidate, USC is too bad for Barkley, Jarvis Jones disappeared for a stretch, and I can't think of another player who would even be considered by anyone.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Because Manti is at a huge disadvantage because he's a linebacker and not being on one of the top 2 teams in the country would kill his chances for late voters. I was wrong and we will leapfrog KSU with a win at USC though, and I think Manti took the lead tonight with his stellar game.

Te'o also has a lot of other intangible stuff going for him that Klein doesn't. Leading the resurgent defense that is returning ND to glory, persevering and playing dominant football through the deaths of his g/f and grandmother, just having a compelling personal story, etc.

None of that stuff is "supposed" to matter in Heisman voting, but it does. I think the fact that Te'o would be the first and only purely defensive winner also militates in his favor. If it comes down to Klein v. Te'o, and both teams are still undefeated, I'm confident Te'o would win it. It's simply a better story.