Why isn't Monte Ball a Heisman frontrunner?

[IrishinSyria]

Title says it all. I'm genuinely baffled by this. He has 34 TDs on the year, averaged over 6 a carry, and has his team two hail marries away from being undefeated and in the NC game.

 

[BeauBenken]

Because it's all about publicity.

 

[BurningRiver]

Title says it all. I'm genuinely baffled by this. He has 34 TDs on the year, averaged over 6 a carry, and has his team two hail marries away from being undefeated and in the NC game.

that's incredible. has to be close to a record, no?

i agree, total BS. I guess he just isn't as sexy as the SEC running back or all-universe QB. He definitely deserves to be in the conversation, at least.

 

[returnofthemack]

I was wondering the same thing. How could such a productive back not even be in the conversation? He has better stats than Gerhart did.

 

[Ironman8]

that's incredible. has to be close to a record, no?

i agree, total BS. I guess he just isn't as sexy as the SEC running back or all-universe QB. He definitely deserves to be in the conversation, at least.

Believe that is second all time to Barry Sanders right now, who had 39 total TDs in 1988, 37 of which were rushing.

 

[Ironman8]

Crazy that he was sharing a backfield with another very productive back as well. James White has almost 700 yards and 6 TDs, not to mention all the TDs that Russell Wilson gets himself through the air and on the ground. Very productive offense all around.

 

[Riddickulous]

Believe that is second all time to Barry Sanders right now, who had 39 total TDs in 1988, 37 of which were rushing.

And in 11 games, also not counting the bowl stats. Also topped 2,600 yards rushing.

 

[IrishinSyria]

12 games actually, but yes... Sanders's season was amazing.

 

[irishff1014]

It makes it easier when you play UNLV, Northern Illinois, South Dakota, Indiana,Purdue, Miinesota.

 

[D-BOE34]

Kid use to make St. Louis HS football look like a joke. He played mid level ball but you could clearly see he was a man among boys. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Can't fault him for his schedule... he also tore up Penn State (156 yards 6.2 per carry, 4 TDs), Nebraska (151 yards, 5.0 per carry, 4 TDs), Michigan State (115 yards, 6.4 per carry, 1 TD) and Ohio State (85 yards, 5.0 per carry, 1 TD).


That's 507 yards and 10 TDs against the best 4 teams his team played. Pretty damn good if you ask me.

 

[BeauBenken]

It makes it easier when you play UNLV, Northern Illinois, South Dakota, Indiana,Purdue, Miinesota.

Ole Miss, Kent State, North Texas, and Georgia Southern aren't exactly hot shots right now either. (Trent Richardson)

 

[sportallyr]

I've been following this kid's remarkable season and was wondering the same thing. No mention in almost any Heisman conversation, yet he should be a top (if not the top) candidate.

 

[phork]

Heisman trophy is no longer what it used to be. It is not the biggest video game stat collector on the a BCS championship contending team.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

This is crazy. This kid should without a doubt be a part of Heisman consideration.

 

[irishog77]

12 games actually, but yes... Sanders's season was amazing.

No. It was 11 games. If you include Sanders' 12th game (the Holiday Bowl, I think), then he had 44 TD's and over 2,800 yards.

As far as Monte Ball goes, I think some of the voters who genuinely believe he is the best player in the nation (or 2nd, 3rd) will give him votes. The truth is, not many people believe he is anywhere near one of the top players in the nation. 34 touchdowns is awesome, but not enough to propel him into serious consideration.

 

[IrishinSyria]

No. It was 11 games. If you include Sanders' 12th game (the Holiday Bowl, I think), then he had 44 TD's and over 2,800 yards.

As far as Monte Ball goes, I think some of the voters who genuinely believe he is the best player in the nation (or 2nd, 3rd) will give him votes. The truth is, not many people believe he is anywhere near one of the top players in the nation. 34 touchdowns is awesome, but not enough to propel him into serious consideration.

Mia culpa... I looked up the stats and saw 12 games. Didn't look at the TD count carefully enough. 3.3 rushing TDs per game is beyond crazy.

Is the Heisman for the best player or for the most outstanding player? Stats shouldn't be everything, but when you're playing a reasonably tough schedule and you're having a near-record season, you definitely are having an outstanding season.

 

[irishog77]

Mia culpa... I looked up the stats and saw 12 games. Didn't look at the TD count carefully enough. 3.3 rushing TDs per game is beyond crazy.

Is the Heisman for the best player or for the most outstanding player? Stats shouldn't be everything, but when you're playing a reasonably tough schedule and you're having a near-record season, you definitely are having an outstanding season.

Sanders '88 season was absurd-- whether it's 11 or 12 games. He put up almost unfathomable numbers.

I can't really comment intelligently as to what the Heisman award was like in its early days and up until the last 20 or so years. Even the year Hornung won it, I guess people could say it was given to the best player (he was on a 2-8 or something like that team). But being in Tennessee (and Hornung beat Majors for it), I've heard it was all political and it was because he went to ND. I don't really know what the award is supposed to signify anymore, but my best description would be this: the award for the most recognizable player on a title contending team, or the award for the best player on a BCS-level team when nobody from a title-contending team puts up sexy numbers. As much as I don't like him, I was glad Tim Tebow won it his sophomore year for a couple reasons. 1. I thought he deserved it. 2. I was glad to see an underclassman finally win it and break down that barrier. Of course that further skews guys like Hershel Walker, Rex Grossman, and Adrian Peterson not winning it in their Fr or So years when they finished runner-up or behind for no real reason other than they were freshmen or sophomores. 2 absolute jokes of winners that I know of were Gino Torretta and Mark Ingram. I'd probably be a little more behind Richardson winning it this year if it weren't for that BS just 2 years ago of his teammate winning it. If I had a vote for it, I would vote for Robert Griffin. The dude has put up huge numbers and wildly efficient numbers at the marquee position. He also has lead his team to victories over some good teams...all while playing at a little brother of a school in the best conference in America (at least the computers think the Big XII is the best conference, top to bottom). For my money, Griffin probably is the best player in the country.

 

[irishfan]

Factoids include: Ball has scored a TD every 7.8 touches. Barry Sanders in '88: 10.1. Also, Ball hasn't had a 4th qtr carry in 6 of 12 games

From Stewart Mandel's Twitter

 

[koonja]

Ole Miss, Kent State, North Texas, and Georgia Southern aren't exactly hot shots right now either. (Trent Richardson)

Trent Richardson didn't play against Kent State.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Not a QB, not on a championship contender, not a big pro prospect, has the best offensive line.

 

[sportallyr]

Anyone watching this Big 10 Championship Game? One of the best games I've seen this year...and Montee Ball just scored his 4th TD (3 rush and 1 receiving). How this kid is not the Heisman front runner baffles me...and the fact that most people don't have him in the top 4 (most people have Luck, Richardson, RG 3 & Barkley) is an absolute joke.

 

[sportallyr]

Oh, and by the way, he is now 1 TD away from tying Barry Sanders all time record for TD's in a season...and his team is up by 3 with 3:38 left. I'm sure he would gladly take the win, but I'm hoping for OT so he has a shot at the record.

 

[military_irish]

Oh, and by the way, he is now 1 TD away from tying Barry Sanders all time record for TD's in a season...and his team is up by 3 with 3:38 left. I'm sure he would gladly take the win, but I'm hoping for OT so he has a shot at the record.

He has the bowl game to get another TD. Since the bowl games now count towards season statistics. Unless they count it differently

 

[irishfan]

Wow instead of MSU ball inside the 5 and down three its game over and Wisky wins. Hate to see a game decided on a running into the kicker call.

 

[BeauBenken]

Wow instead of MSU ball inside the 5 and down three its game over and Wisky wins. Hate to see a game decided on a running into the kicker call.

He shouldn't have done it then. lol I agree, but rules are rules.

I feel like the guys who are at the top of everybody's lists are the guys at the bottom of mine. My top 3 would be (in no order) Matthieu, RGIII, and Ball.

And I know there'd be lots of fuss about that, but to me those are the guys who really impress me. Ball really just because of the scoring record.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Can't fault him for his schedule... he also tore up Penn State (156 yards 6.2 per carry, 4 TDs), Nebraska (151 yards, 5.0 per carry, 4 TDs), Michigan State (115 yards, 6.4 per carry, 1 TD) and Ohio State (85 yards, 5.0 per carry, 1 TD).


That's 507 yards and 10 TDs against the best 4 teams his team played. Pretty damn good if you ask me.

I believe he had two receiving touchdowns too.