A cursory look at the voting history for the Heisman Trophy puts Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel in good company. These players from TCU or a Tarrant County high school finished in the top four in Heisman voting:
1936 Sam Baugh, TCU, 4th
1938 Davey O’Brien, TCU, 1st
1955 Jim Swink, TCU, 2nd
1983 Turner Gill, Fort Worth Arlington Heights, 4th
2000 LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU, 4th
2007 Chase Daniel, Southlake Carroll, 4th
-- Vince Langford
There are four, not five, finalists for the Heisman Trophy, as announced on ESPN's SportsCenter. They are, in alphabetical order: Hawaii's Colt Brennan, Missouri's Chase Daniel, Arkansas' Darren McFadden, and Florida's Tim Tebow. Those four go to New York for Saturday's presentation. ESPN analyst Mark May said on SportsCenter that Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree and Central Florida running back Kevin Smith should have at least received invitations to New York. Last year and in 2005, only three players were invited to New York.
-- Vince Langford
Regarding the Heisman Trophy, if it truly went to the nation's best player, Florida's Tim Tebow would be getting some serious competition from Texas Tech redshirt freshman wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Nothing against Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, but how about an offense with Tebow at QB throwing to Crabtree?
_ Wendell Barnhouse
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow became the first Division I-A player with 20 rushing touchdowns and 20 passing TDs in the same season. Now that Oregon's Dennis Dixon is done for the season, Tebow is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Tebow is a sophomore. A sophomore has never won the Heisman. But in this season of firsts, why not cross the "sophomore-can't-win-the-Heisman" off the list.
Missouri quarterack Chase Daniel and Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing have slowly creeped into Heisman consideration. If either has a big game Saturday when the Tigers and the Jayhawks hook up in Kansas City Saturday, they could gather more momentum with the Heisman voters.
_ Wendell Barnhouse
I got home from my son's basketball practice about 9:25 p.m. and flipped on the Mitsubishi and tuned in to ESPN. After a commercial, the Oregon-Arizona game resumed and the score was flashed ... Arizona 31, Oregon 11 late in the second quarter.
Heisman Trophy leading candidate Dennis Dixon is done for the night with a knee injury. If the score holds up, the national championship game opens up for the Big 12 -- Kansas, Oklahoma or Missouri.
Strange? Yeah. But it's not that big a surprise. For Oregon, this was a trap game. No. 2 ranking, road game, Thursday night national telecast, facing a team on a roll celebrating Senior Night.
Check back after the game for an assessment of what an Oregon loss means.
-- Wendell Barnhouse
During the season I've been one of 10 Heisman Trophy voters who have participated in a weekly poll by the Rocky Mountain News. Each week, we submit our top five candidates. Over the last eight weeks, there's been a different leader each week.
Here's how I voted this week: 1, Dennis Dixon, Oregon; 2, Tim Tebow, Florida; 3, Chase Daniel, Missouri; 4, Darren McFadden, Arkansas; 5, Todd Reesing, Kansas.
I strongly considered making Tebow (five rushing TDs, two passing TDs, over 400 yards total offense against South Carolina) No. 1. I voted Dixon No. 1 last week and didn't think that just because he didn't play I should change. However, I think Tebow is building the momentum he needs to become the first sophomore to win the Heisman.
-- Wendell Barnhouse
