It's Still a Crime

Submitted by Gene Patterson on July 28, 2006 - 1:00am

This is a bit off topic for me, but it dawned on me tonight as I was listening to Peyton Manning speak at the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame dinner, that I was still mad that he didn't win the Heisman trophy in 1997.
I had the good fortune of meeting Peyton right after his senior year at UT. It was brief a handshake and a how do you do. So everything I know about the guy, I've heard from others or read. And everything I've heard and read suggests that sports writers were dead wrong when they awarded college football's highest honor to Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997.
Don't get me wrong, Woodson was a great college player. And certainly, he had a terrific senior year. It seemed every time he was on TV, he made some type of spectacular play that year.
But I always thought the Heisman was about the total person and total career, not just the most recent stats. And if that were the case, how could you not vote for Manning?
By the end of his senior year, Peyton held more than 40 Tennessee football records, 3 NCAA records, he'd won the Sullivan trophy for being the best quarterback in the country and he'd led Tennessee to one of its most successful periods ever.
He also graduated from UT's Communications College with the highest GPA in the school. And when he wasn't on the football field, he was counseling kids at the local Boys and Girls Club, or visiting children at the hospital or speaking to youth groups.
He was the absolute epitome of what you would hope a college athlete would be, a role model for others to follow. He excelled both on the field and off the field. But that wasn't good enough for America's sportswriters.
I still have a chip on my shoulder for ABC's Keith Jackson. During those last few, vital weeks of the '97 season, he went beyond play-by-play man to Woodson's personal cheerleader. ABC and ESPN both were complicit in what I still consider a crime.
Tonight, at the Hall of Fame dinner, Peyton talked about what it takes to succeed in life. I can't imagine a greater role model, even if he isn't a Heisman winner.

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I agree..that is why I

Submitted by ANGRYWOLF (not verified) on July 28, 2006 - 3:07pm.

I agree..that is why I didn't watch Keith Jackson during his last years at ABC and I don't watch ESPN..

Gene, I totally agree with

Submitted by softball mom (not verified) on July 29, 2006 - 9:19pm.

Gene,

I totally agree with you!! I have never met Peyton Manning,but I did get the chance to go to a banquet and hear his father Archie Manning speak right after Peyton was passed over for the Heisman. I walked out of the banquet after hearing Mr. Manning speak and told my husband, "Now I see why Peyton has such a great head on his shoulders!"

When you take in everything that the Heisman is supposed to stand for, Peyton fills the bill more than anyone who has ever played the game. Even after already having his degree after his Junior year, he still fulfilled his commitment to UT and came back to play his Senior year. Unless I am wrong (and I don't think I am), Charles Woodson was a JUNIOR when he won the award and ducked out after he won and went onto the NFL early. For this reason alone, Peyton was the one to win the award!!!!

The thing that really tee's

Submitted by Voter (not verified) on July 31, 2006 - 3:46pm.

The thing that really tee's me off the most is how the NCAA handled this. From the second he had the news conference to say he was staying to play his 4th year of eligibility, the guys at NCAA loved him! He was their golden boy as far as they were concerned. ESPN and the NCAA ate it up that a student athlete that would no doubt be the #1 pick sticks around the college ranks. Then all of the sudden it was almost like Peyton was stabbed in the back. Woodson has not been the ambassador that Peyton has been to the college ranks and it is still a sham in my book. Archie was right no to let his other son get involved in the Hiesman hype.