Does the U.S. Know What USC Knows?

posted by David Cloninger, 10/04/2009 01:48:00 AM

"Wanna take a look,
Take a look."
--------- LIZ PHAIR

At the risk of unleashing the DC Jinx …

Eric Norwood needs to be in the discussion for the Heisman Trophy. I know it’s been mentioned on some polls and what-have-you, but if there is an official list after five games, Norwood needs to be on it.

And rather high up.

The guy just keeps making plays. Even in a game where his statistics aren’t that mind-boggling (a rather pedestrian three tackles in a win over S.C. State), South Carolina’s weakside linebacker finds a way to impact the result.

Gamecocks leading 17-7 in the third quarter and have stuffed State on a third-and-long, so here comes the field-goal unit. Blake Erickson winds up, follows through and connects just between the numbers on Norwood’s jersey.

Bulldogs trying to get back in it after a flurry of USC points and have driven to USC’s 44-yard-line. Malcolm Long throws, Clifton Geathers tips it, Norwood is there to catch it. He tried his best to return it but couldn’t produce the one juke he needed.

“I guess you could say that,” Norwood said, modest as always, asked if this is the best roll he’s ever been on.

Norwood’s season totals are 30 tackles, 6.5 for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and two blocked kicks. I challenge anyone to find another defensive player who has played Norwood’s number of snaps and produced those kinds of numbers.

The Gamecocks would not be near their current 4-1 record without him, and they know it. I’m wondering if the country does – or will allow itself to – as well.

First, the Heisman is one of the most abused trophies in sports. The very premise of the award has been trampled in the media blitz intended to glorify a select few athletes over others.

The trophy is supposed to go to the most outstanding player in college football. That means, to be fair, you play the season, tally up all of the outstanding players in the country and vote. Everyone on a college roster has the same chance at the beginning of the season, from the third-string long snapper to the starting quarterback.

Problem is, now we have the “Heisman watch list.” One of the media heavyweights, usually ESPN or USA Today, comes out with a list of 10 or so players at the beginning of the season and everybody follows what they do. Automatically, they’re pushed to the front of the pile even if they’re living off the laurels of last season – which has already crowned its Heisman winner.

Second, the Heisman doesn’t go to defensive players. There’s a reason Charles Woodson is the only mostly-defensive player to win it in the history of the award, and it’s because we’re all trained to focus on who’s scoring the points instead of who’s stopping them.

There is no mistaking Norwood’s impact on the game. He is USC’s career leader in sacks and tackles for loss (not to mention interviews with Erin Andrews) and is the SEC’s active career leader in both. He has been on “SportsCenter” almost as many times as Brett Favre, poster boy for over-saturation.

The Heisman has no official list of criteria that I can find, but for all of the factors that have won it in the past, Norwood is there.

· He changes the game.
· He is his team’s MVP.
· He helps win and often is one of the only reasons for the win.
· He is not a troublemaker with a lengthy rap sheet.
· He plays hurt, sick, heavy-hearted, through whatever so he can get back on the field and punish some poor soul.

I have no idea if an official Heisman campaign by USC would help influence voters or not. If so, they may use either “Proposition 40” or “40’s Weight” as the title, free of charge (and stop laughing – remember “No Knocks on Woody?”)

But if voters are looking for a player that changes every game he plays, they need look no further.

I’m just hoping they allow themselves to look.

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