I really hate the Heisman Trophy race has become a popularity contest among players that get the most attention. Some of the best players in college football play defense, but you never hear about them.
Ron, free thinker
Kiz: As a kid who first fell in love with sports through college football, I’m a guy that loves voting for the Heisman Trophy. But it frustrates me that being a quarterback is now almost a prerequisite for winning the award. In years past, I have voted for dominant defenders such as Will Anderson Jr. and Ndamukong Suh. While I think quarterback Jayden Daniels of Louisiana State is an intriguing NFL prospect who might look good in a Broncos uniform, the only finalist for this year’s award I seriously considered putting anywhere on my three ballot slots was Michael Penix Jr., whose transfer to Washington after an injury-plagued career at Indiana struck me as a near-perfect fit for the story of college football in 2023.
With the instant media coverage of sports, nothing is a surprise anymore, including the Heisman winner.
B.V., San Antonio
Kiz: The 24/7/365 sports babble is fine by me. It’s fun. When it gets to be too much, I can easily switch to music by The National, Spoon or Olivia Rodrigo. But it bugs me when my media brethren get entrapped by groupthink. My Heisman ballot seldom follows the crowd, which leaves me open to ridicule. And that’s also fine by me. The players I voted for in 2023: No. 1, receiver Malik Nabers, who’s the best player on LSU’s team; No. 2, Jordan Travis of Florida State, the quarterback who had a huge impact on both an unbeaten team and the playoff field, and No. 3, Colorado School of Mines quarterback John Matocha, whose grit and spirit represents everything college football should be.
The Heisman Trophy reveal used to be exciting. When Colorado running back Rashaan Salaam won the award in 1994, it was awesome. But by 2015, when Valor Christian alum Christian McCaffrey should’ve won it and finished second, it became less exciting to me. Now? The Heisman is like the NFL, completely quarterback centric.
Chuck, SkoBuffs!
Kiz: With all the debate about whether Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy or some other quarterback deserves to be MVP of the NFL in 2023, let me humbly add: Are y’all nuts? I’ve never been granted the privilege of determining something so important as most valuable player of America’s sports obsession, and maybe that’s best for all concerned. But, in my not-so-humble opinion, two candidates you won’t hear mentioned anywhere else stand above this year’s field: Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and McCaffrery, whose versatility as a running back makes San Francisco the most dangerous championship contender.
And today’s parting shot takes offense to my crazy idea that the Avs need to address a hole in their lineup at second-line center.
Keep trying, Kiz. You once again are trying to show your three readers that you know something about hockey. But you don’t!
Scott, hockey enforcer
