Graham Harrell excluded from Heisman ceremony

[Ziachild007]

 

Graham Harrell's exclusion from Heisman ceremony angers Texas Tech's Mike Leach

By Dwain Pricedprice@star-telegram.com

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Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell surprisingly didn't garner enough votes to be invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

 

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach reacted angrily Wednesday when he heard that Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell was not one of the finalists for Saturday’s Heisman Trophy presentation in New York.

 

“If Graham is not invited to the Heisman, they ought to quit giving out the award,’’ Leach said. “It is a shameless example of politics ruling over performance.

 

“The other guys are deserving, but [Harrell] has earned a place alongside them.’’

 

Heisman organizers generally invite three to five finalists, based on vote totals.

 

Despite passing for 4,747 yards and 41 touchdowns and leading Tech to an 11-1 record, a No. 7 ranking and a berth in the Cotton Bowl, Harrell wasn’t one of the three finalists chosen to fly to New York for the ceremony.

 

The finalists were Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

 

Since Harrell has been shown on ESPN's Heisman commercials for nearly two weeks, everyone associated with Tech generally assumed his ticket to New York had already been punched.

 

“I’m disappointed with the Heisman folks,’’ Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. “I don’t know if it’s a product of the economy and they were trying to save money on hotel rooms and flights.

 

“I’ve gone against Graham for five years and he’s the best quarterback in the country, bar none.’’ McNeill said Heisman organizers probably haven’t taken into account the plans Harrell’s family already made to fly to New York.

 

“They’re going to tell him on a Wednesday [he’s not going],’’ McNeill asked. “What about his family? They planned on coming up there.

 

“He’s been on their commercials for two weeks. They’ve got pictures of him, they’ve got highlights of him, they’ve got his picture in the Heisman room. I don’t understand that.’’

 

Harrell is second all time in NCAA history in career passing yards with 15,429 yards. He also has 130 career TD passes and is only one away from tying Colt Brennan for the career lead in that category.

 

On Monday, Harrell won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which went to the nation’s top senior quarterback. He also is a finalist for the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell Awards, with those winners being announced Thursday night at a ceremony in Orlando, Fla.

 

“I’ve been coaching for about 28 years and I’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks,’’ McNeill said. “I’ve seen some good ones, I’ve seen some average ones and I’ve seen some great ones.

 

“Colt McCoy deserves to be there, Sam Bradford deserves to be there, Tim Tebow deserves to be there. Graham Harrell, for sure, deserves to definitely be there.’’

 

The folks in Lubbock see Harrell’s Heisman omission as yet another slap in the Raiders’ face. Despite beating Texas 39-33, and tying the Longhorns and Oklahoma for the Big 12 South title, the Raiders were shut out of the four BCS bowls, while OU is playing for the national championship and UT landed a berth in the BCS Fiesta Bowl.

 

Now comes the Heisman slap.

 

"Graham Harrell is the Most Valuable player on our football team and has done of a great job of not just being a great quarterback, but he’s also a great student-athlete,’’ McNeill said. “He’s excellent in the class room and excellent on the field.

 

“For him to not to be invited to the Heisman, I have no idea what any of those Heisman voters were looking for.’’

 

McNeill was on an airport shuttle when he heard over the radio that Harrell was not invited to the Heisman ceremonies. At first, he thought he mistakenly didn’t hear what he heard.

 

“When the news came on the radio I’m like, 'OK, maybe this is a mishap,' McNeill said. “But, no it wasn’t a mishap.

 

“I just know it’s strange not to invite one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the game to be a finalist in the Heisman race.’’

Edited December 12, 2008 by Ziachild007

[Sgt Ryan]

I agree, he should be there. This is a joke.

[bigrocks]

It is ridiculous he's left out of the Heisman race, but he will be the best NFL QB of the bunch, so he has that going for him.

[theeohiostate]

It is already predetermined that Tebow will win the Heisman, so why is Bradford or McCoy going either ?

[GWPFFL BrianW]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you get invited based on the number of votes you are going to get? The vast majority of these 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes seemingly will be going to the 3 that will be invited. Should be a close race. I think Harrell does deserve a token invite (I feel Shonn Greene does too, but when your team is 8-4 in these days of the heisman, it matters not what you do on the field.

[Ziachild007]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you get invited based on the number of votes you are going to get? The vast majority of these 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes seemingly will be going to the 3 that will be invited. Should be a close race. I think Harrell does deserve a token invite (I feel Shonn Greene does too, but when your team is 8-4 in these days of the heisman, it matters not what you do on the field.

 

Fair enough on the votes deal. But this is the problem I have with it:

 

“They’re going to tell him on a Wednesday [he’s not going],’’ McNeill asked. “What about his family? They planned on coming up there.

 

Only four days before the ceremony is pretty weak. At least let hin go ahead and come even if he finishes fourth.

[GWPFFL BrianW]

A lot of voters vote late? Sorry only explanation I can think of. It's too bad, he's had a great career.

[Ziachild007]

A lot of voters vote late? Sorry only explanation I can think of. It's too bad, he's had a great career.

 

At least I will get to see his last game. Just got some tix to the Cotton Bowl today.

[theprofessor]

I think there will be another surprise on Saturday as Bradford will walk to the podium to receive his trophy.

[polksalet]

It is already predetermined that Tebow will win the Heisman, so why is Bradford or McCoy going either ?

 

because Bradford is an Indian and McCoy is a queer.

[polksalet]

At least I will get to see his last game. Just got some tix to the Cotton Bowl today.

 

Tech will get skull dragged

[theprofessor]

I think there will be another surprise on Saturday as Bradford will walk to the podium to receive his trophy.

 

Another example of why they call me "The Professor"

[Double Agent]

It is already predetermined that Tebow will win the Heisman, so why is Bradford or McCoy going either ?

[Sgt Ryan]

I think there will be another surprise on Saturday as Bradford will walk to the podium to receive his trophy.

 

Everything I read, he was the favorite, and won 4 of 6 regions.

[Sgt Ryan]

Either way, Harrell should have been there. There is no reason he isnt deserving to be amongst those 3.

[theprofessor]

All 3 were very deserving. Tebow had more 1st place votes but Bradford got it mostly because of his 2nd place votes. Great class of college QB's. Tebow will win the award that really counts though!

[BigMikeinNY]

It is already predetermined that Tebow will win the Heisman, so why is Bradford or McCoy going either ?

 

 

Swing and a miss

[BS Miscreant]

HEISMAN VOTING POINTS

 

1. Sam Bradford 1,726

 

2. Colt McCoy 1,604

 

3. Tim Tebow 1,575

 

Graham Harrell received like 200 or so points. That's why he wasn't there. Good year? Yes, but it's very clear why he wasn't in NY this weekend.

[Ziachild007]

HEISMAN VOTING POINTS

 

1. Sam Bradford 1,726

 

2. Colt McCoy 1,604

 

3. Tim Tebow 1,575

 

Graham Harrell received like 200 or so points. That's why he wasn't there. Good year? Yes, but it's very clear why he wasn't in NY this weekend.

 

I still say its BS to let a guy know 4 days before the event that hes not invited. So he goes and only gets 200. Then he is only the 4th best player in college rather than the best. I don't think that would be embarassing at all.

[theeohiostate]

Swing and a miss

 

 

 

Tebow recieved the most 1st place votes , and the most 3rd place votes. Seems he was the best candidate, but regional bias reared it's ugly teeth in yet another Heisman race. Surprising, huh ?

[wildcat2334]

Tebow recieved the most 1st place votes , and the most 3rd place votes. Seems he was the best candidate, but regional bias reared it's ugly teeth in yet another Heisman race. Surprising, huh ?

 

 

let it go damn.

 

Bradford is a very deserving Heisman winner and anyone who says otherwise is an absolute fool.

 

What say you?

[Trojanmojo]

let it go damn.

 

Bradford is a very deserving Heisman winner and anyone who says otherwise is an absolute fool.

 

What say you?

 

Having seen all 3 play a few times this year, I would go with Bradford with McCoy a strong #2. Tebow wasn't that great this year IMO...Good, but he was better last season. Props to Tebow for getting his team to the title game but Bradford should take the hardware this year.

[darin3]

I still say its BS to let a guy know 4 days before the event that hes not invited. So he goes and only gets 200. Then he is only the 4th best player in college rather than the best. I don't think that would be embarassing at all.

I agree that it was BS but I did hear that a good majority of the voters waited until the latest possible date to submit their picks ... something unique to this season. That certainly could have been a factor in this decision to not invite him to the ceremony.