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December 14, 2009

George Bremer: Husker should Suh

Nebraska defensive tackle was the most dominant player in college football this year

A sophomore has won the Heisman Trophy for the third year in a row. Many will call this progress.

But true progress could have come Saturday.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was the most dominant player in college football this year.

The numbers are simply incredible. The 6-foot-4, 302-pounder has run a 4.89-second 40-yard dash.

He recorded 82 tackles this season, a good number for a linebacker let alone a defensive tackle. He had 12 sacks, 24 quarterback hurries and 23 tackles for loss. He also broke up 10 passes, intercepted one and, just for good measure, blocked three kicks.

He won the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy — each of which declared him either the nation’s best lineman or defensive player.

Heisman voters are told to choose the nation’s “Most Outstanding Player” to hoist the trophy.

This year’s winner, Alabama running back Mark Ingram, failed even to be recognized as the best player at his own position by at least one voting bloc. Stanford’s Toby Gerhart, who finished as the Heisman runner-up, won the Doak Walker Award this year.

Ingram gained 1,562 yards and scored 15 touchdowns on the season. Gerhart gained 1,736 yards and scored 26 touchdowns.

Ingram won the Heisman almost entirely because of the Southeastern Conference title game win over Florida. Many voters likely held off making a final selection until the championship games were played. There was no clear front-runner among offensive players, and the final margin — 28 points — was the closest in the award’s 75-year history.

Ingram carried 28 times for 113 yards, caught two passes for 76 more and scored three touchdowns in the Tide’s 32-13 rout of the Gators.

Later that evening, Suh sacked Texas QB Colt McCoy — who finished third in the Heisman voting — four-and-a-half times in the Big 12 title game. But Nebraska lost 13-12 on a last-second field goal.

Many outlets will tout Ingram’s win as further progress for sports’ most recognizable individual honor. They’re all wrong.

Yes, Ingram is the first player in Alabama’s storied history to win the bronze stiff-arming trophy. That is significant, if not more than a little unbelievable.

But Suh would have shattered one of college football’s most daunting glass ceilings. Many have heralded Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson as the first defensive player to win the Heisman. But Woodson returned punts and even played a little wide receiver when he won in 1997.

Suh should have become the first player to win the award without playing a glory position. That would have given hope to players all across the nation.

But, I suppose, if college football was interested in common sense and equal opportunity Congress wouldn’t need to try to shove a playoff system down its throat.

Contact George Bremer: 640-4831, george.bremer@heraldbulletin.com.

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