What Makes a Heisman?

Here are some quick facts about recent Heisman Trophy winners:

• Since the advent of the BCS (after the '98 regular season), only 1 HT winner didn't play in a BCS game. (Ricky Williams '98, the first year of the BCS)
• In that same time period, only 3 HT winners did not play for the National Championship. (Williams '98, Ron Dayne '99, Carson Palmer '02)
• Since 2000, 6 of the 7 HT winners were quarterbacks, with Reggie Bush '05 being the only exception.
• 4 of the 7 runners-up in that same span were QBs.
• Palmer ('02) was the only HT winner in that same seven year span from a team that lost 2+ games. USC's 2nd loss came on October 5th of that year.

Here is a stat comparison of the QBs who have won the HT since 2000:

Year	QB	Comp. %	Pass YDs	Pass TDs	INTs	Rush YDs	Rush TDs
2000	Weinke	61.7%	4167	33	11	-97	1
2001	Crouch	53.9%	1572	7	11	1229	18
2002	Palmer	63.2%	3942	33	10	-122	4
2003	White	61.6%	3846	40	10	-150	1
2004	Leinart	65.3%	3322	33	6	-44	3
2006	Smith	67.0%	2507	30	5	233	1
2007	Ryan*	59.2%	3940	28	12	-60	0

*Projected 2007 stats over a 12 game season

What does this all mean? It means that #12's stats are indeed Heisman-caliber. Here is what needs to happen for him to win the thing:

• BC Needs to keep winning. 1 loss probably ends his chances, 2 losses and he's out of the running for sure.
• Improve the completion %. This is on the receivers too but voters don't care. This 3-4 game stretch should help.
• Increase the TDs. Again, now's the time to do it. However, between the dropped pass right before the first TD Saturday night and the fumble on the second drive he lost 2 potential TDs. I am not worried about this stat at all as long as the team is scoring.
• Make sure the INTs don't go up.
• A rushing TD or two would not hurt