The popular state motto declares, “Stars fell on Alabama.” But on Jan. 7, will Alabama’s star fall?
On Saturday night, Mark Ingram became the first player from the University of Alabama to win the Heisman Trophy, choking back tears as he delivered a wonderful acceptance speech. Ingram is the third sophomore in a row to win the bronzed stiff-arm, joining Tim Tebow in 2007 and Sam Bradford in 2008.
But Ingram also joins another list, one with a rough reputation. The Heisman Trophy has served as a 25-pound bulls-eye for winners who play in the BCS title game. Now, it falls on Ingram and the Crimson Tide to buck the trend.
Including Ingram, eight of the last 10 Heisman winners have played for the national championship in the same season. Of the other seven, only Matt Leinert went on to win the title game.
This includes a laundry list of poor performances by Heisman winners and their teams. Last year, Bradford threw two picks in a 24-14 loss to Florida. 2006 winner Troy Smith was sacked five times (also against the Gators) in a 41-14 pasting. Jason White (2003) completed just 13 of 37 passes in a 21-14 loss to LSU. An army of other Heisman winners (Reggie Bush in 2005, Eric Crouch in 2001, Chris Weinke in 2000) followed incredible seasons with mediocre play in the title game.
In many of these cases, a fellow Heisman finalist (Tebow in 2008, Vince Young in 2005, Josh Heupel in 2000) was on the other sideline. So when Ingram and Alabama face two-time Heisman finalist Colt McCoy and Texas at the Rose Bowl, history — and a rather infamous trend — will be on the line again.
