Interesting article from the Bleacher Report making the case for Gerhart to win the Heisman especially since he deserves the glory now, because he won't be allowed to shine the NFL at tailback because he is white. Probably the most direct assertion of the injustice I've seen from the media to date.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/304825-2009-heisman-watch-the-case-for-stanfords-toby-gerhart
Featured Columnist
2009 Heisman Watch: The Case for Stanford's Toby Gerhart by kevin roberts
Kevin Roberts Senior Writer, Featured Columnist
Senior Writer Written on December 08, 2009
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Who SHOULD win the 2009 Heisman?
Colt McCoy Tim Tebow Mark Ingram Toby Gerhart Ndamukong Suh vote to see results Toby Gerhart isn't your typical Heisman candidate. Then again, as a white running back playing in the Pac-10 and dominating even the best of defenses, he's not your "typical" anything.
We could go on for days about the other four candidates going up against Gerhart for Saturday's college honor, but why waste precious time? Why dissect something that is as simple as eye-popping numbers, reviving a dead football school, and making the Pac-10 more interesting than it would have been, had Gerhart not existed.
Why pass on Gerhart, and deny him his one chance at greatness , his one chance at immortality?
Because, let's face it, biases aside, this guy isn't doing anything in the pro's. He won't be drafted in the first round (even though he should be), and scouts and "experts" will tear him apart with countless amounts of white stereo-types.
Hey, that Gerhart is a heck of a bruiser, imagine what he'd be like blocking for Michael Turner.
Boy, that Stanford kid has some quick feet to go with an abusive, strong frame. He'd make a heck of a tight end.
By the books , Gerhart doesn't have the flashy or extraordinary athleticism of a Darren McFadden or an Adrian Peterson. But does that make him any less of a running back?
All the guy has done is rush for 1,700-plus yards in a relatively strong Pac-10 conference, led the previously average Stanford Cardinal to a 6-3 conference record, and a solid 8-4 overall record, which will culminate in a bowl appearance against Oklahoma.
The question is not whether or not Gerhart's assistance in Stanford's rise is worthy of some solid recognition. By now, that should go without saying.
Now, it comes down to whether or not his numbers and his affect on his team match up against the other Top-Four players in the country.
But in that same breath, Gerhart can't help who he plays for. What he can help, however, is how he played against stiff competition, and the way he dominated defenses.
Gerhart failed to top 100 yards rushing in just two of his 12 games this season, while never falling below 80.
He piled on three games of 200-plus yards rushing, while scoring multiple touchdowns in nine games.
The most impressive of his feats, however, is the way he played down the stretch, when it mattered most, as the Cardinal knocked off Arizona State, Oregon, USC, and Notre Dame.
In his final five games (Stanford was 4-1), Gerhart topped 120 rushing yards in each game, while scoring a ridiculous 14 rushing touchdowns.
Gerhart literally put Stanford on his back, topping 27 carries in four of his last five contests, while never dropping his yards per carry below 4.6.
He was consistent, he was dominant, and he proved himself worthy to be mentioned among the best players in college football in 2009.
Again, even with all the gaudy stats, the Stanford uprising, and the fan support, the question remains: Where does this widely unknown white running back stack up against the Tim Tebow's, Colt McCoy's, and Mark Ingram's of the world?
If we're eliminating biases, not giving too much credit to other players for their superior programs, coaching, and supporting casts, he easily stands tall ahead of them all.
Don't let this writer confuse you. Colts McCoy's 3,500-plus passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns (not to mention a 12-0 Texas squad) definitely warrant consideration.
Believe it; McCoy is a great player, and a future NFL star. But he's not the best player in college football this year. And quite arguably, if he's not, then neither is Tim Tebow.
And as dominant as Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been lately, he just doesn't measure up to the value and presence both Gerhart and Alabama's running back, Mark Ingram, bring to the table.
Ingram, also extremely worthy of high praise and a Heisman vote, has rushed for 1,500-plus yards and 15 scores on the season, while helping Alabama to a win over Florida last week, en route to an impressive 12-0 record and a spot in the National Championship game against McCoy's Texas.
What better than to have Ingram and McCoy finished first and second in the Heisman race, then, right?
Maybe that will happen, and perhaps both players have the right to be the Top-Two vote-getters in the league. They definitely have the talent, and their team's success would quite likely be nowhere near what it is without them.
But if we're being honest, Stanford would have struggled to win 4-5 games this season if it weren't for Gerhart.
His 1,700-plus rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns say so. His dominant efforts against USC, Oregon, and Notre Dame prove his worth.
You can say Tebow gets the benefit of the doubt for a weak season, and is still the best player in the country. That's believable.
You can say either Ingram or McCoy get the nod because they have the numbers and their team's are battling for a national title. I'll buy that.
But what you can't say, is that Toby Gerhart isn't good enough, doesn't have the numbers, or doesn't deserve to have his name called.
Because if there's one thing that is irrefutable in this Heisman race, and in fact, this entire NCAA season, it's that Gerhart is worthy .