The Heisman is a clubbish little award, closely guarded, often maligned. Many of the recipients have been notorious flops in the pros, and some, upon further review, were team awards given to the quarterback by default. Only eight of the 74 winners have went on to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The roster is dotted with pedestrian quarterbacks from winning teams, and only a few times has a dominant defensive player even inched into the top five. Last year Ndamukong Suh was the first defensive linemen invited to New York since Warren Sapp in 1994.
But this year the Heisman voters have a unique opportunity to stand up for principle. With the leading candidates under a cloud, they could restore the integrity of their award with a bold stroke. You want integrity? Give the award to Nate Costa, a courageous athlete with heart, resilience, and unquestioned character, a invaluable contributor on a team that's been in the top ten for much of his career and may win this year's national title. Costa's career stats stand up pretty well for a dual-threat quarterback in a part-time role:
Passing: comp 50 att 71 (70.4%) 556 yards 3 td 1 int Rushing: att 43 yds 195 ypc 4.5 3 tds
Few players have had an individual play as clutch as The Hold, Costa's season-on-the-line-in-two-ticks-of-the-clock recovery of an errant snap in the closing seconds of last year's Arizona game. He saved the Rose Bowl with his steady hands under ultimate pressure.
Costa doesn't have many starts, but he is one of the most beloved and respected athletes in NCAA football.
If the Heisman voters have reservations about the fitness of the top candidates, Costa would be a worthy compromise. The award is for the most outstanding athlete in college football. Costa is outstanding in all the ways that matter most.
Beloved post.
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