The Heisman curse has plagued seven out of the last nine Heisman Trophy winners, meaning seven out of the last nine Heisman Trophy winners lost their bowl games. Furthermore, seven of those last nine bowl games have been for the national title.
The latest Heisman winner, Alabama sophomore running back Mark Ingram, was essentially out of Heisman consideration until his performance against Florida in the SEC championship game when he ran for 113 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and racked up 76 receiving yards.
While Ingram played his way into being the leading Heisman vote-getter on national television, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy apparently played himself out of it and finished third.
Against Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game, McCoy went 20–36 for 184 yards with three interceptions and no TD passes. He did manage a rushing touchdown despite ending the day with -20 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
Texas barely won the game that determined whether they would be playing for the national championship or not.
However, with the Heisman curse looming over past winners and the current winner, it may have been a blessing in disguise for McCoy and the Longhorns.
History of the Curse
The myth and folklore surrounding the Heisman Curse is based on a pattern that began in 2000 with Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke.
Weinke and the Seminoles played against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and lost 13–2. Oklahoma was named national champion after the victory.
In 2001, Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch proudly accepted the Heisman Trophy and then his team proceeded to lose to Miami 37–14 in the Rose Bowl. Miami became the national champion.
The year 2002 was one of two years out of the last nine that the Heisman Trophy winner’s team actually won. USC, led by QB Carson Palmer, beat Iowa in the Orange Bowl 38–17, although it wasn’t for the national title.
The other year with no curse was 2004 when QB Matt Leinart and USC beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl 55–19. That year’s USC team was named the national champion.
In 2003, Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner Jason White was unable to will his team to victory in a 21–14 loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl. LSU indeed became national champion after the victory.
The 2005 Rose Bowl was perhaps the one of the best games ever played. Heisman runner-up Vince Young led Texas to a thrilling 41–38 victory over Heisman winner running back Reggie Bush and USC. Young’s Longhorns had won the national championship game.
In 2006, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith continued the unlucky streak of Heisman winners when his team lost to Florida 41–14 in the BCS National Championship game.
Heisman winner Tim Tebow and Florida lost to Michigan 41–35 in the Capital One Bowl in 2007.
Last year, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford beat out Florida quarterback Tim Tebow for the Heisman Trophy. However, it was Tebow’s Gators who won the BCS National Championship game 24–14.
After winning the Heisman this year, Ingram said, “It doesn’t phase me at all.”
“Some people, when they have success, they let it get to their head. My team is looking forward to it, I’m looking forward to it, and I will do whatever I can to not let them down.”
Ingram is clearly focused on not becoming the latest victim of the Heisman curse by leading a Crimson Tide running game that ranks 10th nationally, averaging 215.8 yards per game.
However, the Longhorn defense ranks first in the country with 62.9 rushing yards allowed and third in total yards allowed with 251.8 per game.
McCoy, on the other hand, is without a Heisman Trophy but has other awards to his name—the Maxwell Award for the nation’s best all-around player and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
The Tide defense will not let McCoy pass on them easily. They are the best scoring defense, averaging 11.0 points a game, and second in total defense with only 241.8 yards per game allowed.
The chess match between legends Alabama coach Nick Saban and Texas coach Mack Brown will be something that all young aspiring coaches need to watch.
Brown said, “This is not about who had the best season. This isn’t even about the history. This isn’t even about who has the best team. It’s about who’s going to play the best for three and a half hours.”
Saban echoed much of the same thoughts, “I don’t care what award they won or how many All-Americans we have. None of that stuff’s going to matter when the game starts. It’s going to be how we play.”
Saban obviously hopes that whoever won the Heisman Trophy won’t matter because if it does matter and the curse strikes again, Mark Ingram and Alabama could be in for a long night.
