NCAA Football: Johnny Football Wins the Heisman, Coaching Carousel Continues
After months of speculation with contenders coming and going, on Saturday the Heisman Trust announced this year’s winner: Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. The redshirt freshman worked his way into the conversation as the season progressed and with three years to go for the player, you have to ask, what’s next for this guy?
As teams prepare for the bowling season, schools are trying to fill their vacancies. On Saturday, Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville quickly said yes to Cincinnati after Butch Jones ran to take the Tennessee job. Rumors are now swirling that Bob Petrino has expressed interest in the Arkansas State job.
Manziel Gets Historic Heisman Win
Heisman Winner Johnny Manziel
Last Monday evening the Heisman Trust announced three finalists for this year’s Heisman. Manziel was joined by seniors Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, the sentimental favorite and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein. At the end, Manziel was the clear winner with his 474 first-place votes and 2,029 points from the media and a former winners voting panel.
For Manziel, he made Heisman history as the first freshman to win the coveted prize but Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson came close in 2004; he finished second to winning USC quarterback Matt Leinart.
In Manziel’s first season as the Aggies field general, he had to first beat out the competition to get the starting role and his first two games were a little bumpy. But he finished strong, very strong. Manziel broke 2010 Heisman winner Cam Newton’s SEC record with his 4,600 total yards (3,419 passing yards and 1,181 yards on the grounds). His team had a 10-2 record for season No. 1 in the competitive SEC conference and along the way, he led his team to a win over then No. 1 Alabama.
Manziel has said that was his Heisman moment.
While the second Heisman winner for the school, Texas A&M responded to Manziel’s win with a billboard in New York City’s Times Square. The ad read, “They call him Johnny Heisman. The 12th Man stands a little taller today as we congratulate Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel, winner of the 2012 Heisman Trophy.”
You’ll also see full-page ads in national newspapers and your favorite sports magazines.
Two questions now linger: What’s next for Manziel and will he win a second Heisman? First up #9 Texas A&M (-4.5, 71.5 o/u) will face #11 Oklahoma on Jan. 4 for the Cotton Bowl.
As for the Heisman, there’s only been one two-time winner, Ohio State running back Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975.
But for Manziel, he has another goal he’d like to achieve. He said via ESPN, “I have to be the guy who starts the team’s motor for a run at the national title next year. That’s our goal. “If more awards come, they come.”
Coaching Carousel
Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville
Over the weekend, the NCAA coaching carousel continued thanks to Friday’s exit of Cincinnati’s Butch Jones.
The coach jumped over to Tennessee and Cincinnati immediately began their hunt to fill the void.
It didn’t take long as the school’s AD Whit Babcock phoned Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville on Saturday; the two were former colleagues at Auburn. Tuberville said he’d think about it and came back with a yes.
During his three seasons at Texas Tech, Tuberville had a 20-17 record.
Neither Jones nor Tuberville will coach their respective teams for their upcoming bowl games.
Texas Tech (-12.5, 57 o/u) will play Minnesota in the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 28 and Cincinnati (-7.5, 59 o/u) will play Duke in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27.
In other coaching news, former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has expressed interest in the Arkansas State job. Petrino was out this season after his hiring scandal at Arkansas. The team is looking for a new coach after Gus Malzahn jumped ship after one season to return to Auburn as its head coach.
