Are the Non-BCS student athletes not credible to be considered for the Heisman Trophy? However, they are credible enough to recruit and offer student athlete scholarships to. At the NCAA level of amateur athletics within the FBS level for football, a large number of student-athletes are recruited and provided the opportunity to earn scholarships and compete for prestigious universities and colleges. Thus, bringing the possibility of accolades, awards, wins, exposure and increase financial rewards to support the athletic department and institution. The more predominant offensive players are significantly selected for the candidacy for the prestigious Heisman Trophy yearly, with the rare defensive player earning the opportunity be considered as a candidate for the same trophy.
During the recent years there were slight increases of Non-BCS student-athletes considered as candidates to be finalists for voting; Kellen Moore (Boise State) Case Kennum (Houston), Andy Dalton (TCU), Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and Nate Davis (Ball State) to name a few that were selected as finalists. However, the historic review of the 78-year presentation of the Heisman Trophy has been handed to significantly more BCS programs student athletes. Of the 78 presentations of the Heisman Trophy, 65 or 83.3% were BCS program student athletes. The remaining 13 Heisman Trophies were Non-BCS program student athletes. The last time a Non-BCS program student athlete received this prestigious award was 22-years ago to Ty Detmer from BYU in 1990 and the previous year in 1989 to Andre Ware from Houston. Prior to those two successive Non-BCS student athletes winning the Heisman, there was a longer drought for a Non-BCS winner. 25-years previous in 1963, Roger Staubach from Navy won the Heisman Trophy. If I am not mistaken those 3 Heisman winners led their teams to undefeated seasons prior their post season bowl games. Currently an undefeated Non-BCS team in a single season or consecutive seasons is still NOT enough to win the Heisman Trophy as a Non-BCS student athlete, recent cases in point that support this are Kellen Moore from Boise State and Case Kennum from Houston.
I am not stating that the previous winners did not earn the Heisman. There were some recent Non-BCS student athletes who should have earned the Heisman Trophy based upon the mission of the award, their individual performance, teams overall regular season record and national exposure that they brought to their institutions. The review of the historic Heisman winners significantly indicates is that for ANY Non-BCS student athlete to receive the award they MUST significantly outperform ALL BCS student-athletes which receives significantly more television and newspaper media exposure. These Non-BCS student-athletes are credible enough to recruit and play at the top level of college football for the NCAA in the FBS, but not credible enough to be selected as the Heisman Trophy winner. Their important enough to their team to lead them to wins, limited national media exposure, bowl games and more than significantly prosper at the next level of play.Without some of these Non-BCS program student athletes, we as a college football audience and media would NEVER be talking about their Non-BCS programs success such as; Boise State, Nevada, Utah, Houston, BYU and Louisiana Tech to name a few. With length of time passing between Non-BCS winners fast approaching, when will the next Non-BCS student athlete receive the prestigious Heisman Trophy or will it never happen again.