Nesbitt4Heisman.com? A great idea that, alas, won’t pan out
I yield to no one in my admiration for Joshua Nesbitt as a collegiate player. (No one, I tell you.) After the epic Florida State game last season I anointed him a folk hero. Last month I noted that I consider Nesbitt as valuable to Georgia Tech as any player is to any team on any campus. That said …
I don’t think he has a real shot at the Heisman.
Doing its job, the ace Tech sports information department is cranking the volume. It unveiled Nesbitt4Heisman.com today — he’s billed as “the most interesting player in college football” — and I applaud the effort. I also know this:
Only one pure option quarterback — Eric Crouch of Nebraska — has won the Heisman, and that was mostly because the 2001 season wasn’t overrun with greatness. (Rex Grossman of Florida finished second, Ken Dorsey of Miami third.)
The best option quarterback ever was Jack Mildren of Oklahoma. He should have won the 1971 Heisman, but he didn’t crack the top five. (Pat Sullivan of Auburn won, followed by Ed Marinaro of Cornell, Mildren’s OU teammate Greg Pruitt, Alabama’s Johnny Musso and Lydell Mitchell of Penn State.)
Tim Tebow was an option quarterback, sort of, but Tebow also threw for 3,286 yards in 2007, his Heisman-winning year. In two seasons as Tech’s starter, Nesbitt has passed for a total of 2,509 yards. He passed for 1,701 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2009, but not once in Tech’s 13 games did he attempt more than 16 passes and only once, against Mississippi State, did he complete as many as 10.
I know, I know. You Tech folks will say, “But the guy wins.” And I’m right there with you. But I know, having been one myself, how Heisman voters are: They can’t see every game, so they rely on highlights and numbers. Nesbitt’s passing numbers aren’t remarkable — he did, however, rush for 1,037 yards last season — and what he does for the Jackets doesn’t translate well on ESPN. (Think about it: How many times did the Worldwide Leader, which aired the game, replay his astonishing snatch of the ball from Florida State linebacker Nigel Carr?)
As you know, I’m often wrong. I would love being wrong about Nesbitt and the Heisman. He’s a fine fellow and a tremendous ballplayer. But I can’t see him winning the thing. Heck, I think he’ll do well to crack the top five.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
169 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
August 31st, 2010
2:10 pm
If Nesbitt gets 1,500 yard rushing and 1,500 yards passing, and Georgia Tech is ranked in the top 2 in December, he gets invited to the presentation. If Blaine Gabbert of Mizzou or Ryan Mallett duplicate their stats from last year and have their teams in the top 2, they get invited. If, if, if…long odds against any of them.
Joey
August 31st, 2010
2:10 pm
What’s it gonna take for you to realize that your asinine “shtick” is not funny to anyone?
Joey
August 31st, 2010
2:14 pm
Rob, that makes Ingram more of a cinch to repeat. ESPN is so hot for Saban, they will gush about how Ingram “rushed for 175 yards with a surgically repaired knee!”
PJ ain’t gonna kiss ESPN’s ass, so Nesbitt’s chances are slim.
JB
August 31st, 2010
2:16 pm
Great guy. great for that system……one dimensional with no forward pass in his game= league honors only.
Delbert D.
August 31st, 2010
2:21 pm
Nesbitt’s completion percentage was low at 46.3%, lowest of any of the 31 starting QBs returning from the to 5 conferences. However, his yards per attempt, 10.5 was #1, ahead of #2 Tyrod Taylor at 9.5 and Ryan Mallett at 9.0. His TDs per attempt were 3rd at 6.17%, behind Russell Wilson and Ryan Mallett.
Was it all due to Thomas? This year will provide that answer.
db
August 31st, 2010
2:23 pm
Year one = had to learn the system.
Year two = had to have somebody block for him.
Year three = The Year!
Nesbitt for Heisman!
&
Go Jackets!
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
August 31st, 2010
2:34 pm
Joey, you probably know best. Russ is leaving now.
Yella Jackets
August 31st, 2010
2:36 pm
I do believe Nesbitt has an outside chance at the heisman. But there is another candidate down on the Flats this year…the Boz Wilkins! He is a dark horse but I think he has an outside shot to shake up the Heisman race. The Boz was in my backyard in May and I clocked him unofficially at 5.8 40(no wind). He is a game changer on defense and could possibly be used on kick returns and some short yardage situations. This guy has a nose for the ball and toenails that allow him to the reach the edge. Due to his lack of hygiene, he is virtually unblockable. The Boz for Heisman 2010. “Badamn, badamn I’ll see you New York city!”
JM
August 31st, 2010
2:38 pm
I am glad the GTAA is putting forth a good effort. Any program worth its salt should always hype its best players for national awards.
HugoStiglitz
August 31st, 2010
2:40 pm
Its good to do this campaign just to get Nesbitt some attention but I would agree, an option QB is not going to win the Heisman. The Heisman is about flashy pro style numbers. Nesbitt will never put up those kind of numbers. To even be considered he would have to throw for 3000 yds and rush for 1500 and GT would have to be undefeated. Its not really fair, but then again when has the Heisman ever been fair. Its really just a popularity contest.
Mark Bradley
August 31st, 2010
2:47 pm
ACC FAN, the reason I didn’t offer kudos is because you didn’t claim your “first” right away. Some folks get huffy about the “first” business, and I try not to embarrass anyone.
404
August 31st, 2010
2:51 pm
In 2007, Florida went 9-3 with losses to: Auburn, LSU, and UGA.
Here’s a breakdown of the 50 TDs Tebow “accounted” for 2007.
1. Western Ky: 4 (1 TD run from inside opponent 5 yard line)
2. Troy: 5 (1 TD run from inside opponent 5 yard line)
3. Tenn: 4 (2 TD runs from inside opponeent 5 yard line)
4. Ole Miss: 4 (2 TDs run from inside opponent 10 yard line)
5. Auburn: 1
6. LSU: 3 (1 TD run from inside opponenet 10 yard line)
7. Kentucky: 5 (1 TD run from insude opponent 5 yard line)
8. UGA: 3 (2 TDs from runs insided opponent 5 yard line)
9. Vandy: 5 (2 TDs runs from inside opponenet 5 yard line)
10. USC: 7 (5 TDs runs from inside opponent 5 yard line)
11. FAU: 4 (1 TD run form insdie opponent 5 yard line)
12. FSU: 5 (1 TD run from inside opponent 5 yard line)
Here’s a summary of Tebow’s 50 TDs in 2007:
13 TDs came against cupcakes: WestKy, Troy, and FAU.
5 TDs against Kentucky(7-5)
5 TDs against Vandy(5-7)
5 TDs against USC(6-6)
5 TDs against FSU(7-5)
Of Tebows 17 rushing TDs, 15 came from runs
inside the opponent 5 yard line.
Florida’s toughest 2007 games were:
1. Ole Miss
2. Auburn
3. LSU
4. UGA
Florida lost 3 of those 4.
And lost to Michigan in the Bowl game.
Talk about HYPE ?!?!?!?!
Tebow’s 2007 Heisman campaign was CLEARLY an orchestrated affair
simply to pad his TD stats.
Tebows 2007 stats were a joke.
1001110101010111001001010010
August 31st, 2010
2:56 pm
Superman no longer wears Tim Tebow pajamas.
Superman now wears Joshua Nesbitt pajamas.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
August 31st, 2010
2:59 pm
Speaking of “huffy” . . . Joey Bag of Doughnuts has insulted Russ, the Temporary Mascot and is trying to drive me away from the blog. He called me “a silly, repetitive, jackass.” At least he’s talking a$$ . . . and mine is painted thanks to creeps just like Joey. Is Joey a performer’s name? Circus boy, right?
GT BABY
August 31st, 2010
3:06 pm
kiss my arse Bradley!
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
August 31st, 2010
3:18 pm
It might be a blessing if he doesn’t get serious consideration, especially not needing to win it. The Heisman appears to be the kiss of death when it comes to the winner’s football career.
Johnson’s style of play at Tech does not provide Nesbitt with much to work with in terms of getting the Heisman voters excited.
Dontavius Supremo
August 31st, 2010
3:20 pm
While there are many of us who love Tech and football on the flats, most of the nation ignores Georgia Tech football along with other ACC football programs. Unfortunately, if you discount FSU, Miami and Boston College, ACC football is ignored completely.
gcs
August 31st, 2010
3:26 pm
Nesbitt For Heisman? HILARIOUS!
.
BigTimeTECHFan
August 31st, 2010
3:35 pm
Not only will he win it, they will change the name of the trophy from Heisman to “The Nesbitt” award. Trophy will be carved in his image.
Saint Simon
August 31st, 2010
3:40 pm
(((((((((((((((UGA 30 – GT 24)))))))))))))))))))))))
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
WE RUN THIS STATE!!!!!!!!
404
August 31st, 2010
3:49 pm
If GT goes 12-0, Nesbitt WILL get an invite to Heisman scenario.
No doubt whatsoever.
Gonna be R-E-A-L interesting if both,
Navy QB Ricky Dobbs…AND…
GT QB Joshua Nesbitt are BOTH invited.
It’d be the “Paul Johnson Show” for sure.
T3
August 31st, 2010
3:52 pm
404, well said.
Dobbs and Nesbitt are both from Georgia.
Dobbs is already considered a Heisman hopeful.
It would be some serious BS is Dobbs got an invite and Nesbitt didnt.
404
August 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
Dobbs > Tebow
gdawginkalamazoo
August 31st, 2010
3:57 pm
404, you won’t get any arguments regarding Tebows Heisman stats from this Bulldog. I would agree that if Tech is 11-1 that Nesbitt will probably get a look if his numbers are good.
what a joke
August 31st, 2010
3:58 pm
Anyone can creat a website, why don’t the tech geeks go ahead and have a website for National Champs too. WHAT A JOKE! Just because you guys had a GOOD year last year, all of a sudden you have Heisman hopeful Nesbitt. Not a chance!! C U IN CHAPEL HILL!
Regards,
Heels fan
gdawginkalamazoo
August 31st, 2010
4:00 pm
Nesbitt looks like that guy in the Dos Equis commercials. A bunch of women hangin around and he’s not doing anything with them.
Cluett Peabody
August 31st, 2010
4:02 pm
Mark – Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. You giving Nesbitt no chance to win the Heisman improved his chances by a factor of ten. Keep picking against GT and Nesbitt as you always are proven wrong when it comes to either. By the way, really enjoy your writing (blogs, column, post or whatever you call them these day.)
Cute Techies
August 31st, 2010
4:02 pm
Aww, you get one solid QB and you all the sudden think he is the best player in the country? You cannot play in the NFC West, I mean ACC, and be the best player. How’d he do against UGA? That is what I thought little brother.
Paul in RDU
August 31st, 2010
4:04 pm
Nice column Mark – you are correct about Joshua – great player but no chance at a Heisman
GT from SAV
August 31st, 2010
4:05 pm
Go Josh! You’re wrong Mark – the best option quarterback ever was Tracy Ham. Not even close.
Mark Bradley
August 31st, 2010
4:07 pm
OK, GT from SAV, you got me there.
Jack Mildren: Greatest Division I-A option quarterback.
Old Dawg
August 31st, 2010
4:10 pm
GT from SAV is correct. Ham was the best ever option QB was Ham. Not only did he run the option to perfect, he could throw the ball extremely well. He went on the have a hall of fame career in the CFL!
When I compare Ham to Nesbitt, they are even close … and Nesbitt operates in the same offense!
Mark Bradley
August 31st, 2010
4:10 pm
Thanks, Cluett Peabody. I just call them Bradley Bloviation. Seems to fit.
Nesbitt for Heisman???
August 31st, 2010
4:10 pm
Thanks for the laugh
BBBUUHHUUUWWWAAAHHHAAAHHHAA
and 30-24 and 73-66 and 8 of 9 and 60-39-5
Nesbitt for Heisman???
August 31st, 2010
4:11 pm
Trust me.
We Dawg fans are Nesbitt’s biggest supporters.
Keep him a douche U forever.
gdawginkalamazoo
August 31st, 2010
4:13 pm
They really should have closed captions on that video I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.
Nesbitt for Heisman???
August 31st, 2010
4:14 pm
Maybe the massengill.com cool splash of mediocrity trophy, but not the Heisman.
Dirty Jacket
August 31st, 2010
4:16 pm
What was the purpose of this article? Every GT fan knows Nesbitt’s shot at a Heisman are slim-to-none…why write a stupid article like this? So that in 5 months, when someone else wins it, you can write another retarded article about how you knew whomever it is will win, and then you will link back to this article? Get real.
Booby Dodd
August 31st, 2010
4:17 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHHAha…..This is a joke right?? This guy is a Snap & Pop in a bucket of firecrackers!
Paul in RDU
August 31st, 2010
4:18 pm
what a joke @3:58PM
GT will be in Chapel Hill on 9/18. The question is will Austin, Quinn, Sturdivant, Carter, Burney, Williams and Curry (aka most of your D) and Little (aka your deep threat) be there?
But don’t worry – TJ will be behind center – he’s starting this week against LSU.
Booby Dodd
August 31st, 2010
4:20 pm
2011 NFL Draft 5th supplemental round to the Oakland Raiders is………..Joshua Nesbitt!!!
kmh1958
August 31st, 2010
4:21 pm
NO NO NO and HELL NO!
BG
August 31st, 2010
4:24 pm
Nesbitt for heisman? Now that is the funniest thing I have heard all year!
Alabama Jack
August 31st, 2010
4:26 pm
So, uh, how long, you been working on the Pulitzer prize acceptance speech, Mark ??
gt45
August 31st, 2010
4:29 pm
It’s a way long shot, but I would never bet against this young man! When we do what I think we will do this year, I believe he will move way up on the recognition board!
Ed
August 31st, 2010
4:36 pm
Mark,
Thanks you have just given the technation our favorite thing. An objective that everyone says is impossible.
Mark Bradley
August 31st, 2010
4:40 pm
And I wish you the best, Ed. I’d love to see Mr. Nesbitt take the trophy. I’m serious about that. He’s a great football player.
Angus
August 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
I’m late to the party, but Nesbitt deserves to be on the list just as much as Terrell Pryor, who is on everyone’s short list.
Bark Madly
August 31st, 2010
5:08 pm
Mark, you cannot possibly be serious about Nesbitt even sniffing a chance at the Heisman award. Good athlete? Yes. Tough competitor? Sure. Fun to watch? Absolutely. Accurate passer? Mmmmm….nope. GT is a fun team to watch but they cannot win their bowl games. Awful, awful bowl game record. Now if CPJ is cut from the same cloth as Urban Crier, he might just buy into the Heisman hype and try to get Nesbitt to throw more passes this year to improve his chances of being nominated. Think about it, Mark. Go out onto your deck, open up a nice, cold Diet Coke and just ponder the chances of CPJ changing his offense into a pass-happy, quick TD squad just to get Nesbitt a nomination. Pardon my use of bad grammar but it just ain’t gonna happen and neither is a chance that Nesbitt will be invited to the Heisman ceremony. Period.
Boses
August 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
Two things: As a Georgia grad, that is a great commercial. Second, some of those girls behind Nesbitt must be UGA students because they are awfully pretty.