Digging into the numbers: what's our margin of error?

Well, folks, as we realized from the beginning, this is a barnburner of a H------ Trophy race. In an effort to sort out just how close, we've gone back and looked at all the past years using our current methodology. (We have, of course, made some major and minor tweaks over the years.)

A number of folks have asked us: what's the margin of error? And that's hard to answer. After all, a typical "margin of error" you'd get on a public poll starts with the assumption that you've got a random sample of voters. That's not the case here. We've got a self-selected group of people who choose to publicly reveal their votes. There are all kinds of reasons that people would choose to conceal or reveal their votes that would affect the outcome of the projection. It hasn't been a major factor in the past, but it's something to watch for.

Using our current methodology, we have - on average - projected the finalists' vote total to within ±4.13%. Over the last five years, that's dropped to within ±3.73%.

When it comes to projecting the vote total of the winner, over the last seven years, we've been within ±4.99% - while over the last five years, that's dropped to within ±2.58%.

As for second place, over seven years, ±4.03% - and over five years, ±3.75%. For third, over seven years, ±4.35% - and over five years, ±5.59%.

We also analyzed the GAP between the winner and the runner-up. It appears that every year except 2004, we overestimated the gap. In other words, our numbers had a larger win than the actual totals. (That's not too surprising - after all, voters who vote for the favorites are more likely to disclose their vote than ones who vote for long-shots and underdogs.) In 2008, we projected a 5.7% win for Bradford, and it was 4.4%. In 2007, however, we projected a 19.4% win for Tebow, and it was only 9.2%.

In general, over the last seven years, we've overestimated the gap between first and second by 4.23%. In the last five years, 2.58%. This has huge implications in a year where we're looking at a projected win of somewhere between 2-4%.

Of course, not every year is the same. We've had varying numbers of ballots over the years - that's why we're looking at the five-year number. (In 2002, for example, we only had 127 ballots - and we overprojected Carson Palmer's vote total by a whopping 14.2% and his 1/2 gap by 16.3%, though we got lucky and he won anyway. In our first year, we probably had some selection bias - as it was a bunch of USC fans that were helping us.)

In addition, the vote distributions will be different in three-finalist years than in five-finalist years. So it's not always an apples-to-apples comparison.

Two technical notes to emphasize: Again, these numbers come from using our current methodology to analyze old voter pools. We're not interested in retroactively changing our old projections and taking credit - just analyzing the value of the projection system we're using now.

Also, these ± numbers are a better way to evaluate our accuracy over the years than the way we've been doing it. After all, if you're +5 one year and -5 the next, you shouldn't claim that average is perfect (instead, you're averaging a ±5%.) Thanks to a couple of our site commenters for bringing that to our attention.

Here's a PDF with all the numbers if you want to nerd out on the numbers with me.

Kari Chisholm | December 11, 2009 | Comment on This Post (65 so far)
Permalink: Digging into the numbers: what's our margin of error?

Comments

SPONSORED LINK

SUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Posted by: Suh For Heisman | Dec 11, 2009 12:08:45 PM

If either Gerhart or Ingram had better numbers the next two top running backs COMBINED, would there be any question as to who would win the H------?

So Suh has won every award given to the top defensive player in the nation. If you ADD the numbers accumulated by the next two best defensive tackles (remember, apples to apples here), Terrence Cody and Gerald McCoy, Suh would still have more tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, quarterback hurries, passes defensed, interceptions, fumbles forced, and blocked kicks.

I definitely don't think that stats tell the whole story. To truly understand how dominant (or how average) a player is, you need to personally view his entire body of work. I'm only posting this in reply to people who have been mocking the statistical accomplishments of Suh by comparing his numbers to linebacker numbers, or selecting the stats from a limited subset of games.

Posted by: Doublenickel | Dec 11, 2009 12:16:24 PM

Thanks for this breakdown, Kari. It answered a ton of the questions being posed in the comments sections throughout the site. Looks like this race is still open for at least three players... I can't wait for Saturday night!

Posted by: Doublenickel | Dec 11, 2009 12:18:49 PM

So, doublenickel, Suh's the best DT. No question. But you are definitely comparing apples to oranges if you're trying to distinguish his stats from an RB's stats.

Posted by: William | Dec 11, 2009 12:23:42 PM

So I thought you'd have the projection this morning? Aren't you at least going to take a guess?? :)

Posted by: NobodysFan | Dec 11, 2009 12:24:09 PM

"So I thought you'd have the projection this morning? Aren't you at least going to take a guess?? :)"

Well, I'm pulling together the morning's numbers now. For me, the most important thing was to figure out how close is "too close to call."

Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Dec 11, 2009 12:26:58 PM

I wil call it: Suh!

Wagers anyone!

Posted by: Kathie Gonzales | Dec 11, 2009 12:38:11 PM

Doublenickel, While I would not argue that T. Cody should be considered among the most valuable D-linemen, trying to us Cody's stats to justify Suh's dominance is misplaced. Cody is not a stat machine.....he's a huge mass that eats up blockers so that the linebackers have open lanes to the ball carriers. So if you want to make the statement that Suh (the undisputed best d-lineman) has better stats than the 2nd & 3rd best d-linemen combined, try using the stats of the 2nd and 3rd most productive (stat wise) d-linemen to make your arguement. Suh to Cody is most definitely apples to oranges.

Posted by: C-had | Dec 11, 2009 12:40:50 PM

I wont accept a too close to call decision. I demand a decision. No riding the fence on this one, Kari.

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 12:41:15 PM

KC thanks for the incredible effort put forward this year. Looks like your margin for error and the projected margins of the top 3 are darn near head on. Could be a nervous call to make! At any rate you are assuredly more credible than the talking heads at the 'big' sports news outlets.

Posted by: Ohioguy | Dec 11, 2009 12:41:46 PM

Kari,

At least give us a "morely likely than not" winner if you are too scared to call it out right. =)

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 12:43:15 PM

MAKE YOUR GUESS! WE SHALL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!

Posted by: CaptFamous | Dec 11, 2009 12:43:31 PM

WILLIAM & C-HAD - YOU ARE IDIOTS!!!

Posted by: Average Joseph | Dec 11, 2009 12:44:17 PM

Think of what you guys can claim next year if you call the correct winner this year. Your predictor would speak volumes and your site would be the premier predictor in all the world. MUWAHHHH!!

ESPN's predictor (correct in the last six) is calling for a McCoy win. We all know that isn't happening.

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 12:47:09 PM

Thank you, Average Joseph, for your insightful contribution to this discussion.

Posted by: C-had | Dec 11, 2009 12:48:33 PM

finkel for heisman

Posted by: Cliff | Dec 11, 2009 12:50:05 PM

NDAMUKONG SUH'S SEASON STATS (from Huskers.com)
82 Total Tackles, 23 Tackles For Loss, 92 Yards Lost, 12 Sacks, 77 Yards Lost, 24 QB Hurries, 1 INT, 1 Forced Fumble, 10 Pass Breakups, 3 Blocked Kicks. This is while drawing double teams and triple teams for most of the season. See Jared Crick's numbers if you want to see how he benefited from blocking schemes on Suh.

Alabama's Starting Front (They list running a 3-4 on rivals, but to give them some help this includes their top 4 statistical D-Lineman: Cody, Deadrick, Dareus, Washington) - They are the first TOTAL defense in the country...
98 Tackles, 23.5 Tackles for Loss, 91 Yards Lost, 9.5 Sacks, 65 Yards Lost, 10 QB Hurries, 0 INT, 4 Pass Breakups, 3 Blocked Kicks.
Terrance Cody...who was supposed to be the next best lineman to Suh in the country, had 25 Tackles, 6 Tackles for loss, ZERO sacks, 0 INT, 1 Pass Breakups, 3 QB HUrries and 2 Blocked kicks.

Posted by: Chad | Dec 11, 2009 12:51:50 PM

C-HAD - YOU ARE STILL AN IDIOT!!!! MORE INSIGHTFUL THAN YOUR DRABBLE ON HERE!!!

Posted by: Average Joseph | Dec 11, 2009 12:56:45 PM

Suh is all around better than Cody. I am a Bama fan and I admit that. That being said, Suh and Cody have completely different strengths and defensive styles. The only reason Bama can run the 3-4 line is because Cody acts like 2 guys. Bama did not use a 3 man front prior to Cody. I am not sure than can use it next year without him unless we get a replacement for next season.

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 1:01:15 PM

Reason Alabama's "top 4" D-linemen have so few tackles compared to Suh is that Bama was causes more 3 and outs than Nebraska. RTR

Posted by: Chris T | Dec 11, 2009 1:01:28 PM

This statistical thing is getting out of hand. Do you realize why Alabama has the first TOTAL defense in the country? They get off the field and stay off the field thanks to an offense that chews up clock (hence what makes Ingram so good and valuable). He keeps the defense fresh so when they come out again they can have yet another three and out.

Here is the stat that shatter all of this look at Suh's numbers nonsense. Alabama has a total of 742 tackles on the season. Their opponents have 893. So Bama is averaging 57 tackles a game while their opponents average 69. The sign of a good defense is one with small numbers because they get off the field.

Posted by: BlindedByBats | Dec 11, 2009 1:07:31 PM

I'd be more curious to see how Cody and Suh compared on % of plays double teamed. Also % of defensive snaps taken.

Posted by: CaptFamous | Dec 11, 2009 1:07:47 PM

I love that Bama did not promote Ingram's Heisman candidacy at all while Stanford shot hundreds of emails to confirmed voters campaigning for Gerhart and the Heisman.

I also love that Tebow ended his SEC career crying and will finish last in the Heisman finalists.

Lastly, I love that Suh actually has a chance to win the Heisman.

I guess I have a lot of love to get out.

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 1:20:41 PM

Alabama's 4 top statistical leaders on the defensive line are actually Eryk Anders, Marcell Dareus, Brandon Deaderick, and Lorenzo Washington. Eryk Anders is the Jack LB which translates to a DE in a 4-3.

They have a combined 125 tackles (28.5 for loss for 148 yds), 14.5 sacks, 27 QB hurries, 1 INT, and 2 forced fumbles. Suh trails or is tied in all categories. You also need to realize that Bama rotates a lot of players. Dareus does not start, Luther Davis substitutes quite frequently, and Josh Chapman spells Cody quite often.

Suh is definitely the best defensive lineman in the country, but the hyperbole needs to end. It is sickening.

Posted by: BlindedByBats | Dec 11, 2009 1:21:59 PM

Cody and Suh shouldn't be compared because they're not necessarily the same type of player. Yes, they're both defensive tackles, but Cody is built for a true 3-4 system. He's too big to realistically have an impact on the pass rush, but Suh is. Cody is there to stop everything up the middle, which he does. It's just a different system. Suh is exceptional though. MUCH more athletic than Cody, without question. Cody is a fine player in his own right though. Against the run, he's the best there is.

Posted by: NobodysFan | Dec 11, 2009 1:22:14 PM

Calling the Suh "hyperbole" sickening is using more hyperbole. So much for ending it.

Posted by: Josh | Dec 11, 2009 1:26:49 PM

updated

Ingram ahead 4.3%

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 1:28:03 PM

Suh and Gerhart neck and neck at 40.3 and 40.5

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 1:28:46 PM

Chad - You still do not get it. The Big 12 is a passing conference - the way D-line work is to "pin its ears back and charge the QB". Makes for great stats. But if you get 2-3 sacks & the QB gets 20-30 completions for 300 yards, your sack total looks good but you lose the game - much like Nebraska this year. You pin your ears back and charge the QB in the SEC & Tebow will eat you for lunch and not even return the bones - as will the rest of the SEC. It a balanced attack conference - has to be due to the defenses in the conference. So at Bama, Cody is a big mountain in the middle that kills the RUN game. He does not play on passing downs. Take Suh out of passing downs and he would never get in a game in the Big 12. Who is more valuable - in the SEC it has to be Cody. Could Suh do Cody's job? Don't know, he does not play in the SEC - I bet he would and be a great player. Could Cody adjust and do Suh's job in a passing conference? Don't know, he does not play in the Big 12 - but I bet he would also adjust. But I will guarantee you that Suh would not have near the statistics in the SEC that he has in the Big 12. If he did have those stats in the SEC, Nebraska would be 0-12 and lost every games by 50 points. So would he a worse player with lower stats? Don't think so. Have Cody play in the Big 12 the exact same way he plays in the SEC and Alabama would be lucky to be 6-6.

SO STOP THROWING OUT USELESS STATS - ITS NOT EVEN APPLES AND ORANGES, ITS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Your stats have no - zero - nada meaning unless you are comparing Suh to someone else in the Big 12.

Posted by: Mike W | Dec 11, 2009 1:28:49 PM

Cody is a fat turd. Not to ever be mentioned in the same breath as Suh. Cody wouldnt even start on Nebraska's Defensive line.

Posted by: Chad | Dec 11, 2009 1:37:15 PM

If this doesn't prove just how dominant Suh has been this year, I don't know what does.

The stats below compare season totals for Alabama's starting 4 defensive linemen, Florida's starting 4 defensive linemen, Texas' starting 4 defensive linemen, and Big Suh:

Alabama Season Totals
98tkl - 23.5tfl - 9.5sk - 20qbh - 5pbu - 0int - 1ff - 3bk

Florida Season Totals
112tkl - 33tfl - 14sk - 48qbh - 5pbu - 0int - 1ff - 0bk

Texas Season Totals
116tkl - 25.5tfl - 15.5sk - 10qbh - 7pbu - 0int - 2ff - 0bk

Suh Season Totals
82tkl - 23tfl - 12sk - 24qbh - 10pbu - 1int - 1ff - 3bk

Posted by: Mike | Dec 11, 2009 1:40:05 PM

wd,
Yeah Cody's style is to see how much he can eat and how big he can possible be to make up for the lack of actually ability and motor. He is a turd!

Posted by: Chad | Dec 11, 2009 1:41:05 PM

Evidently there are multiple Chad's on here because that was my first post and to be told that my drabble is sickening and idiotic is quite amusing. Carry on the classy banter everybody!

Posted by: Chad (too) | Dec 11, 2009 1:42:13 PM

blind by bats,
No a sign of a good clock chewing offense is low defensive stats.

Posted by: Chad | Dec 11, 2009 1:43:05 PM

awesome...we have an all-american turd everyone.

Posted by: wd | Dec 11, 2009 1:50:19 PM

Mike W,
You never watched a Nebraska game all year. Obviously! Suh NEVER pins his ears back and rushes. Nebraska plays a 2 gap defense (and Im sure you have no clue what that is). Suh takes on the point of attack when triple teamed and holds his ground and still reaches out one arm to either disrupt the ball carrier or take him down with one arm. In exception on a couple teams in the big 12, it is not a passing conference anymore then the SEC. There are multiple teams in the SEC who run the spread offense. Do you know what the spread offense is? Obviously not! Youre a complete idiot with what you said about Suh pinning his ears back to rush the quarterback and you never saw him play all year so you have nothing to say so shut up. idiot.

Posted by: Chad | Dec 11, 2009 1:52:13 PM

Cody and Suh shouldn't be compared because they're not necessarily the same type of player. Yes, they're both defensive tackles, but Cody is built for a true 3-4 system. He's too big to realistically have an impact on the pass rush, but Suh is. Cody is there to stop everything up the middle, which he does. It's just a different system. Suh is exceptional though. MUCH more athletic than Cody, without question. Cody is a fine player in his own right though. Against the run, he's the best there is.

Posted by: NobodysFan | Dec 11, 2009 1:22:14 PM

__________________________________________________________________________________

Marcell Dareus is actually a closer matchup to what Suh does than Cody . But ... here again ... Most of the knuckleheads babbling probably wouldn't even know Dareus exist if I hadn't just given them a heads up . The most CERTAINLY wouldn't know that once again the depth on Alabama means Cody ... like Ingram ... is pulled in an out of the game constantly .

In Cody's case Dareus comes in on obvious passing downs to perform the same task Suh gets to do constantly in the pass happy Big 12 . Apparently having depth to rotate players , a better team and a better coaching staff is something to be penalized for the college football challenged .

In the Xbox Fantasy Football Xpert's mind , the "best" players should always play weak opponents for thin on depth dog----- teams like Standford or Nebraska so they can rack up as many plays in a season as possible while cruising to multiple loss seasons ....

Posted by: Still Laughing | Dec 11, 2009 1:53:15 PM

My sentiments are obvious from my name but I know that each year there are backs with 1,500 to 1,900 yd seasons and lots of TD's so those stats are somewhat 'run of the mill' by Big H standards. Body of work aside Tebow and McCoy both lost any chance in their conference championship games. Suh's stats are off the chart for his position, his play was consistent all season, and "yes" he is playing on a four loss team (so's Stanford) but three of those losses were by a combined 4 points and were squarely on the offense's shoulders.
Look at it this way. If every D-1 coach could piok between Ingram, Gerhart and Suh to have on his team for a season who do you think would top the poll?

Posted by: TampaHusker | Dec 11, 2009 1:55:23 PM

Pass happy big 12 huh?

What about SEC teams like, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, Vandy, Kentucky, Miss. St??

Posted by: Chad | Dec 11, 2009 2:02:15 PM

What the F:

How the heck can you say comparing Suh and Cody is apples to oranges? THEY PLAY THE SAME POSITION!!!

Posted by: HunttheMut | Dec 11, 2009 2:09:51 PM

Crazy. Why dont all you Suh lovers go give him a little man love elsewhere. I am starting to think you guys are having some hand time with yourselves while watching his videos. Get real.

Posted by: layedbak | Dec 11, 2009 2:12:08 PM

Chad, look at all the truly great defensive players over the years who've not won the Heisman. Reggie White, Hugh Green, Lee Roy Selmon, Lee Roy Jordan, Bubba Smith, Dick Butkus, etc, etc. Suh is not in their class, so stop making him out to be. He is the best defensive player this year and deserves consideration. But not to win. I would love to see a defensive player win the award and if Suh wins great. But I would rather it go to someone in the caliber of the players I mentioned.

Posted by: mark | Dec 11, 2009 2:14:29 PM

Mark: Suh IS in that caliber. So says the national media (Mel Kiper, Jim Rome just to name two). People who do this for a living agree he may be the best in the last 25 years. You are INCORRECT. HE IS THAT GOOD.

Posted by: HunttheMut | Dec 11, 2009 2:17:36 PM

Mel Kiper is an idiot. He's been wrong more than right. Rome is so West Coast. I will give you that I could be wrong also. IMO Suh will be a good(not great)D-lineman in the NFL. But I was talking about in college. Selmon-324 tackles, 40 for loss. Hugh Green-441 tackles, 53 sacks. Hell, Rich Glover had more tackles than Suh. Should he have won the Heisman?

Posted by: mark | Dec 11, 2009 2:28:42 PM

HunttheMut you have zero credibility left on the subject of college football (for that matter sports in general) if you even THINK about or even remotely CONSIDER bringing Jim Rome in as backup to any point you might want to make LOL

Posted by: Seriously ? | Dec 11, 2009 2:29:58 PM

Suh isn't even the best defensive player in the country. Though he is in the top 5. The best player would be Ronaldo McClain. He is the "quarterback" of the best defense in the country hands down. Nebraska's defense is pretty good, but it isn't as good as the Bama defense. You could also make a strong case for Javier Areans for Heisman. Not only is he is a first team all-american DB, but he is the best return man in the nation. If you were to go with a defensive player for Heisman, it would be one of those two for sure.

Posted by: Charles | Dec 11, 2009 2:43:10 PM

So, are we saying Ingram is going to take the ******* Trophy?

Posted by: Chris T | Dec 11, 2009 2:45:20 PM

Charles, great point! Bravo!

Posted by: Chris T | Dec 11, 2009 2:47:01 PM

loooooooooooool @ not thinking Suh is the best defensive player in the country. Take off your Bama colored glasses for just a second.

Posted by: johnson | Dec 11, 2009 2:52:08 PM

SUH is going to win look how many other awards he has already won this year. SUH!!!!!!! Ingram is not that good. The only player that is competition is Gerhart no doubt. I rest my case. SUH is going to win the heisman

Posted by: Taylor | Dec 11, 2009 2:58:40 PM

Turn on your nightly C.B.S news and watch the interview with the heisman winner..MI

Posted by: layedbak | Dec 11, 2009 3:34:05 PM

Great case you made Taylor. You changed my mind. SUH, good..Gerhart, fair....Ingram, bad. So I go for SUH! You should really be a lawyer!

Posted by: layedbak | Dec 11, 2009 4:29:13 PM

@Mike W:

"SO STOP THROWING OUT USELESS STATS - ITS NOT EVEN APPLES AND ORANGES, ITS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Your stats have no - zero - nada meaning unless you are comparing Suh to someone else in the Big 12."

Okay, so Suh is at the top of Mel Kiper's draft board. #2 on that board is Gerald McCoy, also a 2-gap DT who plays in a 4-3 defense in the Big 12. Now other people can rag on this post all they want, bash Mel Kiper, etc.--I don't care. I'm just replying to Mike W.'s post.

Suh's numbers are all over the board, so I won't repost them. I'll just put up McCoy's numbers and the difference between the stats for both players:
McCoy had 31 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 PBU, 11 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 0 interceptions, 0 blocked kicks.
Suh had 51 more tackles, 8.5 more TFL, 7 more sacks, 8 more PBU, 15 more QB hurries, same forced fumbles, 1 more interception, and 3 more blocked kicks.

I say again, if an offensive player put up the numbers Suh did this year, the H------ would be a shoe-in. Suh has 2.65 times the tackles of the next-best player at his position. If Ingram had 2.65 times the rushing yards of the second-best running back this year (as chosen by the Heisman committee, meaning Gerhart), he would have rushed for 4,592 yards, and I would have no complaint with him beating Suh for the H------ Trophy. If you want to make the comparison even better, McCoy is undeniably the second-best DT in the Big 12. Dixon is perhaps the second-best RB in the SEC--he has the second-most rushing yards. To be as statistically dominant as Suh, Ingram would have to have 3,679 rushing yards to Dixon's 1,391. Again, if Ingram had a season with numbers like that, no one would be talking about anyone else, period.

In the end, I hate that we have to rely on statistics. I saw Ingram many times this year, and the kid is very good. He also benefits from Bama's strong O-line and great coaching. I believe that he won't even be the best RB on his own team next year--Richardson is definitely the more talented back and also runs hard. I wish more Bama fans could've seen Suh every game this year, and actually WATCHED him--granted, it's hard to miss the man destroying the offensive line despite the double- and triple-teams he sees on almost every play. He is truly a special talent.

Oh well, good luck to everyone, and may the best man win tomorrow. God bless.

Posted by: Doublenickel | Dec 11, 2009 5:19:20 PM

where is the final prediction? It kind of takes away from the purpose of this site to wait until shortly before the announcement itself. It is also kind of silly to promote yourselves as "7 for 7" when almost every year it is blatantly obvious who is going to win. The one year in the last 7 where the outcome was in dispute this site says it was "lucky" to get it right.

Posted by: Sammie Walker | Dec 11, 2009 7:07:23 PM

To you intellects who say Bama's Defense is far superior to Nebraska's Defense.

It's obvious you haven't watched the Huskers play all year.

Bama's defense gets the benefit of a capable offense. Nebraska's defense has been carrying the team all year. They kept the Huskers in the game against Texas, despite the offense only getting 5 first downs. They WON the Oklahoma game.

If Nebraska had an offense like Bama's they be #1 in scoring defense by at least 5 points a game. Instead, because of a lack luster offense that puts them in bad situations all day long, they are just a point a game behind Bama's Defense.

Make no bones about it, Nebraska's defense is the best in the country. The offense on the other hand... well...

Posted by: Cixelsyd Naksarben | Dec 11, 2009 7:27:59 PM

Great. Nebraska's defense is best in the country. Great, Suh is the best and gonna win the heisman. What else you got?

Posted by: layedbak | Dec 11, 2009 8:27:50 PM

By reading about the players on here you'd think we would be seeing Stanford play Nebraska in the BCS Championship game!

Posted by: Tim | Dec 11, 2009 8:58:23 PM

So is this site going to make it's prediction at 8pm EST tomorrow? Either you have a good methodology or you don't! Make a prediction and if you are wrong try to fix your formulas! What good is a predictor if it does not have a result at least a day or two before the answer is announced? Seems a bit academic at this point!

Posted by: Tim | Dec 11, 2009 9:27:21 PM

This actually has been fun to watch.
The opinions are interesting as you look at the various regions.
It's a shame that the award has become so politicized.

Posted by: Tom B | Dec 11, 2009 9:44:18 PM

There's some incredible sillyness going on here, Suh fans are posting his stats for comparison because really all year you see the offensive player stats and highlights on sportscenter and everywhere else. It's easy to compare yards per game, overall yards, touchdowns ect. there really isn't a barometer year to year to compare any defensive players, let alone linemen.

I don't think it is a slight on other defensive players, you just cant compare apples to oranges. He's a defensive lineman not a RB, QB or even DB.

And yeah they can be compared, Suh isn't a rush end or something where his only responsibility is to get to the quarterback as fast as he can, he's done this in spite of drawing double/triple teams and having the responsibility to eat up blockers.

Posted by: someone | Dec 11, 2009 10:24:48 PM

"By reading about the players on here you'd think we would be seeing Stanford play Nebraska in the BCS Championship game!"

By reading the above statement, you'd think the Heisman is a team award.

Posted by: johnson | Dec 11, 2009 11:14:11 PM

So- what is it?

The man that has been stats then the entire defensive lines of Alabama, Texas, or Florida or some very talented running backs

Posted by: Kris | Dec 12, 2009 12:57:12 AM

Congratulations on the award Mark ... only one more task left to go this season . Then you and the team can take a well earned rest. (till spring practice ;-) )

Posted by: Rolling Rolling Rolling | Dec 12, 2009 2:09:39 AM

Thanks Johnson, my thoughts exactly ;)

And Nebraska would be playing in a BCS Bowl Game (probably not the NC, because they did lose pretty decidely to TT) if the offense didn't self-destruct basically every game.

Posted by: Aksarben | Dec 12, 2009 5:18:24 AM

as a dedicated alabama fan, i would have to say suh is the best defensive player all year, no matter what conference he is playing in. suh not only gets to the qb often, but he does plug up lanes and take multiple blockers. i saw clips from the kansas game, in which crick had an excellent game. crick was able to do this because of suh being double and triple teamed, so you can really say suh had a bad game. in the end, i feel that ingram will win because he is an excellent running back, plays in a big conference (no pun to the big 12, pac-10 yes), and the history shows it nearly impossible to win on defense, which needs to be re-addressed

Posted by: alabamafan | Dec 12, 2009 10:47:35 AM


The H------ Memorial Trophy is a registered trademark of the H------ Memorial Trophy Trust. This site is not affiliated with the Trust, not even a little. We're not even using the H------ word, since they don't want us to. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright to and responsibility for all posts and comments are owned by their respective authors.

Obviously, the posts and comments here are the views of their authors, and not of anyone else.

While we're strong believers in free speech, we reserve the right to delete comment spam or other offensive material. Our contributors, however, reserve the right to embarass themselves in public.