Alright, let’s talk about that 2009 Heisman chase. I remember getting into tracking the candidates that year pretty seriously. It wasn’t like I set out to make it a project, it just sort of happened as the season went on.
Things started off normally, you know, watching games on Saturdays, checking scores. But then a few names started popping up everywhere. You couldn’t ignore them. Mark Ingram at Alabama, this powerful runner. Toby Gerhart out at Stanford, just putting up monster numbers week after week. Colt McCoy was doing his usual thing at Texas, super efficient. And Ndamukong Suh… man, a defensive tackle getting serious Heisman buzz? That caught my attention.
Getting Drawn In
So, I started paying closer attention. I made it a point to:
- Watch key matchups. I tried catching the Alabama games, Stanford games, Texas games whenever they were on national TV. Seeing them play live gave a better feel than just stats.
- Check the box scores religiously. After the Saturday games wrapped up, I’d go looking for the final numbers. How many yards did Ingram get? Did Gerhart score three times again? How many tackles for loss did Suh rack up?
- Follow the chatter. Not just the big networks, but just hearing what folks were saying, reading different opinions online in forums or comment sections back then. The debate got really heated, especially between the Ingram and Gerhart camps.
I remember thinking Gerhart’s stats were just undeniable. The guy carried Stanford. But Ingram was the engine for that undefeated Alabama team. And Suh felt like the most dominant player, period, even if defensive guys never win the thing. McCoy was consistent, but maybe lacked that huge “Heisman moment” late in the season, especially after the Big 12 title game scare.
The Final Stretch and The Vote
That SEC Championship game was huge. Ingram played great against that tough Florida defense with Tebow on the other side. I felt like that performance swayed a lot of people right before the voting deadline. Gerhart had a big finish too, but maybe the time zone difference hurt, less visibility for some East Coast voters, who knows.
I actually sat down and watched the ceremony that year. Felt invested, you know? I had my own little ranking in my head. I personally thought Gerhart maybe deserved it slightly more based on pure production and value to his specific team, but I had a strong feeling Ingram would win because of Alabama’s success and that SEC title game performance.
And then they announced it… Ingram won. It was incredibly close, the closest ever, I think someone said later. Can’t help but feel a bit for Gerhart, coming that close. Suh finishing fourth was still amazing for a defensive player. McCoy had a great career, just didn’t peak quite right for the award that year.
Looking back, that whole process of tracking the candidates, watching the key games, digging into the stats a bit, and seeing how it all unfolded was pretty engaging. It was just a really strong group of players that year, made for a memorable Heisman race to follow along with.
