What if Josh Heupel had won the Heisman?

Feature photo:  OUDaily.com

As the Tennessee Vols come to Norman Saturday in a really big time SEC conference game with the Oklahoma Sooners, one can consider the the “what ifs” of the situation.  What if Josh Heupel, the head coach of the Vols has won the Heisman Trophy his senior year at OU, the last season the Big Red of the South won a National Title?  Yes, if that had happened, Josh would bring his team to Norman, not only to play OU, but they could walk among Heisman park, where Josh’s Heisman statue would be along side the other winners of the trophy by Sooner players.  That would have really been something?  Heupel finished second for the Trophy in 2001, and the man that quarterbacked the team OU beat for the title Chris Weinke of Florida State, was that year’s winner.  The year was 2000.  Josh Heupel should have won that trophy, in my opinion. Believe it or not Ripley.

From ESPN.com

 

Weinke edged Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel for college football’s most coveted individual prize by 76 points in the seventh tightest Heisman race. The closest Heisman vote was Bo Jackson’s 45-point victory over Chuck Long in 1985.

 

Close Calls

This year’s Heisman Trophy voting was one of the closest in years. A look at other close contests: 1985 — 45, Auburn’s Bo Jackson edges Iowa’s Chuck Long 1509-1464. 1961 — 53, Syracuse’s Ernie Davis over Ohio State’s Bob Ferguson, 824-771. 1953 — 56, Notre Dame’s John Lattner slips past Minnesota’s Paul Giel, 1850-1794*. 1989 — 70, Houston’s Andre Ware edges Indiana’s Anthony Thompson, 1073-1003. 1956 — 72, Notre Dame’s Paul Hornung over Tennessee’s John Majors, 1066-994**. 1964 — 74, Notre Dame’s John Huarte over Tulsa’s Jerry Rhome, 1026-952. 2000 — 76, Florida State’s Chris Weinke edges Oklahoma’s Josh Heupel, 1628-1552. 1978 — 77, Oklahoma’s Billy Sims edges Penn State’s Chuck Fusina, 827-750. 1962 — 89, Oregon State’s Terry Baker over LSU’s Jerry Stovall, 707-618.* – Chicago’s Jay Berwanger defeated Army’s Monk Meyer by 55 in 1935 but vote totals of 84-29 were considerably smaller. ** – Hornung’s margin over third place finisher Oklahoma’s Tom McDonald, was 93 (1066-973), the slimmest margin between first and third place.

 

Weinke had 369 first-place votes and 1,628 points; Heupel, who led the Sooners to the title game against the Seminoles by passing for 3,392 yards and 20 touchdowns, had 286 first-place votes and 1,552 points.