Lenny looks at the Heisman

The college football season is drawing to a close, and each week we’ve taken a look at past Pac-10 events. Now is the time to look ahead a bit and see if we have a crystal ball for the end-of-season individual grand prize: the Heisman Trophy.

With the conference championship games and bowling games, it has been a tough prize to hand out in early December. Hell, back in 1974, a lot of the ballots had been received before Anthony Davis from USC bypassed Notre Dame; as such, the spectacular Archie Griffin won his first of two Heismans. Two Heismans would have paled in comparison to the four Beano Cook predicted for Irish quarterback Ron Powlus, but that’s beside the point.

It’s 2005, and with the advent of instant communication, Heisman voters have the opportunity to observe players until the last possible moment before they cast their ballots. Last season, USC’s Matt Leinart won the award, beating out a solid runner-up roster, and was one of the favorites for the award at the start of the season.

While Leinart will still get a trip to New York and a chance to showcase the latest in menswear, he won’t go with the hardware. Right now, it’s a two-horse race between Vince Young from Texas and the incomparable RB Reggie Bush. Before Bush alone demolished Fresno State, I would have voted for Young. Now, it is difficult to say without a doubt that the one they call VY is the best in the country.

Going into the games this weekend, I’d say Bush has the best chance of making hay while the sun is shining. Play for the reigning national champions, in a rivalry game that has made Heisman winners before. In 1968, OJ Simpson made a play called the Red-23 Blast for 64 yards and the decisive touchdown over the Bruins. Bush has the same opportunity now, although in ’68 Juice ran for the # 2 team in the country (the Bruins, at the time, were first overall). Look for the speedy Bush to have a great game over the Bruins and cement some votes on national television.

Young plays a Colorado team that has rotted down the stretch and was hit by a Nebraska fringe team. The Buffaloes should be embarrassed by the turkey they put on the field the Friday after Thanksgiving, when Nebraska beat him up. I don’t see Gary Barnett finding a way to plan against this multifaceted Texas offense.

In a perfect world of college football, Texas and the Trojans would meet on January 4 in a winner-take-all battle for the BCS National Championship and Heisman Trophy. In reality, a perfect world would have a playoff system, but I digress. In a perfect world of college football in 2005, that’s what we’d have. Until then, my vote is for the one they call President: Reggie Bush.