Wins + Stats =Heisman for Harper
Heisman Trophy campaigns are not born on the Fourth of July.
Never mind that Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and West Virginia quarterback Pat White already have Heisman Web sites up and running before they are out on the field and throwing. Typical political football stuff.
Clemson's historic, inspiring 2008 campaign is all about change.
Only once in the last half-century has a Tiger finished among the top 10 in Heisman trophy voting, quarterback Steve Fuller at No. 7 in 1978.
Thirty seasons later, Clemson just might place two players in the top 10.
Take your pick.
Cullen Harper, the grad student quarterback who compared favorably to Boston College star Matt Ryan last season.
Junior running back C.J. Spiller, last seen dashing through Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Senior running back James Davis, first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 2006 and 2007.
The passer is the front- runner.
A very unlikely Harper was supposed to wind up as the answer to a future Clemson trivia question: Who started at quarterback between Charlie Whitehurst and Willy Korn, but failed to beat out Will Proctor?
Instead, the Alpharetta, Ga., native is the alpha Tiger. A few more wins and a hundred more passing yards per game and Harper gets an invitation to the Heisman dinner in Manhattan.
Alabama opener
Incumbent Tim Tebow? So last year. Look for Florida coach Urban Meyer to do a better job of protecting his bowl ticket by having him run less and rest more.
The door is open.
"I'm kind of big on waiting until the season plays out," veteran Clemson publicist Tim Bourret said Thursday when asked if the school plans on a special Heisman blitz. "We'll probably wait until after the first five games and see what happens.
"This year is kind of unique. What if I start something for Cullen Harper and James Davis gets off to a great start or C.J. Spiller goes crazy?"
Nice problems to have, huh?
Harper's road map to New York City:
--Start with a sharp right turn.
Clemson's nationally televised Aug. 30 opener against Alabama at the Georgia Dome is a must win for any Heisman candidate. Or any team trying to establish January bowl credibility.
--Proceed through the meat of the ACC schedule and South Carolina.
Sure, the Tigers must rebuild their offensive line. But Davis and Spiller should buy time for Harper, who is blessed with potentially one of the best and deepest groups of pass catchers in college football.
Leading receiver Aaron Kelly is back, along with Tyler Grisham and Xavier Dye.
Top deep threat Jacoby Ford returns after missing the final five games last season with a broken ankle suffered at Maryland. Tight end Michael Palmer continues to improve. And so on.
The Matt model
--Beware of potholes and falling rocks.
A loss to Duke, for instance.
A Clemson quarterback hoping to win the Heisman cannot afford to lose more than once before the ACC Championship Game and probably better win on Dec. 6 in Tampa, Fla.
Anything less and Harper takes a huge step back in a pack probably including Tebow, Daniel, White, Beanie Wells of Ohio State and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia.
--Exit via the passing lane.
Harper was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2007. Ryan, the first-team pick, was the first quarterback chosen in the NFL draft.
Harper, not Ryan, led the ACC in pass efficiency last season while throwing 27 touchdown passes with only six interceptions. But Ryan threw for 321.9 yards per game and Harper 230.1.
Most importantly, Ryan threw game-winning touchdown passes late in prime-time ACC victories at Virginia Tech and Clemson.
And that was only good enough for seventh place in the Heisman voting.
If Harper can play a little better, win a little more and take command at the end of a few key games, Heisman hype won't be necessary.
On the Fourth of July, anything is possible.
Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
mdtpace (anonymous) says...
What a waste of space this is. Harper is a good QB, but he is no where near Heisman caliber. Hell, Clempsun fans were still screaming for Willy "The Savior" Korn in the 3rd game. Sapakoff is starting early with the Tater adoration. Spiller and Davis didn't do much last year, mainly because Tammy didn't seem to want to use them. They arguably the best backfield in the country, but if Tammy doesn't give'em the ball, they might as well spend their Saturdays tailgating. Either way, is there no more interesting news in the sports world.
July 4, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MSC (anonymous) says...
He is the clemson version of Phil Petty. Solid and capable, buy no Heismen, no NFL.
July 4, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mauiturtle (anonymous) says...
All three are very good players, but I see two issues that are going to make it hard for any to win the Heisman:
1) It seems that to get the Heisman, a player's stats have to be eye-popping. Neither Davis nor Spiller will reach that 1500 yd mark (or whatever it is) b/c they're going to be splitting carries. The more TDs they get on the ground, the fewer TD passes Harper has. So, for one to win the Heisman, the other two really have to suffer, which can't be the case if Clemson wants to win.
2) The O-line. I seem to remember a lot of sacks in the spring game (might be wrong though). There's youth up front and losing 4 of 5 starters (again, might be wrong on the number) isn't going to help on a line that was decent, but not stellar, last year. If the line doesn't give Harper the time to throw or Davis and Spiller the holes to run through, then none of them will make the top 10.
July 4, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tigers5 (anonymous) says...
unlike Steve Superior and his jailbirds, Clemson has alot to look forward to this year and beyond.
July 4, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FF40212 (anonymous) says...
"Jailbirds" - good one. How true, how true!
July 4, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
I dont think you will be seeing any type articles about the chickens and any chance of someone on there winning the Heisman trophy ( unless they get another coked up running back like George ). Poor chickens , the only thing they have going for them is having a great coach (which career is being destroyed by being there ) and being a member of the sec (even though they make it a less of a conference )
July 4, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nopeeky (anonymous) says...
Once again the mighty Clemson faithful can not be happy with an article about their beloved Tigers without having to bash the Gamecocks. Don't throw stones when you live in a glass house. It seems several Tigers have had their run-ins with the law with the latest being McDaniel. Just because Tammy doesn't have the courage to suspend a player until his court case is settled like the Gamecocks do doesn't make him innocent. Just enjoy your moment and leave USC out of this. Talk about a joke, when is the last time Clemson has won anything in football as well. Seems like there are two schools in SC that have some work to do. BTW, I can't wait until Harper struggles with that weak O-line and you Tigers will be begging for your next saviour Willy Korn to come to the rescue. The writing is on the wall!
July 4, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tigers5 (anonymous) says...
Lets see....what s.c. school ended this past year ranked in the top 25 in both football and basketball,has much higher academic standard. and a much lower "thug" component. Sorry jailbirds not you.By the way I believe Bowden did suspend a starting all conference linebacker after a dui arrest. Anything less than armed robbery goes untouched in Cola (Garcia).
July 4, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rebel1 (anonymous) says...
not only did tammy not suspend that dui lb, he played in your bowl loss. Poor your mama, she is so hung up on sos. I guess getting stood up on a date by a usc football player must hurt. Get over it your mama, there are other guys out there for you!!
July 4, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nopeeky (anonymous) says...
Top 25 in football! How'd that bowl game work out for you? That was a gracious ranking to say the least. Anyways, no sweat off my back. We'll worry about our jail birds, you worry about yours. Higher academic standard, much lower "thug" component...classic. USC has one of the top business programs in the nation along with many other prestigious areas. Define thug component for me and then I'll make a determination on that. Garcia is not with USC (suspended indefinitely), is McDaniel still with Clemson. Amazing huh!
July 4, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
How did staying at home for the holidays work out for the shamecocks? Just kidding, y'all are used to that.
July 4, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
no peeky---all this vitriol and gloom about Clemson's football program (we won't even comment on your assinine deflections on the academic rankings between the two schools--for you to even mention it displays a total lack of facts).
But, since your opinion is Clemson is so bad or certainly so much less talented than everyone with a brain thinks, then why not, with all your gamecock prescience, grace all of us with the outcome of this years annual rivalry game? I mean this is the preseason when gamecock fans are prepping for the national championship game---right??
A little humor on the 4th would be greatly appreciated.
July 4, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
huj (anonymous) says...
For either Davis or Harper to win it, not only does Clemson have to win the ACC title but the Tigers must also beat their subsequent Orange Bowl opponent. You gotta win the big ones to have any shot at winning.
The Heisman people won't award their trophy to an ACC player whose team didn't win the conference title, period. It'll take more for an ACC player to win it than those of other conferences.
July 4, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mdtpace (anonymous) says...
Higher academic standards, tigers5? What the hell have you been smoking. the biggest retards I know are Clempsun grads. But hey, you all get to wear purple pants and orange overalls, so you must be pretty smart.
July 4, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
Look it up shamecock fan which school is rated higher among university's.
July 4, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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