Team-Focus Wins Heisman for Ingram

I don't think Mark Ingram is the best football player in the country. I don't even think he's the best football player on his own team. (That distinction, in my mind, goes to linebacker Rolando McClain; that's another post). But I do believe that he is a deserving winner of the Heisman trophy, which recognizes the country's most outstanding college football player.

It was the closest vote in Heisman history, narrower than the 1985 vote that gave the award to another running back from the state of Alabama. (Which, by the way, how did Bo Jackson not win unanimously?) Toby Gerhart finished 28 points behind Ingram, who garnered 227 first-place votes to Gerhart's 222. Gerhart had an incredible season for Stanford, and probably suffered from a lack of exposure to the majority of the country. His stats, on the surface, were better than Ingram's:

Gerhart: 1736 rushing yards, 26 TDs; 10 receptions, 149 yards receiving, 0 TDs
Ingram: 1542 rushing yards, 15 TD; 30 receptions, 322 yards receiving, 3 TDs

However, upon closer inspection, Ingram's stats stand out a bit more:

Gerhart: 311 carries, 5.6 yds/carry, 63% of Stanford's rushing attempts
Ingram: 249 carries, 6.2 yds/carry, 45% of Alabama's rushing attempts

Stanford ran the ball 497 times this season; Alabama did so 550 times, which includes one more game than Stanford. Even with one more game played, Ingram had fewer carries than Gerhart and a lower percentage of the load to carry. This can be viewed in many ways: Ingram was kept fresher because of other running backs; Gerhart's stats are more impressive because he was the focal point of his team's rushing attack (thus, meaning teams focused their game plans on him and he still piled up yards); Alabama could have plugged another back in there and he would have done just as good as Ingram.

However, I think this points to an even greater year by Ingram. If he had as many carries as Gerhart, by Ingram's yard per attempt, he'd have gained over 1900 yards rushing. Though Ingram was the starter, he wasn't as featured as Gerhart was. Stanford's second- and third-leading rushers carried the ball 61 and 55 times each, respectively, for 354 and 298 yards. (Their quarterback was their second-leading rusher). For Alabama, the second- and third-leading rushers were both running backs, carrying 126 and 46 times each, respectively, for 642 and 290 yards. 

This would seem to imply that Alabama's offensive line and running backs were stronger, giving Ingram an advantage. However, looking at each team's yards per attempt, Stanford has the edge. They averaged 5.4 yards per carry as a team; Alabama averaged 5.1 yards per carry. This means that Ingram averaged more than a yard better than his team, while Gerhart was 0.2 yards above his team's rushing yards per carry.

This isn't to take away from Gerhart's season, ability, or talent. The man is a great running back and had a fabulous season. But for those thinking that Ingram rode the coattails of #1 ranked team as his sole claim to the Heisman race (and victory), think again. Mark Ingram is a fantastic football player and was a steadying and consistent force for the Crimson Tide as they navigated the defenses of the SEC. And yet he simply played his role, not only running the ball,  but blocking and receiving as well. He cheered for and encouraged the running backs behind him, particularly Trent Richardson, someone who may have even more raw talent than Ingram.

In games that were decided by half or the third quarter, Ingram didn't get a chance to pad his stats. In the games that he started slowly (Virginia Tech) or didn't have it (Arkansas and Auburn), his coach went to the other running backs in order for the team to succeed. Ingram didn't complain; he didn't lash out. He responded.

In an outstanding way.

And though it's brought individual attention to him and his ability, it should not be overlooked that his team is what's most important to him. It's the people in his life, from family and friends to coaches, trainers, and teachers at the university, that he mentioned in his speech that allowed this to happen. The Crimson Tide fans are doubtlessly excited to finally have a Heisman winner. They should be just as excited that's it's someone like Mark Ingram. A selfless team player, playing his role and doing his best to bring to Alabama what it wants most: another national championship.

Top 10, Week 14

1. Alabama (13-0) Unbelievably impressive win over Florida, like Saban had been stewing and preparing for the game since last year's championship game. They played their best game of the season so far. The hype is going to be in their favor heading to Pasadena; hopefully they've got one more dominating performance in them.
   
2. Texas (13-0) The Longhorns didn't finish the season with anything close to flair, but they did win. Their defense held down a not-so-potent Nebraska offense; it's their own offense that left the question marks. But they pulled it out, which is a mark of a winner. Another good sign for the Horns: a 7-0-1 all-time record against Alabama.
   
3. TCU (12-0) Great season, great team, unfortunate ending in the Big 12 Championship Game for them. What a match-up it would be to see them go against Texas. We'll have to settle for them against Boise State in the Fiesta, if the Fiesta knows what's good for them.
   
4. Cincinnati (12-0) Wild, wild finish in Pittsburgh today. Pike showed resilience in coming back from a rough start. Another great season for the Bearcats; they'll be hungry for some gator meat in the Sugar Bowl.
   
5. Boise State (13-0) Any chance of a letdown in their last game was quickly wiped out. Yet another team with a fantastic season; they too should go BCS bowling.
   
6. Florida (12-1) Tough, tough loss to the Tide. They got hit in the face from the get-go and couldn't recover. Giving up a 69-yard reception immediately after making it a 12-10 game in the second quarter broke their spirit; the touchdown run on the next play practically sealed the outcome.
   
7. Oregon (10-2) Pac-10 champions pull it out at home in the Civil War. They get a better-than-earlier-in-the-season Ohio State team in the Rose Bowl.
   
8. Georgia Tech (11-2) They jump back into the Top 10 with their ACC Championship Game win, which is one reason their ahead of the Big Ten champ. They sit behind the Ducks because the ACC wasn't as strong as the Pac-10.
   
9. BYU (10-2) Florida State? At home? Still mind-boggling. But at least it wasn't to a middle-of-the-pack Pac-10 team with a freshman quarterback.
10. Ohio State (10-2) Get a championship game. Beat a decent out-of-conference opponent. Get ready for a fast, tough game against the Ducks.
    

By the numbers

1 -- penalty called against the Tide, for 5 yards
3 -- touchdowns scored by Ingram
11 -- number of 3rd down conversions made by Alabama out of 15
20:23 -- amount of time Florida held the ball
22 -- number of SEC Championships Alabama has now won
39:37 -- amount of time Alabama held the ball
69 -- yards gained on a pass play to Ingram immediately after Florida cut the lead to 12-10, swinging the momentum back in Bama's favor
89 -- total rushing yards for the Gators
96 -- yards receiving for Maze on 5 receptions, double his season average
113 -- yards rushing for Ingram
239 -- yards passing for McElroy
251 -- total rushing yards for Alabama
490 -- total yards gained by Alabama, 250 more than Florida's defense averaged before this game

SEC Champions

Initial thoughts from the SEC Championship Game:

• Greg McElroy played an incredible game. This was the type of poise and decision-making I was hoping for from him this season. Great job of hanging in the pocket and making precision passes.
• Mark Ingram had great TD runs and had a good bounce-back game from last week. 
• What about the offensive line? These guys made all Tide fans forget about last year's group. What a performance. Vlachos' block of Spikes in the first quarter on a sweep or toss helped set the tone for evening. The O-line played their best game of the year.
  
• The defense was outstanding. The pressure was there from the D-line and linebackers and the secondary held strong. Good pick by Arenas; Woodall should've had one too. Erik Anders did a great job of shadowing Gonzalez and Ro was awesome watching Tebow.
• Cody's presence in the middle kept Florida from attempting to run. That Florida didn't have many rushing attempts was huge. 
• The coaching staff had a great offensive and defensive game plan. The players executed it to near perfection.
• I thought Saban might get wet with a Gatorade bath, but the players may have decided to save that for Pasadena.
• My TV messed up right after Florida scored to make it 12-10 and I thought the game was going to start messing up as well. Neither the tide nor the Tide turned and I was able to get CBS back. 
• Roll Tide!