ShareThisToby Gerhart and Cincinnati share a common bond: Both performed way beyond expectations, and became part of the chase for college football glory in a game still ruled by tradition-rich powerhouses.
When the 2009 season began, the Stanford running back wasn't part of the Heisman Trophy discussion, not even as a dark horse, let alone a favorite. And Cincinnati? Good heavens, the Bearcats weren't even ranked!
By some estimations, Gerhart is now the Heisman front-runner, a position that was supposed to belong to one of three quarterbacks: Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, Colt McCoy of Texas or Tim Tebow of Florida.
Unbeaten Cincinnati occupies the No. 3 BCS spot that was supposed to belong to a traditional power like Oklahoma or Southern Cal.
For a fleeting moment Saturday night, it looked as though Cincy's wish of playing in the BCS title game might be granted.
After rallying from 21 points down to beat Pittsburgh, 45-44, earlier in the day, the Bearcats' only prayer was for 9-3 Nebraska to upset unbeaten Texas in the Big 12 championship game. As McCoy's final pass sailed out of bounds and the clock ticked down to zero, it appeared their prayer was answered.
But officials correctly restored one second, and Hunter Lawrence nailed a 46-yard field goal that lifted the Longhorns to a 13-12 victory and a spot in the BCS title game.
Cincy's consolation? Not bad: a Sugar Bowl matchup with Florida.
As for Gerhart's Heisman hopes, they're still alive, but Alabama running back Mark Ingram may win the hardware after the Tide's 32-13 victory over top-ranked Florida in the SEC title game.
Unfortunately for Gerhart, he didn't have the opportunity for a 13th game before the voting deadline. Ingram did, and made the most of it.
Against a top five defense, he rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries, plus caught a pair of passes for 76 yards, including a 69-yard scamper on a screen play.
Whether that was enough to atone for his 30-yard, 16-carry performance against Auburn the week before is something Heisman electors had to ponder, along with some other stats:
In one fewer game, Gerhart outgained Ingram on the ground 1,736 yards to 1,542, though Ingram did have a higher yards per carry average of 6.2 to Gerhart's 5.6.
Gerhart had 10 games of 100 yards or more, including three of 200 yards or more. In his last four games - against Oregon, USC, California and Notre Dame - he rushed for a total of 742 yards.
Ingram had eight games of 100 or more yards, including one over 200. In his last four games - against Mississippi State, Chattanooga, Auburn and Florida - he rushed for a total of 394 yards.
On the receiving end, Ingram wins the battle. He caught 30 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns to Gerhart's 10 catches, 149 yards and zero TDs.
But in the most important stat overall, touchdowns, Gerhart wins, 26-18.
If Ingram wins the Heisman, it's not because he's a more outstanding player than Gerhart, but because he plays for Alabama, and he had center stage when it may have mattered most.
Sure Ingram helped lead the Tide to its No. 1 ranking, but he sure as heck didn't do it alone. Alabama is a star-studded team on both sides of the ball, and may have gotten to the top without him. Freshman Trent Richardson and senior Roy Upchurch are high-caliber running backs who both averaged more than five yards a carry.
Not to diminish Ingram's achievements, but Gerhart carried his team to an 8-4 season and No. 21 ranking. The Cardinal weren't even in the Top 50 to start the season, and definitely wouldn't be where they are without Gerhart.
In this Heisman elector's eyes, he is college football's most outstanding player for 2009.
Like Cincinnati, Gerhart may come up short of reaching the pinnacle, but together they will forever symbolize the 2009 season of surprises that included:
-- Five teams finishing the regular season unbeaten.
-- Two mid-major teams, TCU and Boise State, busting the BCS bash for the first time ever.
-- Perennial powerhouses Oklahoma, USC and Georgia - Nos. 3, 4 and 13 respectively in the preseason polls - nowhere to be found in the season-ending Top 25.
-- Notre Dame losing to Navy for the second time in three years, going 6-6, foregoing a bowl and firing coach Charlie Weis.
-- Florida State putting legendary coach Bobby Bowden out to pasture.
-- Michigan tying Indiana for the worst record in the Big 10 (1-7) and failing to qualify for a bowl for the second consecutive year.
-- First-year coach Chip Kelly taking Oregon to the Rose Bowl after the season-opening debacle, a 19-8 loss, at Boise State.
(E-mail John Tucker at jtucker(at)unionleader.com)
(E-mail John Tucker at jtucker(at)unionleader.com)
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