It's wrong to be happy over someone else's loss, but I am, so here we go.
If the national championship game is anything it is irrefutable support that Troy Smith didn't deserve the Heisman (and that Heisman voting is incorrectly applied). What Troy Smith faced in this game Brady Quinn faced in all the "big games" this year: no deep threat at receiver, down in the game trying to throw every down to get back in it, and poor offensive line play resulting in frequent pressure. Now Brady didn't do great in those games but Troy's six yards of total offense is absolutely pathetic. So is the lowest QB rating in BCS game history (including two turnovers). So is the lowest total offensive output in BCS game history. Forget about being a big game QB, he still is. One game of many can't dismiss that fact. (Forget also about OSU being over-rated also. Although slightly, they aren't as bad as they looked. They really didn't play any great teams all year and weren't prepared for the level of competition.) But Troy Smith is a big game QB because of the talent around him in addition to his abilities. It was entirely evident last night. Forget about the Heisman Trophy and missing practice (he only missed three), forget about the layoff (Florida dealt with it also), the fact that Smith put up the numbers he did all year was because he wasn't pressured, had a running game, wasn't playing from behind (a tribute to his defense), and had a tremendous down field receiving threat (Ginn). That isn't only him. Go back and look at all of the Heisman winners who have flopped in big bowl games. It is the same story and is the reason why the Heisman voting is wrong.
A few excerpts from articles out there...
"Smith joined the panned-theon of Heisman-winning quarterbacks -- Vinny Testaverde, Gino Torretta, Eric Crouch and Jason White -- who have stunk in national championship games. But it was a team effort." -- Wow, what a concept, Smith can't be completely blamed for the outcome of the game.
"The Ohio State offensive line that had allowed only 14 sacks all season gave up five to the Gators. 'When they build a lead, they can then dictate to us what we're going to do,' Ohio State center Doug Datish said. '…We were coming from behind, and anytime you allow guys, especially with that type of speed, to pin their ears back and not have any reads, it's tough.'" -- Wow, how many times has that been mentioned to alleviate Brady's culpability for poor play this year?
"Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith played so gruesomely awful (4-of-14 for 35 yards, one interception, zero touchdowns) that the Heisman people might want their trophy back. OK, that's a cheap shot. Smith didn't get much help. Star wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. apparently injured his left foot moments after returning the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. It was the last time he touched the ball and the last time Ohio State had the lead. Ginn spent much of the rest of the game on the sidelines. Hard to score while you're leaning on metal crutches, eh, Jim? " -- Wow, what is it like to not have a receiver with superior speed to be a down field threat?
"With the confetti strewn all over the grass at University of Phoenix Stadium, the Buckeyes' undefeated streak over and the total offensive yards battle won by Florida, 370-82, we've become aware of something else about Smith: He had never seen anything like the speed of Florida's defensive line." -- Wow, I guess I didn't realize that Smith wasn't responsible for that. Quinn always was.
"For what seemed like the first time all season, early in a nightmarish first half of the title game, the nation's most unflappable signal-caller looked flustered. And even though Smith took the blame -- 'It's a lack of execution on my part as a quarterback,' he said -- it was hardly all his fault. What would you do if you lost your most dangerous receiver, Ted Ginn Jr., to an injury in the first quarter? And if two defensive ends with the size and speed of velociraptors -- the 6-foot-6, 251-pound Moss and the 6-5, 262-pound Harvey -- were scorching your O-line and getting up in your grill on nearly every passing play? '[Smith was] running for his life,' said Harvey. 'That's what good D made him do.' Even the strongest Heisman stiff-arm couldn't deflect that degree of heat." -- I revert to previous comments.
"The Florida debacle was just one game in Smith's decorated college career. He still delivered Ohio State fans the greatest regular season by a quarterback in school history, and got the Buckeyes to the brink of their second national championship of the decade. OSU coach Jim Tressel deflected the blame for the loss away from Smith, saying, 'I think we, at times, put Troy in a situation that was tough from a scheme standpoint.'" -- Wow, no one in this country was asked to do more than Quinn.
Although some of it is objective, it's amazing to me how those types of considerations weren't taken into account when Brady was crucified in the media this year. Again, just like his criminal past, Smith gets a pass.
