November 15, 2007, a night that lives in infamy.
Maybe not for everyone, but for anyone who roots for the Oregon Ducks and specifically 2 things which have eluded the program since its inception: College football’s ultimate prize and the college player’s ultimate award.
That Thursday night in the desert of Arizona, Dennis Dixon’s knee gave-out and in the process decimated the team’s hope for a national title, and the program’s shot at its first Heisman award winner. Leading-up to that game, Oregon was ranked #2 in the country and their signal-caller by most accounts, #1 on the list of Heisman hopefuls. It was the inaugural season of what we’d now refer to as the Chip Kelly Era, and to some the birth of today’s no-huddle, up-tempo game football has become. That offense was as unstoppable, if not more, than any the Ducks have trotted-out since, and in the process was poised to provide Oregon and their fans a level of notoriety unrivaled by even the best of their predecessors. Unfortunately, sport and the fickle nature of it had other things in mind, and since left Duck fans craving what they’ve felt fate stole from them more than 7 years ago.
This season offers an opportunity to take back what Oregon fans feel was rightfully theirs in 2007. With 2 regular season games, a conference title game, and as many as 2 postseason games looming ahead, the Ducks have at least a chance at a national title and a better-than-average chance to win the Heisman Trophy.
So, I ask you Duck fans; if allowed just one of the aforementioned accolades, which would you prefer: The national championship you’ve been chasing since the turn of the century, or the award which carries with it a lifetime worth of recognition?
Obviously, the majority’s initial response would be the national championship. After all, it’s every team’s goal to be the best, and as a fan of a team you ultimately aspire to be recognized as such. But also as a fan, you hope that the players responsible for said recognition will be honored for what they’ve done, in addition to who they are and how they represent the institution you love.
Marcus Mariota is what the Heisman hopes to represent. Not only is he worthy based on his performance on the field, but also based on how he carries himself off of it. Certainly, he nor anyone really is perfect, but considering what the Heisman has had to put-up with regarding recent honorees and their subsequent behavior, the soft spoken quarterback from the islands would be a breath of fresh air amidst the pollution of his modern contemporaries.
Cam Newton? Won the award despite swirling suspicions of his dad selling his services to the highest bidder.
Johnny Manziel? Twitter fodder, tales of arrogance and entitlement, and an overall attitude more befitting weekend detention than that of a Heisman Trophy winner.
Jameis Winston? Embroiled in a handful of controversies scratching the surface of a new depth of immaturity.
And even Robert Griffin III, who while seemingly an upstanding young man, can’t get out of his own ego’s way.
While impossible to predict the future, it seems difficult to believe that Mariota – if he were to win – would do nothing shy of representing the award in the fashion in which it was intended. He has no history on the wrong side of the law, seems to abhor the spotlight many of his predecessors have embraced, and is more likely to deflect praise and attention opposed to attracting it in the name of his “brand.” He would be an attractive winner from the Heisman’s perspective, and a beacon of pride for the community that is “Oregon Football.”
But with that in mind, would all of that be enough to trump the title; 2015 College Football National Champions? For Oregon fans may like the idea of joining a club consisting of Heisman-award-winning institutions, they’d also likely enjoy putting to bed fodder revolving around them not closing the deal.
Husky fans, while inarguably road kill for the Ducks for more than a decade, have but one thing left to dangle over the heads of their “daddies”…National Champions. In addition, people locally as well as nationwide looking to downplay the success story Oregon’s been over the last 20 years, needle “Nike U” with the simple fact they’ve yet to get over the hump. One national title and that all goes away, and with it the final hurdle in the way of a mission that started a couple decades ago.
Oregon has a week until their next game, 3 until the Pac-12 Championship, and til the end of the year if they’re lucky enough to make the college football playoff, but along the way their quarterback has the opportunity to secure the game’s most prestigious award, and potentially cement his legacy as the school’s first recipient, and the state’s first national champion.
Which would you prefer?
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