Ingram Takes Home Heisman

The Alabama Crimson Tide have a storied college football history, but never in their illustrious program have they produced a Heisman Trophy winner.  That all changed this past Saturday night as Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman winner.  Ingram narrowly edged Stanford running back Toby Gerhart by 28 votes (the closest voting in Heisman Trophy history).  Ingram and Gerhart were followed by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Florida quarterback and former Heisman winner, Tim Tebow. 

The 212 pound Bama' sophomore rushed for a school record 1,542 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per carry while piling up 18 touchdowns.  Ingram sealed the deal with a supreme effort in the Tides' SEC Championship Game victory over Florida rushing for 113 yards and 3 TD's and also catching a critical screen pass and rambling 56 yards on the play.  Maybe its me, but he sure reminds me of Emmitt Smith (and not because they share the same number 22).  They have very similar running styles, not speed burner types, but excellent quickness to the hole and great balance.   If Ingram can duplicate the former Dallas Cowboys output, he's in for a stellar pro career.  

In other news, some coaching vacancies have been filled:

Turner Gill was named Head Coach of the Kansas Jayhawks taking over from embattled coach Mark Mangino.   This is an excellent hire as Gill had done a marvelous job resurecting the Buffalo program from a flatlining program to a MAC Championship in two seasons.  Gill was a candidate for the Auburn job last year before the Tigers went in the direction of Gene Chizik.  With plenty of Big-12 ties (Gill was an ALL-BIG 8 quarterback with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the mid 80's) and excellent recruiting abilities, he should not only keep Kansas a contender in the weak Big 12 North division but battle Nebraska and Bo Pelini in the not so distant future.

CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR MY BOWL PREDICTIONS !!!!!!