It’s that time of the year where every writer and broadcaster fills time with speculation on who will win the Heisman award as college’s best football player. There are no billboards in Times Square, perhaps a sign of these economic times, and I haven’t followed the SID campaigns. All I know is that its a three guy race, just like its a three team race for the spot as national champion.

The trouble is when it comes down to making common sense out of these popularity contests, you have to consider the voters, a bunch of poorly dressed typists who always have an axe to grind. That’s why a reliever from a bottom dweller can win AL rookie-of-the-year over a 20 year old, 14 game winner who was a factor in a pennant race. Why a 16 game winner on a losing team, that opponents tend to let up on by resting their better players, wins the Cy Young over guys who won the World Series, strikeout championship or won three more and lost three less. It’s why Joe Mauer, who won the batting title, but missed the first part of the season, snuck into the playoffs on an umps’ bad call, and got smoked by Derek Jeter’s Yankees, wins the MVP. Jeter already has enough, a world championship, unanimous adulation and Minka Kelly.

So when it comes to the Heisman, don’t look at who you think is the best player, think about the guys in the loud sport coats who vote. And keep in mind that they will maneuver the facts to conform to whom they like, aren’t jealous of, are near and dear to, or would like to be like. It boils down to three guys, and since voting is due before the national championship picture is sorted out, the outcome will hinge on the following:

TIM TEBOW – Florida QB

Pro: He’s won before and can match Archie Griffin. He’s religious and an upstanding citizen. He’s at least the key player, if not the best, on a college football juggernaut. December 5th SEC championship game against Alabama is five days before Heisman ballots are due.
Broke Herschel Walker’s SEC TD record.

Con: He’s won before. His stats are down. He apparently has a buxom girlfriend. Writers who haven’t seen him all year will vote based upon how he performs in the SEC championship. He’s too good of a person. Not much of a highlight reel in 2009.

COLT McCOY – Texas QB

Pro: He’s positioned the Longhorns into the National Championship. The conference championship against Nebraska has Texas as a solid favorite. He has never won the Heisman. He’s the key player on his unbeaten team. He’s got a good highlight reel.

Con: He started slow and his stats are down. Scouts seem to discount him. May not make it to the finish line. He’s a Texas legend named Colt.

MARK INGRAM Jr. – Alabama RB

Pro: Leading rusher in SEC. 1399 yards and 15 TDs (so far). Possible SEC champion on December 5th. Head to head performance against nationally rated Florida rushing defense will greatly influence voting. Has not been contained in 2009. Catches the ball when opponents gang up to stop the run. Could run wild and still lose SEC title.

Con: Only a sophomore. December 5th loss will drop player and team out of the picture. Father was former first round pick and played in NFL. Father is Bill Parcell’s disciple, so he may not be a sportswriter’s favorite. Father is in prison.

Our vote goes to Ingram. Tebow and McCoy play on powerhouse teams with more established support. Both quarterbacks are featured more frequently in their offenses. McCoy has shown flashes most recently and boasts 23 TD passes against 9 ints. He averages nearly 275 passing yards a game. Tebow has four ints. against 14 TD passes averaging 176 yards per game through the air, but also adds 706 rushing yards. Ingram touches the ball about 20 times a game, he has 203 attempts and 25 catches for 1399 yards. Each players’ performance on December 5th will likely determine this year’s winner, but remember the guys in the gaudy coats. Stranger things have happened.