Heisman hopefuls stumble in biggest moments

NEW YORK -- Jason White appeared to be a lock to win the Heisman Trophy until he flamed out in the Big 12 title game.

Luckily for Oklahoma's quarterback, he was not alone.

Three of the four finalists for college football's most prestigious award had their worst games of the season with conference championships on the line.

In a sport where late losses often count much more than early ones in the rankings, White, Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning hope the same doesn't hold true when the Heisman is awarded Saturday night.

White threw at least two touchdown passes every game until wilting against the heavy pressure from Kansas State's defense Saturday in the Big 12 championship game.

White went 27-for-50 for 298 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in the 35-7 loss, turning what looked like a Heisman runaway into a potentially close race.

"Some guys are sitting at home relaxing and not playing, and others are playing a championship game against one of the best teams you will play the entire year," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "I believe most people will take that into consideration."

White was the only finalist who played last weekend, after some of the 922 ballots had already been sent in.

Manning was at home after completing only 44 percent of his passes in a November showdown against LSU, costing Ole Miss a chance to play for the SEC championship. Fitzgerald was recovering from a three-catch effort against Miami in a loss that cost the Panthers a share of the Big East title.

Only Michigan's Chris Perry -- a long shot to win the award -- delivered when it counted most. He capped a spectacular season with a 204-yard, two-TD game in a 35-21 victory against Ohio State that sent Michigan to the Rose Bowl.

"If he wins the Heisman Trophy, he will certainly be very deserving," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I think he had a great year playing against great competition. And in our biggest games he had his biggest games."

This year's Heisman vote figures to be a two-man race between White and Fitzgerald, with the decision coming down to the definition of what "outstanding" really means.

The award for the "most outstanding player" is usually limited to quarterbacks or running backs -- only six winners didn't play one of those two positions.

The winner also almost always plays for a top team, which hurts Manning and Fitzgerald.

Only one of the last 15 winners played for a team with as many losses as the three Manning's Rebels (9-3) had this season.

And only once since Notre Dame's Paul Hornung won the award on a losing team in 1956 had a winner played for a four-loss team like Fitzgerald's Panthers (Steve Owens, Oklahoma, 1969).

What also hurts Fitzgerald is that no sophomore has ever won the award and no pure receiver has either. Desmond Howard, Tim Brown and Johnny Rodgers also returned kicks when they won the Heisman.

But none of them put up numbers like Fitzgerald, who had 87 catches for 1,595 yards and 22 touchdowns. Fitzgerald has caught a touchdown pass in a record 18 consecutive games dating to last season.

More than statistics, Fitzgerald has put together a highlight reel of his own with catches that defy belief.

"Unbelievable," Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham said. "I'm watching tape and I'm saying as a coach, 'Don't you dare throw the ball! He's triple covered!' And it's like he's the only guy there because he comes away with it."

But Fitzgerald is involved in only a handful of plays a game, unlike White.

Few could have envisioned White coming to New York for the Heisman ceremony when his career took a second major jolt on Sept. 7, 2002.

White crumpled to the turf with a torn ligament in his right knee, ending his season and putting his career in jeopardy. White considered quitting because he tore up the other knee a year earlier.

Instead of giving up, White never stopped working. He beat out three other quarterbacks to earn the No. 1 job before fall practice and then became the biggest key to Oklahoma's record-setting offense.

"During my rehab, there were people saying that there was no way that I was going to come back or be as good as I was," White said. "That really drove me and ignited me this season."

White, The Associated Press Player of the Year, led the nation in passing efficiency, completing 64 percent of his passes for 3,744 yards, with 40 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

When compared to the last 10 quarterbacks to win the Heisman, White's efficiency rating of 167.99 ranks behind only Florida's Danny Wuerffel in 1996.

"His emergence as a great, great football player is the story of college football," Stoops said. "The biggest difference in our team is that Jason White is the quarterback. It ought to be pretty obvious."

Whether the voters feel the same will be revealed Saturday.