Bowling Green State University Athletics
Toss Falcons' Harris into the Heisman hopper
August 25, 2003 | Football
(originally published November 6, 2002)
In the spirit of yesterday's elections, I nominate Bowling Green junior quarterback Josh Harris for the Heisman Trophy.
Why not? Harris for Heisman, besides having a nice ring to it, makes sense. As much sense as some of the other names under the radar being mentioned for the award signifying the best player in college football.
Names such as Iowa State quarterback, Seneca Wallace, North Carolina State quarterback Philip Rivers, Texas quarterback Chris Simms and Oregon running back Onterrio Smith.
In-state, Harris is a better Heisman candidate than Ohio State freshman running back Maurice Clarett, who has missed considerable playing time because of injuries, yet the Buckeyes, continue to win. Harris also compares favorably with more prominent Heisman candidates: Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey, Washing State quarterback Jason Gesser, Miami running back Willis McGahee and Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich, who, like, Harris, plays in the Mid-American Conference.
I'll take Harris over Dorsey, who reminds me of former Miami quarterback Steve Walsh. When Dorsey gets in trouble, he has a safety valve: McGahee. Take Dorsey out of Miami's lineup, and the Hurricanes are talented enough to still win big.
Harris leads the country in scoring. He quarterback a Top 25 team that hasn't been nationally ranked since the 1980''s. The Falcons are one of four unbeaten teams in Division 1-A.
Without Harris under center, BG coach Urban Meyer wouldn't be mentioned as a candidate for the Michigan State vacancy. Heck, without Harris in the lineup, BG wouldn't be undefeated.
Harris should be taken seriously as a Heisman candidate because he's irreplaceable to BG. He gives he mid major Falcons a national identity.
Harris makes BG's wide-open offense go; not the other way around. When you complete nearly 59 percent of your passes for 1,699 yards and 14 touchdowns, that is unbelievable.
What Harris has done has made Bowling Green a team that pollsters, bowl- game officials and high school recruits, locally and nationally, can finally take seriously.
The recruits see Harris produce mind-boggling numbers week after week, they see Bowling Green featured on ESPN and in national publications, and they realize playing in the MAC is not bad duty after all.
They see Harris throwing darts to his receivers, and they can all imagine how good they would look at the business end of his passes. They see him running for touchdowns, and they realize how much better he'll be next year. If you are a high school wide receiver or running back in Ohio, you have to be watching Josh Harris and wondering how you'd look in a Bowling Green uniform.
There is a precedent for MAC players being considered for the Heisman. Randy Moss and Chad Pennington of Marshall were invited to the Heisman ceremonies. At his current pace, Harris should also be considered. If not this year, then definitely next year.
