North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Rivers Gets Tangerine But No Big Apple
12/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 11, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Let's call the Heisman Trophy out for what it is: an award that honors the best player on one of the best college teams. Oklahoma quarterback Jason White fits that description. Mississippi signal caller Eli Manning had a great year for a team that supposedly overachieved. And Philip Rivers? He of the 4,016 yards passing, 71 percent accuracy rate on 438 attempts and ONLY seven interceptions will not be sitting next to the other two quarterbacks at Saturday's Heisman Trophy presentation ceremony in New York primarily because his team didn't win enough games to satisfy Heisman voters.
The headline of a column in Thursday's New and Observer summed it up: "Pack Losses Cost Rivers Any Chance."
"Humans Need Oxygen to Breathe."
"Britney Spears Wears Skimpy Clothes."
"Michael Jackson's Face Has Been Surgically Altered."
"Tiger Woods Plays Golf Well."
Unfortunately, that headline shouldn't have to be as obvious as it is. The Heisman is supposed to be an individual award that goes to the best player in college football. If Philip Rivers isn't one of the best four players in America, then Ted Kennedy isn't a liberal and Rush Limbaugh isn't conservative.
While I congratulate Jason White and Eli Manning on spectacular seasons, I don't think either of them were as good as Rivers this year, and I'm not basing that on just statistics, which do give Rivers the edge. NC State's disappointing 7-5 mark this season might very well have been a lot worse had any other quarterback been running the show.
Even with starting left tackle Chris Colmer out all year, running back T.A. McLendon hampered most of the year, and receiver Sterling Hicks gone three games into the year, Rivers still managed to put up monster statistics, while leading an offense that led the ACC in total offense, scoring offense and passing offense.
I don't recall seeing him on the field when a young Wolfpack defense often struggled, yielding nearly 30 points per game. And during some costly kicking game slip-ups down the stretch, he was usually on the bench talking to quarterbacks coach Curt Cignetti in the booth. Can you imagine any team in college football having a legitimate chance to win back-to-back games against very good teams despite giving up a combined total of 462 yards rushing in those contests? That's what happened in NC State's last two regular season games against Florida State and Maryland.
We all saw Rivers stroll into two of the nation's most vicious venues - Ohio Stadium in Columbus and Doak Campbell in Tallahassee - and leave both the Buckeyes and Seminoles shaking their heads over his eerie accuracy. For the record, he was 64-of-90 (71%) for 737 yards and eight touchdowns against those two vaunted powerhouses. Yet because the Wolfpack lost both games, after five overtimes no less, his performances have somehow become unworthy of stronger Heisman consideration.
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden called Rivers "the best quarterback we've played against since we've been here."
Bowden's son, Terry, a studio analyst for ABC, said "Rivers should win the Heisman Trophy."
Unfortunately, none of the other Heisman voters are named Bowden.
Earlier in the week, Rivers appeared to already see the writing on the wall when was asked about his chances of being invited to New York.
"Even having my named tossed around all year was an honor," he said. "While it would be a great opportunity and I would be excited to get that chance, I don't have my hopes up so high that it would be a disappointment if it doesn't happen."
It didn't happen, so Rivers' first ever trip to New York probably won't take place until he plays for or against the Jets or Giants in the NFL. And even then, he'll need a lift through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels to get his first taste of the city that never sleeps.
For now, the second leading passer in NCAA history will try to make the most of his final college game against Kansas in the Mazda Tangerine Bowl. Orlando is a wonderful place to visit and no doubt he and his family will enjoy themselves.
But as the best quarterback in college football this year, he also deserved a chance to be sitting in the Big Apple this weekend.
