Gerhart Fighting Uphill Battle

The finalists for the 2009 Heisman Trophy have been chosen and will gather together in New York this weekend for the prestigious award ceremony. Among the invitees are Colt McCoy, TimTebow, Mark Ingram, Ndamukong Suh, and Toby Gerhart. The player that I find most intriguing of this bunch is Stanford's Gerhart. He represents a rare breed of player. In fact one thought by some to be extinct. He is a white running back. White athletes at the running back position have had little success not only in recent years but in recent decades. The last college running back to win a Heisman was John Cappalletti in 1973. Since then 18 running backs have won it. None were white. The lack of success is even more astonishing at the professional level. No white player has led the N.F.L. in rushing since Jim Taylor did it back in the early 60's. None has even been able to post a 1,000 yard season since 1985. It is hard to understand such a lack of production. I can offer no reasonable explanation, nor do I feel compelled to do so. But you must admit those are some mind boggling numbers. Make of it what you will , but 35 years without a Heisman, nearly half a century without an N.F.L. rushing champion, and 24 years without so much as a 1,000 yard season do not bode well for Gerhart. My gut feeling is that Ingram or McCoy will take home the Heisman. And as for Gerhart I wish him all the luck in the world during the Heisman voting and his future football career. If history is any indication he is going to need it.