2012 Heisman Trophy: Embracing the Heisman Campaign Is Great for the Game

Matt Barkley has gone high tech with his Heisman Trophy campaign, as Chris Huston let us know over at Heisman Pundit. Montee Ball and Wisconsin are going all-in for the Heisman stuff with the website and more to promote the Badger.

Like the preseason magazines, media days and preseason polls, the Heisman campaign has become synonymous with the impending start of the college football season. 

As The Register-Guard reminds us, the Heisman campaign is now the norm. Schools are spending cash on the campaigns, and they want to push their respective athletes to the forefront—regardless of how "realistic" the shot is for them to win.

And, I'll admit that I love all of them.

Folks ought to be embracing these campaigns, whether they are for your school or just a random player across the country. Recognize their worth and enjoy the undying optimism that comes with the start of the college football season. 

You see, while people are busy debating over how realistic player X's shot is at winning the hardware, all I'm seeing is the hard sell of a program and an institution to the masses. I'm seeing a back whose school has deemed him to be its best horse and is putting the player out in public as a way to help him sell himself, and ultimately sell the school as well.

That's Robert Griffin III's Heisman acceptance speech. It isn't just a "thanks" to everyone who helped him. Rather, it's a commercial for the pinnacle of college football success for the Baylor Bears.

The Heisman campaigns are the start of something special, even if they fall short of getting to New York.

For now, embrace the early campaigns—the contenders are separated from the pretenders throughout the season. Enjoy the optimism, because it means one really good thing: College football is right around the corner.