Will Beating Florida Make Or Break Ingram's Heisman Hopes?

We're through ten weeks of the 2009 college football season, who is the legit front-runner for the Heisman Trophy?

The Flint, Michigan native and Alabama Crimson Tide star running-back, Mark Ingram, just made a statement against LSU on Saturday. His 144 yards (6.6 a carry) screamed out to the college football world, "Hey America, I WANT the Heisman".

Ingram's sophomore campaign is one to take notice of, his Crimson Tide are 9-0 (6-0), and just came off an awe-inspiring win over 9th ranked LSU at home, and are gearing up for the showdown of the year in the SEC Championship game vs. Florida. Mark Ingram demonstrates what you look for in a running-back; resilience, power, stamina, and the desire to be the best. Mark is stead-fast carrying the load for the Tide. Someone once said, "When the best come out, the best come out to play". Someone: you couldn't have said it better.

Big Games

'Bama's power back with the number 22 on his chest lives for these moments.

Take a look at week one's match up against then 7th ranked Virginia Tech.

150 yards on the ground (5.8 a carry) and a touchdown. Mark collected three receptions for 35 yards and touchdown, applying the icing on the cake for a HUGE Roll Tide win.

October 17th's clash with the Gamecocks, an event in which Mark Ingram took center stage, gained attention, and let SC have it.

Mark rushed for 246 yards (10.3 a carry), bulldozed his way for 6 (points,td), and snagged two receptions for 23 yards. Those two receptions may not qualify as blockbuster plays, but they kept the drive alive.

Ingram knows what he has to do. Beat Florida. Alabama has Urban Meyer's Gators in their sights, and is ready to take 'em out.

It's all but set in stone that the Gators and Tide will meet in the SEC Championship game, a contest that will not only decide the conference, but more than likely produce the National Champion.

Will beating Florida guarantee that Ingram will hoist the Heisman?

Here's another question, does he already have it?

Let's compare the Gators' and Crimson Tide's Offenses/Defenses.

Both Alabama and Florida rank near the top in both offensive and defensive statistics in the SEC.

Here's the tale of the tape.

The Florida Gators are giving up a stingy 10 points per game, while the offense is cranking out just about 35 points per contest.

Alabama's defense is surrendering a minuscule 12 points per outing, while the offense posts 31 points per game.

The Florida Gators have put up 40 or more points four times this year, eclipsing 60 once.

The Crimson Tide have topped 40 points twice, while going over 50 once.

Alabama has held opponents to a touchdown or less four times.

The Gators match this accomplishment, shutting teams down for a touchdown or less four times as well.

Ingram dramatically boosted his Heisman stock on the strength of his display against the Bayou Bengals last night.

A stat was brought to my attention recently. YAC. Not yards after catch,rather,yards after contact (Cal Jones, comment on previous article).

Ingram doesn't just run the ball, he runs defenders over WHILE carrying the ball.

Just about 50% of Mark's total yards are a result of breaking tackles, avoiding initial contact, and just plain "beasting" his way for yardage.

Win or lose vs. Florida, many believe Ingram has to be the favorite for the most sought after award in collegiate sports, the Heisman Trophy.

I'm going to go out on a limb here, as I've been known to do on a regular basis.

Beating Florida will GUARANTEE Mark's immortalizing within the ranks of the greatest college football players of all time (winning the Heisman).

The SEC has produced some of the all time greats, we all know that. As perturbed as I was with Mark's choice to play for Alabama, not follow in his father's foot-steps of being a Michigan State Spartan, it was for the best.

Ingram is a super-talent, who needs the bright lights and big stage of the SEC to showcase his abilities. Any player of Mark's stature can be a big fish in a little pond. Why not be a shark in the BIGGEST pond NCAA Football has to offer, that being the SEC.

To reply to those who say "He's a sophomore, no way will he win it", so was Sam Bradford.