Repeating the Heisman Is a Tough Road for Alabama's Mark Ingram

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) While many are pointing to the Crimson Tide and saying how hard it will be to repeat, the same could be more so for Alabama's running back Mark Ingram.

Everybody knows each opponent Alabama plays will bring their "A" game because they are playing the defending national champion. A win against them would make the whole season for most teams. Alabama, of course, has a bulls-eye on its back, but the target on Ingram might be even bigger.

It's not bad enough that everybody wants to tell his child how he brought down a Heisman Trophy winner in the open field just to have something of note on their own resume, but the toughest thing that could keep Mark Ingram from repeating may be his own teammates.

Saban's edict that Alabama will throw the ball more this year could seriously hurt the number of carries Ingram gets. Let's face it: Alabama brings back a talented group of receivers along with a senior quarterback who hasn't lost a game since he got curly hair in his nether regions. Why wouldn't Alabama want to throw more?

Here, Ingram is almost his own worst enemy. The sheer threat of him running will be enough to keep the passing game open. But if that weren't enough, there are the other talented running backs waiting to burst into the opponent's secondary.

It helped Ingram last year that Trent Richardson was only a freshman and that Roy Upchurch was often nicked up. Richardson is a year wiser and stronger, so he could contend not only for more carries but also for the main starting job.

If that weren't bad enough, there is another running back that the 'Bama coaches can't wait to see rip through opposing teams as he did all last year against the first team defense as a member of the scout team. Of course, I'm talking about Eddie Lacy, the third spoke in that great running back wheel they have in Tuscaloosa. And there are even more good ones behind Lacy.

Yes, Alabama's own team may do something that no other team could do: cut Mark Ingram's rushing yardage.

Ingram was one of three players Saban brought to SEC media days and of course he was asked in his question-and-answer session: Is winning the second Heisman a goal of his?

His answer was totally unselfish in the way we've all known him to be.

"Of course, that would be great. It's not my main focus. My main focus right now is to better myself as a player each and every day, become the best player I can be for my football team, make the best out of what I can do, put myself in the best position where I can make a lot of plays so I can help our team win games.

"In that way, I'll be successful to myself. Not just winning the Heisman Trophy will determine whether I'm successful or not."

Team first, seeing the big picture, working to make it happen, setting the right goals, all things that Nick Saban has drilled into Mark and things you can see he's adopted when he speaks.

Mark Ingram was and will always be a winner. He doesn't need another ring or another trophy to make him happy. His happiness comes from knowing he's done his best, and his best is what we'll see this year.