Case Keenum Making His “Case” with Some “Luck”

In any year but 2011, Case Keenum would win the Heisman.

But the attention for Andrew Luck is just too big this year. He’s a media darling. It’s too surrounding and focused for the Stanford signal caller, who might by the best college product we’ve seen since Peyton Manning. At least we’re told.

Even if Stanford loses this Saturday to Oregon, Luck would still be leading the Heisman wagon next week.

And along the lines, you have to feel for a guy like Keenum, the sixth-year senior. The guy who’s battled his whole career. Now, he's the all-time passing touchdowns record leader and the all-time leader in total touchdowns by an FBS quarterback. These are not easy feats to accomplish.

Keenum is having video game-like stats, looking invincible in this 2011 campaign. Ten games in, he has 37 touchdowns, just three interceptions and completes around 75 percent of his passes. Six hundred passing yards more than the second-place guy. Wow.

Not only does he lead the nation in passing yards and touchdowns, but he’s got an undefeated season under his belt. The Houston Cougars are now 10-0. And that’s 10 demolishing wins.

In this decade, where the focus is on a blue-turf team out in Boise, this Houston team could run side-to-side with them. Houston trades punches with any team they face and average over 52 points a game. Is it crazy to say Houston will garner an at-large bid for a BCS bowl game this year before Boise State does?

I don’t think so.

You can make the argument that the defenses Keenum faces in Conference USA are not very good. They may not be a stiff challenge, but it’s answering his job title nicely. Carving up defenses left and right ala a similar Graham Harrell from Texas Tech a few years ago.

At least in December, when the Nissan Heisman Trophy winner is announced in New York City, Keenum will be represented well, as he should. By that time, he might have another 5,000-yard season and be another all-time leader, this time in pass completions. Let's not put Keenum on a pedestal, but we should all agree he's one player you would vote for. Keenum is making history, and we aren’t taking much notice of it.