Tim Tebow's Heisman Trophy Loss Great News for Florida Gators

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford became the fifth player in the program’s history to win the Heisman Trophy. He joined former Sooner Jason White as the only other quarterback to win the award for Oklahoma.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy came in second in the voting. Florida Gators quarterback and last year’s winner, Tim Tebow, had the most first place votes, but finished third in the voting.

Bradford became the second sophomore to win the award in the last two years. A sophomore had never won the award before last season until Tebow won it as a sophomore.

However, Bradford didn’t exactly run away with the Heisman.

He beat out McCoy by just 86 points, which was the closest the voting has been since 2001. He also became just the third player to win the award without having the most first place votes. The only other two players who did that were Notre Dame’s Paul Hornung and Oklahoma’s Billy Simms.

The gap between first and third was also the closest since 2001. Miami (FL) quarterback Ken Dorsey finished 142 points behind winner Eric Crouch that season. Tebow finished 151 points behind Bradford this season.

However, Bradford winning the Heisman is great news for Tebow and the Gators. Why, you ask? This is because Heisman winners have had some problems winning bowl games over the last eight years, especially the national championship game.

Since 2000, Heisman winners have a dismal 2-6 record in bowl games. The two players who won their bowl game were Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Both players were quarterbacks at USC.

In 2002, Palmer threw for 303 yards in a 38-17 victory over Iowa in the Orange Bowl. Just two years later, Leinart threw for 332 yards and five touchdowns in the 2004 Orange Bowl, which was the national championship game that year. The Trojans beat Oklahoma, 55-17.

But, if you think the overall bowl records for Heisman winners is bad, then let’s narrow our view. In six of the last eight seasons, the Heisman winner has played in the national championship game.

Unfortunately, of those six players, Leinart is the only one who has actually won the game. This means they have a 1-5 record.

The most recent victim of the Heisman jinx is Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith. Smith won the award in 2006 and led his Buckeyes to a berth in the national championship game against Florida. But, his performance was horrifying. He was 4-of-14 for just 45 yards and one interception. Smith was also sacked five times and totaled negative-29 rushing yards.

Other national championship losers include: Chris Weinke in 2000, Eric Crouch in 2001, Jason White in 2003, and Reggie Bush in 2005.

The only Heisman Trophy winner to not play in a BCS bowl game was Tebow last season. Tebow and the Gators played in the Capital One Bowl against Michigan. Tebow racked up 211 yards of total offense and four total touchdowns, but his performance was not enough and the Gators lost the game, 41-35.

Round one between Tebow and Bradford has been decided. Bradford won the battle for the Heisman Trophy in New York. However, if history has its way and adds Bradford to its list of national championship game losers, round two will go to Tebow.

Tebow has said all year long that a national championship is more important to him than a second Heisman Trophy.

On Jan. 8, in Miami, Tebow will get his chance to lead his team to victory over Bradford and the top ranked Oklahoma Sooners, and capture his second national championship.