One reason why Heisman winners often come out flat during their ensuing bowl game is that they've spent a good portion of the previous month on the banquet circuit, wining and dining their way through award ceremonies before heading to Manhattan for their Heisman moment.
Another reason ? and stick with me here ? is that for some, the bowl game is a letdown. If your team is not going to a BCS game, is it tough to get properly motivated?
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will look to avoid any Heisman malaise when the Aggies take on Oklahoma in Friday night's Cotton Bowl. Recent history ? since 2008 ? suggests that he'll be fine. Historically, however, Heisman winners have a very spotty track record in the postseason. Here's how Heisman winners have fared since 2000:
2011: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III. Beat Washington 67-56 in the Alamo Bowl.
Griffin completed 24-of-33 attempts for 295 yards and a touchdown with 18 carries for 55 yards and a score on the ground.
2010: Auburn QB Cam Newton. Beat Oregon 22-19 in the BCS National Championship Game.
Newton went 20-of-34 for 265 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, adding 22 carries for 64 yards rushing.
2009: Alabama RB Mark Ingram. Beat Texas 37-21 in the BCS National Championship Game.
Ingram carried the ball 22 times for 116 yards and scored twice.
2008: Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford. Lost 24-14 to Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.
Bradford was 26-of-41 for 257 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
2007: Florida QB Tim Tebow. Lost 41-35 to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl.
Tebow completed 17-of-33 attempts for 154 yards and three touchdowns with 57 yards and a score on 16 carries ? the worst game of his season.
2006: Ohio State QB Troy Smith. Lost 41-14 to Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.
Smith was 4-of-14 for 35 yards and an interception; he carried the ball 10 times for -29 yards.
2005: USC RB Reggie Bush (asterisk). Lost 41-38 to Texas in the Rose Bowl.
Bush had 82 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries, made six receptions for 95 yards and gained 102 yards on kickoff returns.
2004: USC QB Matt Leinart. Beat Oklahoma 55-19 in the Orange Bowl.
Leinart hit on 18-of-35 passes for 332 yards and five touchdowns as the Trojans rolled.
2003: Oklahoma QB Jason White. Lost 21-14 to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
White went 13-of-37 for 102 yards and two interceptions.
2002: USC QB Caron Palmer. Beat Iowa 38-17 in the Orange Bowl.
Palmer was 21-of-31 for 303 yards and one score.
2001: Nebraska QB Eric Crouch. Lost 37-14 to Miami in the Rose Bowl.
Crouch went 5-of-15 for 62 yards an interception, but had 114 yards on 22 carries.
2000: Florida State QB Chris Weinke. Lost 13-2 to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
Weinke was 25-of-51 for 274 yards and two interceptions.
Another reason ? and stick with me here ? is that for some, the bowl game is a letdown. If your team is not going to a BCS game, is it tough to get properly motivated?
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will look to avoid any Heisman malaise when the Aggies take on Oklahoma in Friday night's Cotton Bowl. Recent history ? since 2008 ? suggests that he'll be fine. Historically, however, Heisman winners have a very spotty track record in the postseason. Here's how Heisman winners have fared since 2000:
2011: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III. Beat Washington 67-56 in the Alamo Bowl.
Griffin completed 24-of-33 attempts for 295 yards and a touchdown with 18 carries for 55 yards and a score on the ground.
2010: Auburn QB Cam Newton. Beat Oregon 22-19 in the BCS National Championship Game.
Newton went 20-of-34 for 265 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, adding 22 carries for 64 yards rushing.
2009: Alabama RB Mark Ingram. Beat Texas 37-21 in the BCS National Championship Game.
Ingram carried the ball 22 times for 116 yards and scored twice.
2008: Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford. Lost 24-14 to Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.
Bradford was 26-of-41 for 257 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
2007: Florida QB Tim Tebow. Lost 41-35 to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl.
Tebow completed 17-of-33 attempts for 154 yards and three touchdowns with 57 yards and a score on 16 carries ? the worst game of his season.
2006: Ohio State QB Troy Smith. Lost 41-14 to Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.
Smith was 4-of-14 for 35 yards and an interception; he carried the ball 10 times for -29 yards.
2005: USC RB Reggie Bush (asterisk). Lost 41-38 to Texas in the Rose Bowl.
Bush had 82 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries, made six receptions for 95 yards and gained 102 yards on kickoff returns.
2004: USC QB Matt Leinart. Beat Oklahoma 55-19 in the Orange Bowl.
Leinart hit on 18-of-35 passes for 332 yards and five touchdowns as the Trojans rolled.
2003: Oklahoma QB Jason White. Lost 21-14 to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
White went 13-of-37 for 102 yards and two interceptions.
2002: USC QB Caron Palmer. Beat Iowa 38-17 in the Orange Bowl.
Palmer was 21-of-31 for 303 yards and one score.
2001: Nebraska QB Eric Crouch. Lost 37-14 to Miami in the Rose Bowl.
Crouch went 5-of-15 for 62 yards an interception, but had 114 yards on 22 carries.
2000: Florida State QB Chris Weinke. Lost 13-2 to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
Weinke was 25-of-51 for 274 yards and two interceptions.
