By Tyler Alley
Sports Editor

Junior quarterback Robert Griffin III approached the Heisman ceremony as he has approached all media events this semester, with an air of dignity, glory to God and a sense of humor.

Even on the national stage, standing next to Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, he pulled up his pants legs and showed off a pair of red and blue Superman socks complete with capes on the back side.

“Well, now that my socks are out there I got nothing to lose, right?” he said to get some laughs from the audience.

When the announcement finally came that Baylor had just earned its first Heisman trophy in history, and while Bears everywhere roared with ecstasy and chanted “R-G-3,” Griffin shook hands with the other candidates and his head coach, Art Briles. He then walked back to hug his parents, his sister and his fiancée, before finally walking on stage to accept the trophy.

“This moment right here is unbelievably believable,” Griffin said to begin his acceptance speech. “It’s unbelievable because in the moment, we’re all amazed when great things happen. It’s believable because great things don’t happen without hard work. The great coach Art Briles always says great things only come with great effort. We’ve certainly worked for this. That’s why everybody associated with Baylor University has a reason to celebrate tonight.”

Griffin received 1,687 points, beating out Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck (1407), Alabama running back Trent Richardson, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball and LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.

“It was so well-deserved by Robert Griffin,” Luck said. “It was very hard to be upset.”

Griffin joins a group, known as the “Heisman fraternity,” that includes some of the greatest names in football history.

“It’s paramount, but it’s not just me,” Griffin said. “Baylor is always forever in this fraternity as well. We had nobody hanging up, but now we at least have one. And hopefully we’ll have more in the future. To be a part of these guys behind me, be a part of greatness, you can’t ask for more. Not only are they great football players, but they’re great people.”

Griffin’s high school football coach, head coach Jack Welch of Copperas Cove High School, said he was very emotional following the announcement.

“I actually cried. Tears of joy,” Welch said. “It’s like a dream come true. These things just don’t happen. It’s Robert’s victory, but it’s also a victory for the area, our school Baylor.”

Welch said Griffin has matured very well as a football player, and Briles and his staff have done a great job grooming and shaping him.

For weeks now, members of the media have been placing doubt in Griffin’s ability to win the Heisman, including one memorable quote from Kirk Herbstreit who said, “He’s from Baylor. He’s not going to win the Heisman.” Griffin was asked if he had the last laugh.

“We’re still trying to laugh some more,” he responded. “They told Tyrann he couldn’t play, and look at him at LSU doing great things. They told me I couldn’t play quarterback, and I’m at Baylor doing the best job I possibly can. They might say it couldn’t happen at Baylor, but that’s why it’s college football, and that’s why we play every Saturday.”

Griffin first gained national Heisman attention after Baylor’s opening game of the season, when the Bears defeated then-No. 14 TCU in a dramatic 50-48 game. Griffin opened the year with 359 passing yards, five touchdown passes and a big third-down reception on a trick play during what proved to be the game-winning field goal drive.

In what has come to be known as Griffin’s Heisman moment, he threw for 479 yards and four touchdowns against then-No. 5 Oklahoma, including the game-winning, 34-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Terrance Williams with eight seconds left.

On the season, Griffin completed 74 percent of his throws for 3,998 passing yards with 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions, earning him the Davey O’Brien Award for best collegiate quarterback in the nation. He also ran for 644 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Griffin was also named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

Welch said he’s very proud of Griffin and he texts him all the time. What did Welch text him after the Heisman announcement?

“I texted him, ‘Praise God.’”

No. 10 quarterback Robert Griffin III deflects Texas players as he runs for a touchdown on Saturday at Floyd Casey Stadium. Baylor defeated Texas, 48-24, to finish the season at 9-3.
Meagan Downing | Lariat Photographer

By Krista Pirtle
Sports Writer

He is one of three players in the history of the FBS with more than 10,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing, graduated both high school and college early, competed in the Olympic Trials at the age of 17, is a finalist for the Manning Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and the Heisman trophy.

His name is Robert Griffin III and he is the quarterback at Baylor University.

Monday it was formally announced that Griffin had been invited to New York City for the Heisman ceremony, along with Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

According to ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, the name on the front of his jersey will keep him from the Heisman.

“He’s from Baylor,” Herbstreit said. “He’s not going to win the Heisman.”

Griffin disagrees, crediting the name on the front of his jersey more than the one on the back.

“It’s not just about me, it’s about all of Baylor Nation,” Griffin said. “I don’t know if you can say we deserve it, but it would definitely be warranted.”

Originally, Griffin was planning on attending the University of Houston, but when he found out head coach Art Briles was leaving there to take the head coaching job at Baylor, he followed along.

“I knew he could run because I had some friends, high school track coaches, who were watching him run,” Briles said. “That was the first thing that caught our eye. Then when he came to camp, I remember after we had gone through some drills throwing, telling the coaches hey we got to hide this guy. This guy is special. I was really excited when I saw him throw the football. You can teach somebody to throw and you can teach proper pocket etiquette and form, but I haven’t ever seen a slow guy get fast.”

On the season, Griffin has accumulated 3,998 yards passing and 644 rushing, responsible for 45 touchdowns. He leads the nation with a 72.4 completion rate.

“I think we have the best quarterback in the nation,” junior tight end Jerod Monk said. “He’s phenomenal when throwing the ball around. He gets it to a lot of guys and there are opportunities to score. Just looking at the defense, he knows where to throw the ball, and he executes the offense really well. You don’t see hardly anybody in the country throw the deep ball like him. It’s amazing.”

The Baylor team, led by Griffin, stepped up this 2011 season. It all started with the upset over then No. 14 TCU 50-48. Another boost for Griffin’s résumé is his role in Baylor’s undefeated November, highlighted by Baylor stunning then No. 5 OU with a 45-38 victory, sealing by a last second 34-yard touchdown pass.

“He has the ability to make plays that no other quarterback can make,” senior inside receiver Kendall Wright said.

With both Luck and Richardson done with conference play, Griffin had one extra weekend to state his case for the Heisman on then national stage in Waco against a renowned program, the University of Texas.

“We don’t plan on letting anyone win the Heisman against us,” Texas linebacker Keenan Robinson said early in the week.

Griffin and the Bears had the opposite view on the game as Griffin hit Wright for a 59-yard touchdown pass the second play of the game.

“I think he is [worthy of the Heisman],” Robinson said after the game. “Tonight he showed that and played great against a great defense. He did his job. He scored 48 points on us, so I think he is.”

Looking back, Briles acknowledges Griffin’s Heisman moments, but said it is his efforts over the whole season that earned him a shot at the award.

“I think he’s done enough this season to win a Heisman,” Briles said after the Texas game. “I don’t think it comes down to one day. I think it certainly helped him today without a doubt, but when I think you judge somebody, you judge them over the long run, not the short run. His long run has been very impressive this year.”

By definition, the Heisman is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in America.

“He’s the most dynamic player in the NCAA right now,” running back Terrance Ganaway said. “Why wouldn’t he win it?”

A scoreless first half. Two interceptions thrown – half of all Baylor interceptions this season. Only one touchdown pass.

The collapse at Oklahoma State was the worst Baylor fans had seen this season.

Before the OSU game, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III had been shooting to the top of the Heisman Trophy watch. On Oct. 24, CBS Sports projected him at No. 2 with 35 points – only one point behind Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Unfortunately, OSU sullied his fame almost as quickly as they seized the game. As of Oct. 29 at 8:33 p.m., Robert Griffin III had fallen to sixth place on the ESPN Heisman watch. Neither ESPN nor CBS is the ultimate Heisman authority, but at this point they are the closest we can get to informed predictions.

Here comes the real question. Is the renowned RG3 less than what we thought? Was he built up so much that the only place left for him to go was down?

No.

Four quarterbacks and one running back are now ranked higher on the Heisman watch than Griffin: Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Alabama running back Trent Richardson, Boise State’s Kellen Moore, Clemson’s Tajh Boyd and Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson.

Ready for the shock? Griffin’s stats are comparable to and just as impressive as his Heisman peers.

He has thrown for 2,375 yards resulting in 23 touchdowns (the same as Luck) and four interceptions (the same as Luck) with a 75.4 completion percentage (better than Luck).

So what happened to Griffin? Why has he suddenly dropped off the Heisman radar? It boils down to one thing – team record.

Stanford, Alabama and Boise State all remain undefeated. Clemson lost its first game over the weekend to Georgia Tech. Wisconsin lost two weeks in a row – to Michigan State and Ohio State – but they are still 6-2 for the season, and 2-2 in their conference.

This season, the Baylor Bears are 4-3, 1-3 in the Big 12.

Looking at the past, there is no doubt a good team record influences votes. In 2010, when Auburn quarterback Cam Newton won, he led Auburn through an undefeated season. After Alabama running back Mark Ingram claimed the Heisman in 2009, Alabama went on to beat Texas in the national championship game.

History doesn’t lie.

The Heisman Trophy was established to honor a college football player who deserves recognition for his outstanding performance.

But let’s face the facts. It takes more than just being an outstanding player to receive the Heisman.

Obviously, it takes a great player who has the stats to back up his nomination. However, it also takes a certain level of recognition, or popularity, which would encourage an entire nation of college football fans to recognize one’s accomplishments. Finally, a Heisman nominee needs to be a member of a team that is capable of making the championship game, or at least be in the running to do so.

The Heisman is not simply recognition of a player, but of the team and program as a whole. Baylor has a good team, and it’s getting better.

Unfortunately, it is not yet at the caliber of other Heisman nominee teams.

Griffin has all the talent and individual stats that should make him a top Heisman contender, and thanks to a great start, he has earned some national recognition. But until the team is able to elevate itself to BCS Championship eligibility, Griffin will fall short.

What a shame.

It seems as if the lack of a supporting cast on the field is overshadowing Griffin’s accomplishments. One can always question if he would be ranked higher if he had a running back like Richardson, an offensive line that didn’t allow 17 sacks, or a defense with more experience and maturity.

But that’s all they will ever be – questions – and the answers won’t come this season. For now, the only sureties are in the AP Top 25 – Stanford is No. 4, Alabama is No. 2, Boise State is No. 5, Clemson is No. 11, Wisconsin is No. 19, and Baylor no longer exists on the poll.

Perhaps the Heisman should be a representation of a player who has carried his team to a higher level. Maybe the Heisman Committee has it all wrong. What if Robert Griffin III really is the ideal picture of a Heisman winner? Unfortunately, Baylor may never know.

Savannah Pullin is a senior business journalism major from The Woodlands.