RUTGERS & THE HEISMAN TROPHY, PERFECT TOGETHER?

Before I get a bunch of hate mail, I realize that this topic doesn’t really involve a “Philly” sports team, but with only one Division I football team within an hour’s drive of the city, I feel I deserve the right to discuss my beloved alma mater, the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University. Never in my life did I think I’d read the name of a Rutgers’ football player and the Heisman trophy in the same sentence, until I opened today’s Camden Courier Post and saw the following:

Brian Leonard was 8 years old when he first broke into a Heisman Trophy stance for a picture.

These days, Leonard is as reluctant to take a Heisman pose as he would to don his old Pop Warner uniform, but that hasn't stopped Rutgers from promoting its star running back as a candidate for college football's most esteemed award.

Leonard's Heisman candidacy officially got under way Tuesday at Big East Media Day despite some admitted apprehension from Rutgers' all-purpose running back.

"I'm not an individual award guy, but really it is a great honor to be recognized like that," said Leonard, whose picture is displayed prominently on the cover of the Rutgers' 2006 media guide with the words "Heisman Candidate' in the upper left corner. "I always dreamed of it, but right now it's just a nomination."

It's more than that, of course. For Rutgers, it's the start of what school officials say will be a media blitz to turn Leonard into a legit Heisman candidate.

"Our main focus is to get his name out there to as many people as we can," said John Wooding, Rutgers' associate director of athletics communications. "He's probably the best all-purpose back in the country."

Yet, even Wooding understands his job will be made more difficult by Leonard's lack of gaudy rushing statistics. As a junior, Leonard's 740 rushing yards didn't even lead the Scarlet Knights but, coupled with his team-leading 568 receiving yards, his 1,308 all-purpose yards ranked third in the Big East.

"You have to look at his total yardage numbers, look at his scoring numbers," Wooding said. "He's certainly the most versatile back in the country, so we just have to make sure people are aware of him and know who he is."

Big East coaches sure do.

"What's the criteria for being a Heisman candidate?" West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez mockingly said when asked if Leonard is worthy of such recognition. "Is it a campaign, a bunch of guys sending out bobble heads? I mean, what makes him a candidate?

"To me, if a guy's a great player he deserves to be mentioned and Brian Leonard is not only a great player, he's one of the best players that has ever played in the Big East Conference. I don't know what more he has to do to get looked at nationally. He's certainly in my opinion one of the best football players in America."

Added Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, "The different things he can do running the football and catching it, blocking, I got a tremendous amount of respect for him."
And yet, the people who really count the ones who vote for the Heisman award don't know much about Leonard.

"To be honest I didn' t really know much about him until today," said Ivan Maisel, who covers college football for ESPN and is one of about 900 Heisman voters nationally. "But hearing (Rutgers coach) Greg (Schiano) talk about him and getting a sense of the buzz around the league about him, you realize he's a pretty unique football player."

I’m really excited about Leonard’s senior season and the potential exposure it will bring to the Rutgers program, but I can only imagine the onslaught of jokes from the national media it will bring. Anyone who has watched Leonard through his career knows that he is a legit pro prospect and has been an outstanding player on some less than stellar teams. However, that is what the national media focuses upon: the history of losing. If Leonard stays in the Heisman picture for a good portion of the upcoming seaon and the team makes another bowl trip, then it is entirely possible that the perception of the program will change.

In fact, with the Eagles’ penchant for bringing in players with local ties (Westbrook, LJ, Mike McMahon, Bruce Perry, etc.), don’t be surprised if the Birds use an early pick next April on Leonard to finally replace the current inept fullback, Josh Parry. If you are an Eagles’ fan, you can only hope this prediction comes true because I promise you, Brian Leonard will not disappoint.