[Oasis]

Probably the biggest biases Christian faces -- and they are enormous -- are (1) he is from Stanford and not a Big-10 or SEC powerhouse (factory) like Ohio State or Alabama and (2) the Heisma-n voters are too lazy or uninterested to tape Stanford games and watch them during their prodigious spare time. 

But while I think it's secondary, I believe another prejudice also exists.  Christian doesn't fit the dominant (and maybe the only acceptable) narrative in contemporary American culture: member of discriminated-against minority or gender through exceptional talent and industry defeats obstacles white male bigotry has (directly or indirectly) placed in his/her way and wins the American dream.  Any story that doesn't fit that narrative is less compelling in our culture.  To see this all you had to do was watch the Heisma-n show last year.  I kept waiting for them to say Christian was an academic All-American (and maybe add that he was doing that at the most selective university in major college football).  Not a word about it.  If Deshaun Watson or Derrick Henry had been an academic All-American, do you think we would've heard about it fewer than 1,000 times during the show?  Academics are relevant to the Heisma-n's integrity criterion,* so the notion that "well, that doesn't matter" is nonsense.  It was bias.  ESPN knew damn well Christian was an academic All-American.  (It was announced about 4-5 days before the Heisma-n.) But a guy like Christian being smart and accomplished at an elite university didn't fit the Narrative.

The injustice done to Christian last year irritates me all the more because he probably will not have the same caliber supporting cast around him as  last year, at least not early in the season.  And he'll have to study.

  *"The outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."

[Oasis]

Probably the biggest biases Christian faces -- and they are enormous -- are (1) he is from Stanford and not a Big-10 or SEC powerhouse (factory) like Ohio State or Alabama and (2) the Heisma-n voters are too lazy or uninterested to tape Stanford games and watch them during their prodigious spare time. 

But while I think it's secondary, I believe another prejudice also exists.  Christian doesn't fit the dominant (and maybe the only acceptable) narrative in contemporary American culture: member of discriminated-against minority or gender through exceptional talent and industry defeats obstacles white male bigotry has (directly or indirectly) placed in his/her way and wins the American dream.  Any story that doesn't fit that narrative is less compelling in our culture.  To see this all you had to do was watch the Heisma-n show last year.  I kept waiting for them to say Christian was an academic All-American (and maybe add that he was doing that at the most selective university in major college football).  Not a word about it.  If Deshaun Watson or Derrick Henry had been an academic All-American, do you think we would've heard about it fewer than 1,000 times during the show?  Academics are relevant to the Heisma-n's integrity criterion,* so the notion that "well, that doesn't matter" is nonsense.  It was bias.  ESPN knew damn well Christian was an academic All-American.  (It was announced about 4-5 days before the Heisma-n.) But a guy like Christian being smart and accomplished at an elite university didn't fit the Narrative.

The injustice done to Christian last year irritates me all the more because he probably will not have the same caliber supporting cast around him as  last year, at least not early in the season.  And he'll have to study.

  *"The outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."