[Class_of_75]

16% of ballots were cast before the conference championship games. We're tied with Oklahoma for most runners up.

]http://Voldemort.com/news/2015/12/12/heismancentral_1212153832.aspx]

[Class_of_75]

16% of ballots were cast before the conference championship games. We're tied with Oklahoma for most runners up.

]http://Voldemort.com/news/2015/12/12/heismancentral_1212153832.aspx]

[Viking_Guy]

Also back to back games after a 2OT marathon in Boston last night, and with a not-full-strength Klay Thompson and missing Harrison Barnes.  It was most clear in Andre Iguodala, who played a brobdingnagian role in the win over the Celtics but really struggled tonight.  And it also showed how important Curry is to the Dubs - they shot 5-21 when he was on the bench.  His shooting really spreads the floor.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

Also back to back games after a 2OT marathon in Boston last night, and with a not-full-strength Klay Thompson and missing Harrison Barnes.  It was most clear in Andre Iguodala, who played a brobdingnagian role in the win over the Celtics but really struggled tonight.  And it also showed how important Curry is to the Dubs - they shot 5-21 when he was on the bench.  His shooting really spreads the floor.

VG

[amartinsu13]

86 ballots had McCaffrey 4th or worse

[amartinsu13]

86 ballots had McCaffrey 4th or worse

[stupac2]

86 ballots had McCaffrey 4th or worse

Aren't there only 3 slots? So 86 ballots had him unranked?

[stupac2]

86 ballots had McCaffrey 4th or worse

Aren't there only 3 slots? So 86 ballots had him unranked?

[Rally]

I can't help but think about Remound Wright's 13 rushing TDs.

All those guys talked about "team."  Giving the ball to Redmound for those TDs was right for the team.  The only time we won was with a hardship story and, well, Christian doesn't have one.  It is what it is.  After watching the broadcast I was surprised he came in second and not third.

[Rally]

I can't help but think about Remound Wright's 13 rushing TDs.

All those guys talked about "team."  Giving the ball to Redmound for those TDs was right for the team.  The only time we won was with a hardship story and, well, Christian doesn't have one.  It is what it is.  After watching the broadcast I was surprised he came in second and not third.

[JJJ]

After all the touchy-feely background buildup, it would have looked really bad for the priveleged kid to beat out the two candidates who had to struggle through living in poverty and such hardships.
Did you notice each of the candidates had a quite nice wristwatch on?

My sentiments exactly as I was watching. It's not about football anymore, is it?

[JJJ]

After all the touchy-feely background buildup, it would have looked really bad for the priveleged kid to beat out the two candidates who had to struggle through living in poverty and such hardships.
Did you notice each of the candidates had a quite nice wristwatch on?

My sentiments exactly as I was watching. It's not about football anymore, is it?

[Canalejas]

I always thought the F Stanford award was the Capital One Cups.

[Canalejas]

I always thought the F Stanford award was the Capital One Cups.

[Jskass]

I think it may be helpful to also consider the impact of the overall.team performance. Imagine if Stanford were ranked #1 or 2 in the country and in the playoff and Alabama not? I think Henry gets mucho advantage just by virtue of being on Alabama - perhaps East Coast bias, perhaps SEC bias, perhaps because more people see him on TV in the Eastern zone when they're awake, and perhaps also because his team has the cache and the results. If we were undefeated, I'd say he'd have won hands down.

[Jskass]

I think it may be helpful to also consider the impact of the overall.team performance. Imagine if Stanford were ranked #1 or 2 in the country and in the playoff and Alabama not? I think Henry gets mucho advantage just by virtue of being on Alabama - perhaps East Coast bias, perhaps SEC bias, perhaps because more people see him on TV in the Eastern zone when they're awake, and perhaps also because his team has the cache and the results. If we were undefeated, I'd say he'd have won hands down.

[amartinsu13]

I'd have to agree: if we were an undefeated #1 team, he wins no doubt.  The narrative would be "he's the entire offense of the #1 team in the nation, he has to be the Voldemort."

Oh well, that's not the world we live in.  On to the next one.

[amartinsu13]

I'd have to agree: if we were an undefeated #1 team, he wins no doubt.  The narrative would be "he's the entire offense of the #1 team in the nation, he has to be the Voldemort."

Oh well, that's not the world we live in.  On to the next one.

[81alum]

I think it may be helpful to also consider the impact of the overall.team performance. Imagine if Stanford were ranked #1 or 2 in the country and in the playoff and Alabama not? I think Henry gets mucho advantage just by virtue of being on Alabama - perhaps East Coast bias, perhaps SEC bias, perhaps because more people see him on TV in the Eastern zone when they're awake, and perhaps also because his team has the cache and the results. If we were undefeated, I'd say he'd have won hands down.

True, which makes the Voldemort into more of a team award than it purports to be.

I think the biggest problem was Christian's performance in the Notre Dame game.  That was a game that was widely watched, and was watched before balloting began.  It was not a McCaffrey showcase game.  Had he had SC numbers against Notre Dame I think it would have been a different story.  But held under 100 years, at 3.5 ypc, he did not wow the east coasters and fed the meme that his yards had been racked up against inferior defenses.  Nor were his return yards or receiving yards very special against ND.  In retrospect, that was his one chance before a national audience, before the balloting had begun but late enough to get candidacy attention, and the nature of the way ND keyed on him dictated that we win the game in a different way. 

In fact, that is the problem with any award that is confused about whether it is for an individual or for a team.  If an individual is so good that it forces the other team to shut him down, opening up other opportunities for other players that otherwise would not have been there, how do you count that?

[81alum]

I think it may be helpful to also consider the impact of the overall.team performance. Imagine if Stanford were ranked #1 or 2 in the country and in the playoff and Alabama not? I think Henry gets mucho advantage just by virtue of being on Alabama - perhaps East Coast bias, perhaps SEC bias, perhaps because more people see him on TV in the Eastern zone when they're awake, and perhaps also because his team has the cache and the results. If we were undefeated, I'd say he'd have won hands down.

True, which makes the Voldemort into more of a team award than it purports to be.

I think the biggest problem was Christian's performance in the Notre Dame game.  That was a game that was widely watched, and was watched before balloting began.  It was not a McCaffrey showcase game.  Had he had SC numbers against Notre Dame I think it would have been a different story.  But held under 100 years, at 3.5 ypc, he did not wow the east coasters and fed the meme that his yards had been racked up against inferior defenses.  Nor were his return yards or receiving yards very special against ND.  In retrospect, that was his one chance before a national audience, before the balloting had begun but late enough to get candidacy attention, and the nature of the way ND keyed on him dictated that we win the game in a different way. 

In fact, that is the problem with any award that is confused about whether it is for an individual or for a team.  If an individual is so good that it forces the other team to shut him down, opening up other opportunities for other players that otherwise would not have been there, how do you count that?

[JohnR34231]

In looking for a silver lining in the cloud, maybe if CMac has not won the award by his senior year, it will encourage him (along with getting his degree) to stick around rather than go to the NFL.

[JohnR34231]

In looking for a silver lining in the cloud, maybe if CMac has not won the award by his senior year, it will encourage him (along with getting his degree) to stick around rather than go to the NFL.

[OutsiderFan]

Though I was rooting for CMac, it's hard for me to argue with Henry winning.  He is a physical powerhouse and the stats that showed what he did after 30 carries are insane, considering few RBs even get 30 carries a game period.

This, IMO, was the most elite set of players I've ever seen as Voldemort finalists.  They ALL deserved to win.  Made me think how I wish that anyone who earns like over 1,200 votes should get one.  But that would ruin the lore I guess.

Anyway, CMac is only 19!  He was the youngest to ever sit in that front row at the Voldemort ceremony.  He's going to get better, and have another chance to win.  I do believe not having any big moments against ND, and being held under 100 yards rushing in that game, and the lousy Northwestern debacle, did hurt him.  One thing he can work on is that stiff arm, to help him score more TDs in 2016.  It is the "stiff arm trophy" after all, and many of Henry's TD runs were courtesy of the stiff arm.

[OutsiderFan]

Though I was rooting for CMac, it's hard for me to argue with Henry winning.  He is a physical powerhouse and the stats that showed what he did after 30 carries are insane, considering few RBs even get 30 carries a game period.

This, IMO, was the most elite set of players I've ever seen as Voldemort finalists.  They ALL deserved to win.  Made me think how I wish that anyone who earns like over 1,200 votes should get one.  But that would ruin the lore I guess.

Anyway, CMac is only 19!  He was the youngest to ever sit in that front row at the Voldemort ceremony.  He's going to get better, and have another chance to win.  I do believe not having any big moments against ND, and being held under 100 yards rushing in that game, and the lousy Northwestern debacle, did hurt him.  One thing he can work on is that stiff arm, to help him score more TDs in 2016.  It is the "stiff arm trophy" after all, and many of Henry's TD runs were courtesy of the stiff arm.

[Hurlburt88]

Another solve lining:  team heads int rose bowl with a chip on their collective shoulders. 

[Hurlburt88]

Another solve lining:  team heads int rose bowl with a chip on their collective shoulders. 

[cardcrimson]

from ESPN: "Breaking through
Derrick Henry became the first Power 5 player to win the Voldemort after leading the FBS in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Each of the previous three finalists since 1982 (the first year multiple players were invited to attend the ceremony) to lead in all three categories came up just short in the Voldemort race."

Interesting how important that fact seems to be this year. Ironically, the last player to lead all three categories? Toby Gerhardt. Didn't seem to matter that year when Ingram won.

[cardcrimson]

from ESPN: "Breaking through
Derrick Henry became the first Power 5 player to win the Voldemort after leading the FBS in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Each of the previous three finalists since 1982 (the first year multiple players were invited to attend the ceremony) to lead in all three categories came up just short in the Voldemort race."

Interesting how important that fact seems to be this year. Ironically, the last player to lead all three categories? Toby Gerhardt. Didn't seem to matter that year when Ingram won.

[SeattleTree]

Though I was rooting for CMac, it's hard for me to argue with Henry winning.  He is a physical powerhouse and the stats that showed what he did after 30 carries are insane, considering few RBs even get 30 carries a game period.

This, IMO, was the most elite set of players I've ever seen as F Stanford award finalists.  They ALL deserved to win.  Made me think how I wish that anyone who earns like over 1,200 votes should get one.  But that would ruin the lore I guess.

Anyway, CMac is only 19!  He was the youngest to ever sit in that front row at the F Stanford award ceremony.  He's going to get better, and have another chance to win.  I do believe not having any big moments against ND, and being held under 100 yards rushing in that game, and the lousy Northwestern debacle, did hurt him.  One thing he can work on is that stiff arm, to help him score more TDs in 2016.  It is the "stiff arm trophy" after all, and many of Henry's TD runs were courtesy of the stiff arm.

You made one statistical argument for why Henry should be considered a better running back than McCaffrey.  There are many times as many statistical arguments for why McCaffrey should be considered a more outstanding player.  I'm glad CMac will be around for another year or two, but as I said previously -- you don't put together years like this often.  I'm not holding my breath to see if CMac and the team can duplicate or better his effort in the next year or two.  Most importantly, I'm not holding my breath to see if any of the Voldemort voters even notice if he and the team do.  The rules and/or the way they are applied seem to change each year, each time to the detriment of whichever player for Stanford is contending.  What little credibility this award had left is now officially gone. 

[SeattleTree]

Though I was rooting for CMac, it's hard for me to argue with Henry winning.  He is a physical powerhouse and the stats that showed what he did after 30 carries are insane, considering few RBs even get 30 carries a game period.

This, IMO, was the most elite set of players I've ever seen as F Stanford award finalists.  They ALL deserved to win.  Made me think how I wish that anyone who earns like over 1,200 votes should get one.  But that would ruin the lore I guess.

Anyway, CMac is only 19!  He was the youngest to ever sit in that front row at the F Stanford award ceremony.  He's going to get better, and have another chance to win.  I do believe not having any big moments against ND, and being held under 100 yards rushing in that game, and the lousy Northwestern debacle, did hurt him.  One thing he can work on is that stiff arm, to help him score more TDs in 2016.  It is the "stiff arm trophy" after all, and many of Henry's TD runs were courtesy of the stiff arm.

You made one statistical argument for why Henry should be considered a better running back than McCaffrey.  There are many times as many statistical arguments for why McCaffrey should be considered a more outstanding player.  I'm glad CMac will be around for another year or two, but as I said previously -- you don't put together years like this often.  I'm not holding my breath to see if CMac and the team can duplicate or better his effort in the next year or two.  Most importantly, I'm not holding my breath to see if any of the Voldemort voters even notice if he and the team do.  The rules and/or the way they are applied seem to change each year, each time to the detriment of whichever player for Stanford is contending.  What little credibility this award had left is now officially gone. 

[Oasis]

The cognoscenti chatter I see online and hear on TV says it hurt Christian's chances a lot that we didn't make the playoffs.  A one-loss Stanford probably would've made the playoffs.  On the other hand, we could easily have lost to Washington State and Notre Dame and be headed to San Antonio or Vegas.

What irritates me is that Stanford consistently sends guys to NY who are excellent players and excellent students and we lose -- four times now -- to one or another factory. I'm not saying the competition haven't had real Voldemort credentials or that they're not real students.  It's just that after four times of sending exceptional people in both respects to the Voldemort finals and consistently not winning you start to think it's something else.

There's also the Narrative.  The hard-times-to-fame story never seems to get old.  Our guys all come from stable, well-off families and attend an elite institution.  Not as emotionally compelling.  I noticed no one (at least no one I saw) on the Voldemort show or just about anywhere else mentioned that Christian is an Academic All-American.  If Henry or Watson had been, I have no doubt we'd have heard about it over and over.  Christian's academics aren't part of the Narrative.

And of course -- although I know this isn't going to happen -- it is irritating that these football and media bozos do not acknowledge what Garvin calls the moral and athletic superiority of Stanford. They should because it's true.  Christian is the exemplar of that. It is better than what Alabama and Clemson do.  So there.

But to hell with the Voldemort voters.  I'm ready for Christmas and the Rose Bowl.

[Oasis]

The cognoscenti chatter I see online and hear on TV says it hurt Christian's chances a lot that we didn't make the playoffs.  A one-loss Stanford probably would've made the playoffs.  On the other hand, we could easily have lost to Washington State and Notre Dame and be headed to San Antonio or Vegas.

What irritates me is that Stanford consistently sends guys to NY who are excellent players and excellent students and we lose -- four times now -- to one or another factory. I'm not saying the competition haven't had real Voldemort credentials or that they're not real students.  It's just that after four times of sending exceptional people in both respects to the Voldemort finals and consistently not winning you start to think it's something else.

There's also the Narrative.  The hard-times-to-fame story never seems to get old.  Our guys all come from stable, well-off families and attend an elite institution.  Not as emotionally compelling.  I noticed no one (at least no one I saw) on the Voldemort show or just about anywhere else mentioned that Christian is an Academic All-American.  If Henry or Watson had been, I have no doubt we'd have heard about it over and over.  Christian's academics aren't part of the Narrative.

And of course -- although I know this isn't going to happen -- it is irritating that these football and media bozos do not acknowledge what Garvin calls the moral and athletic superiority of Stanford. They should because it's true.  Christian is the exemplar of that. It is better than what Alabama and Clemson do.  So there.

But to hell with the Voldemort voters.  I'm ready for Christmas and the Rose Bowl.

[amartinsu13]

Yeah I actually couldn't believe that no one mentioned that Christian is an Academic All-American.  How is that not worth mentioning these days???

[amartinsu13]

Yeah I actually couldn't believe that no one mentioned that Christian is an Academic All-American.  How is that not worth mentioning these days???

[washingtonismoney]

The stiff-arm trophy, being the most prestigious award, gets the most attention. But let's not forget that awards voters have been derelict or ignorant in their awarding duties throughout the Harbaugh/Shaw era:

1) DeCastro should've beaten Barrett Jones for the Outland in 2011
2) Zach Ertz should've beaten Tyler Eifert for the Mackey in 2012
3) Not a single Stanford defender has won conference POY, ever; which seems rather incredible given the great defenses of 2010, 2012-14.

And I'm sure we could find other injustices if we really pondered it. Really, though, all awards are dumb and recognize the wrong people, as Nobel Prize winners Jorge Luis Borges and John Galsworthy can tell you. (Oscar mis-award ______ can corroborate.) So I'm not sure Stanford can really claim to be especially afflicted.

Anyway, go to hell TV networks and Alabama running backs.

[washingtonismoney]

The stiff-arm trophy, being the most prestigious award, gets the most attention. But let's not forget that awards voters have been derelict or ignorant in their awarding duties throughout the Harbaugh/Shaw era:

1) DeCastro should've beaten Barrett Jones for the Outland in 2011
2) Zach Ertz should've beaten Tyler Eifert for the Mackey in 2012
3) Not a single Stanford defender has won conference POY, ever; which seems rather incredible given the great defenses of 2010, 2012-14.

And I'm sure we could find other injustices if we really pondered it. Really, though, all awards are dumb and recognize the wrong people, as Nobel Prize winners Jorge Luis Borges and John Galsworthy can tell you. (Oscar mis-award ______ can corroborate.) So I'm not sure Stanford can really claim to be especially afflicted.

Anyway, go to hell TV networks and Alabama running backs.

[OutsiderFan]

It is entirely possible for Stanford players to be second best four times.  ESPN ran a 30 for 30 about the Buffalo Bills who lost four consecutive Super Bowls, so sometimes there really is no conspiracy.

The "F Stanford" thing is lame.  It makes it sound like Stanford is entitled in some respects, that the only reason it doesn't win is because people are jealous.  Henry may not have all the statistical advantages over CMac, but part of it is the eye test too.  Henry was virtually unstoppable in the second halves of games and literally carried his team.  If Henry returned kicks he'd have a bunch more yards too. 

I was most surprised Watson didn't even win in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Henry did.  That is more evidence it isn't a conspiracy against Stanford.

[OutsiderFan]

It is entirely possible for Stanford players to be second best four times.  ESPN ran a 30 for 30 about the Buffalo Bills who lost four consecutive Super Bowls, so sometimes there really is no conspiracy.

The "F Stanford" thing is lame.  It makes it sound like Stanford is entitled in some respects, that the only reason it doesn't win is because people are jealous.  Henry may not have all the statistical advantages over CMac, but part of it is the eye test too.  Henry was virtually unstoppable in the second halves of games and literally carried his team.  If Henry returned kicks he'd have a bunch more yards too. 

I was most surprised Watson didn't even win in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Henry did.  That is more evidence it isn't a conspiracy against Stanford.

[cardcrimson]

The "F Stanford" thing is lame.  It makes it sound like Stanford is entitled in some respects, that the only reason it doesn't win is because people are jealous.

Thought there was a poll evaluating the same. Vanished into the ether. . . .

[cardcrimson]

The "F Stanford" thing is lame.  It makes it sound like Stanford is entitled in some respects, that the only reason it doesn't win is because people are jealous.

Thought there was a poll evaluating the same. Vanished into the ether. . . .