ALTOONA, Pa. -- I never got a chance to meet the legendary Beano Cook, the Pitt alum who became a household name in college football as an analyst. I grew up in Arkansas watching him on TV and always appreciated how he thought outside the box and had such a quirky and fun demeanor.
Beano died in 2012, and I remember thinking that day how sad it was that we had lost one of the sport's most colorful commentators.
Beano was a Heisman Trophy voter. The way it works is, when one voter in a state passes or gives up the vote, there's a coordinator who designates that vote to go to someone else. David Jones from PennLive.com is the coordinator in Pennsylvania, and he asked if I would like to become a Heisman voter.
I was blown away. I'm still blown away that Dave asked me, because I consider being a Heisman voter one of the most rewarding achievements of my career. And the fact that I took over Beano's vote is something that still humbles me, given how he was such a beloved figure.
I spend a great deal of time throughout each college season watching and studying Heisman candidates. I try to make a good, educated decision on every candidate, and I truly believe the award should go to the best and most valuable player, rather than always just to the best quarterback on the best team.
Unfortunately, the latter often is what happens.
We are strictly forbidden from revealing beforehand who we voted for in the Heisman race, until the winner is announced. If anyone gets caught doing that, he or she will lose their vote. Ballots are due next Monday, Dec. 6, and the winner will be announced Dec. 11.
Heisman voters vote for first place, second place and third place on our ballots.
I cannot say if I will be voting for Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, obviously, but I can discuss what makes him a good candidate.
* The numbers, first and foremost, are tremendous. No one wins the Heisman without excellent numbers. Pickett has thrown for 4,066 yards with 40 TDs, seven interceptions and a 67.7 completion percentage.
* Pickett wins. He has led the Panthers to the ACC Championship Game this week against Wake Forest, and if Pitt is going to win, Pickett will have to put up big numbers. I do think Wake will score a lot on Pitt's defense, so Pickett will have a chance to be involved in a shootout.
* Pitt needs to win the game. If it does, on that kind of stage, and Pickett puts up massive numbers, his Heisman odds should increase substantially. He's currently the third-leading candidate, according to Vegas Insider:
- QB Bryce Young, Alabama: -200
- QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State: +450
- QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt: +1600
* Stroud and the Buckeyes lost last week to Michigan, and that loss will hurt Stroud, who had been the odds-on frontrunner. Pickett has thrown for more yards than Stroud (3,862) and more TDs (38), while Stroud has thrown fewer interceptions (5). One thing in Stroud's favor could be that he put up big numbers in Ohio State's two losses to really good teams: 484 yards, three TDs, one INT vs. Oregon and 394 yards, two TDs, no INTs vs. Michigan.
* Young struggled for much of Alabama's game against Auburn but finished with 317 yards, two TDs and one INT. And the Tide won the game, which is probably why he's now the betting favorite. But Alabama has Georgia this week in the SEC title game, and if the Tide loses and Young struggles, that could be it for him as far as winning the Heisman.
* Even if Pickett has a monster game against Wake, he cannot afford a loss. It's tough to have three losses and win the Heisman, although Lamar Jackson did it with Louisville in 2016 because his numbers were phenomenal.
* Pitt has lost twice already, but Pickett was terrific in both games. That could go a long way with Heisman voters. He threw for 382 yards with six TDs and one INT against Western Michigan and 519 yards with three TDs and two picks against Miami. He had a chance to win that Miami game but did not make some key throws late. Interestingly enough, the best passing defense Pitt has faced -- according to NCAA stats -- was Western Michigan, which ranks 18th in the country.
There's a whole lot to like about Pickett as a candidate. But there's also a lot to like about several other players, including the two QBs Young and Stroud and Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III. Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is having a tremendous year and has become a contender for the Heisman, particularly with his huge game in the win over Ohio State.
What are Pickett's chances, not just to be invited to New York for the ceremony but to also win the Heisman? A lot of voters do not vote early, and instead wait until all the games are played before casting their ballot. That's why this weekend's games probably will be huge for everyone involved.
