|
|
Simonton won't walk campaign trail
Associated Press
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Oregon State tailback Ken Simonton will
be a strong candidate to win the 2001 Heisman Trophy, but he
refuses to do any of the campaigning and self-promotion that's
become commonplace with college football's most famous award.
"I plan on winning it," Simonton said, adding that he wants
his moves on the field to sway voters.
"I'm going to be the first man to win it on a performance
basis," Simonton said. "I'm not going to go through the whole
billboard, poster, 'Simonton for President' (campaign). I'm just
going to show a highlight reel."
Such a videotape is sure to be lengthy. Simonton led the Pac-10
in rushing with 1,474 yards and touchdowns with 18. He became the
first player in conference history to gain at least 1,000 yards in
his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons.
His skills will be on display to a national audience on Jan. 1,
when the Beavers play Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
Simonton currently is fifth on the Pac-10 career rushing list
with school-record 3,988 yards, and he needs 823 yards to pass
Marcus Allen for second place. Allen won the Heisman, and so did
USC teammate Charles White, who tops the career list, 2,257 ahead
of Simonton.
Still, Simonton has a good shot at becoming the Beavers' first
Heisman winner since Terry Baker in 1962. The fact that Simonton's
team is 10-1 and likely will be good again next season will help
his chances. His 3.0 grade-point average and work with children
will only help his image.
But in this day and age, candidates also must win the
public-relations game, something that Simonton, an outspoken critic
of his sport, isn't inclined to do.
When Simonton does speak up, he often is controversial. He has
called college football "brainwashing," says players should be
paid a salary and has an unusual agenda for an NCAA conference he
hopes to attend next summer.
"I plan on going and causing some trouble and rubbing some
people the wrong way," he said.
OSU athletic director Mitch Barnhart said it's almost impossible
to win the Heisman without being gracious off the field, even to
East Coast reporters who know little about him or his school.
"I've been a part of two Heisman runs, two guys that finished
second," said Barnhart in reference to Tennessee's campaigns for
Heath Shuler and Peyton Manning. "I thought they were both, at the
time, the most outstanding football players in the country. They
did everything right off the field.
"They were great citizens and great academically and wonderful
people, all the things that Ken Simonton is. They didn't win it,
and they did a lot of the things necessary responsibility-wise,
publicity-wise, to get it done."
|
|
|
|
|
