COVER STORY
Zl
Despite Controversy, McNair Looking Good !
Alcorn Stale's promotion of quarter
back Sieve McNair as the next winner of
the Heisman Trophy has generated a great
deal of discussion and opinion amoflj1*
many in the sports community.
The views range from very favorable
to downright hostile.
The Heisman Trophy is considered
the most prestigious awiud in college foot
ball. The winner of the award is consid
ered to be the best college football player
of that season.
In addition to being a great honor, the
award brings a great deal of publicity,
generally positive, to a school. In many
cases, it anoints the recipient first class
status if that individual decides to pursue a
career in the NFL.
NFL stars such as OJ. Simpson, Earl
Campbell, Tony Dorsett,'Bo Jackson,
Marcus Allen and Desmond Howard arc
He notes lhai all of the promotion "in
the world" won't do McNair any good if
he doesn't perform on the field.
The idea of a school's sports informa
tion department promoting a player is
nothing new. Miami heavily promoted
Toretta as did San Diego State with Faulk.
Detroit Lion quarterback Andre Ware was
promoted by the University of Houston
with the blessing of the Houston news
media.
However, a black school has never
done it. Even though Doug Williams, for
merly of the Washington Raiders, was
nominated for the award, from G rambling,
the Louisiana school did not push any pro
motional material on his behalf.
"We got to get the ball rolling, and
we're doing that with Steve," says Alcorn
" State SID Chrs Howard. "Our theme is
'The Time Has Come,' meaning that the
"No black from a predominantly
black college has ever won the
Heisman"
winners of the Heisman.
Preseason predictions for the finalist
of the award are San Diego State running
back Marshall Faulk, Florida State quar
terback Charlie Ward and Michigan run
ning back Tyrone Wheatley. A sleeper
among the bumper crop is Syracuse quar
terback Marvin Graves.
McNair has the goods to be consid
ered in that group. He is the SWAC's two
time Offensive Player of the Year and also
has held the Sheridan honor two years.
, Sports Illustrated , the world*s leading
sports magazine, named McNair its offen
sive player of the year over then Miami
quarterback Gino Toretta and running
back Garrison Hearst of Georgia.
Last season, McNair passed for 3,048?
yards and 24 touchdowns. He also rushed
for 517 yards on 82 carries and 9 touch
downs.
"There is no doubt in my mind that
Steve McNair is one of the finest college
players," says Washington Post sports
columnist Mike Wilbon. "The fact that he
plays in a black conference for a black
school will pose a problem for some white
sports writers because they feel the level of
talent is inferior to other leagues.** -
"Nevertheless, I think Steve has
proven that he deserves serious considera
tion for the award, and I commend Alcorn
State for trying to promote him,** Wilbon
says.
time has come for a player from a predom
inantly black institutions to receive the
Heisman.**
Howard has received advice from fel
low SIDs from Notre Dame, Southern
California and Georgia.
The school's efforts have come under
scathing criticism. B. Duane Cross of the
Vicksbur? Post criticizes the effort as
fruitless and a waste of time and money.
"Look, I think Steve McNair is a hell
of a player, but he simply doesn't have the
exposure or the competition that a Mar
shall Faulk or a Charlie Ward has," says
Cross, talking with BCSR.
"Face facts. Until the SWAC can play
on an even basis with the Notre Dames,
Aiabamas or even fhe Northeast
Louisians, the Steve McNairs of the world
will be big fish in only very small ponds.**
Washington Redskin wide receiver
Desmond Howard spoke to BCSR on the
McNair effort He was generally compli
mentary to McNair but emphasized the
need for grid-iron performance.
"Steve McNair has to push away the
hype and play ball. It*s easy to get carried
away with the media and the hoopla,** says
Howard, the 1991 Heisman* winner. "The
writers who make the selections are con
cerned about your stats on the field, not
how many promos you do.**
Howard says that his institution, the
University of Michigan, does not promote
Alcorn's Quarterback Stive McNair
players because is emphasizes the "team"
concept In other words, Michigan will not
promote one player over any others.
? It would seem that the larger issue in
this matter is not whether McNair wins the
Heisman but how he is promoted by
Alcorn Stale. If Alcorn State puts forth a
first-class effort, despite its lack of
resources, everyone agrees that McNair
and the university will win.
? JAMES WRIGHT JR
Give
another Chance.
GiyeJlood.
?P
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American Red Cross _