Dec 5, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) scores on a 28-yard touchdown pass against the Southern California Trojans during the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi
The lesson learned here is to remember that the Sun rises in the east but it sets in the west. Therefore, no evaluations and awards are legitimate until everyone on the west coast is done playing. After Derrick Henry did his thing earlier in the day, it appeared he all but locked up the Heisman Trophy.
He had 187 yards and a touchdown on 44 carries to put himself at 1,986 yards on the season, good for a new SEC record. It was Hershel Walker’s rushing record he broke while tying the SEC record for rushing TDs with 23. That’s how you close the show and close the door to win the award for college football’s best player.
But Stanford Cardinal RB, WR, KR, PR Christian McCaffrey had his own record-setting performance. He opened the door right back for the Heisman Trophy and sent himself to New York for the ceremony as a finalist. As a matter of fact, he may very well have re-shut the door and locked the award up for himself.
McCaffrey ran for 207 yards and a TD, threw a TD pass, caught another and broke Barry Sanders’ single-season all-purpose yards record. He also had 105 yards receiving and 149 return yards to give him a Stanford record 461 all-purpose yards for the game and 3,496 for the season.
That broke Sanders’ single-season record of 3,250 yards set in 1988, although McCaffrey took two extra games to do it. So you have an SEC record set by Hershel Walker vs a college football record set by Barry Sanders. Sanders’ record trumps Walker’s record, especially since it’s a college football record to just an SEC record.
McCaffrey even closed the show better with more total yards and rushing yards with a higher rushing average. But there is a case to be made for Henry’s production leading his team to the playoffs while McCaffrey’s team has just a Bowl game left. It’s hard to say which way it’s going to go but McCaffrey made himself a factor as the Sun set in the west.
It ain’t over until they’re done playing on the west coast!
So if you’re from the east coast, you can’t sleep until the whole day is over!
Move over Leonard Fournette, there’s a new No. 1 2017 prospect!
WEST-SIDE!