Derek Carr's performance against Boise State was another one to remember for Fresno State fans. (Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)
On Saturday, a day after Fresno State’s come-from-behind 41-40 win over Mountain West perennial strongman Boise State, the school launched the official Heisman Trophy campaign for quarterback Derek Carr.
The web site (www.DC4Heisman.com) features photos, videos with commentary, and a list of records that Carr has set during three-plus years as a Bulldog. That’s a really long list, by the way. There’s a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/DC4Heisman) and Twitter @DC4Heisman.
Fresno State looks serious about this campaign.
Of course, the purpose for this is to convince Heisman Trophy voters that Carr – the nation’s best quarterback that few people know – should be marked on their ballots at the end of the season.
I don’t have a Heisman Trophy vote, but if I did, Fresno State Media Relations could have saved some effort trying to persuade me. There’s still a lot of football to be played, but if I voted today, Derek Carr would be among my top three, and might sit at the top of my list.
It would be hard to find a better, more deserving candidate than Derek Carr. Within a bar across the top of that www.DC4Heisman.com home page, the categories include: Records, Trophy Case, and Off The Field.
Carr excels in all three.
Start with the records. His 4,105 yards passing last season set the all-time Mountain West record. He set the conference single game record for total offense (570 yards) and pass completions in a season (344), and already has the league record with five career 400-yard passing games. You can bet that number will increase. He holds most school records for pass attempts, completions and completion percentage. Only 16 FBS quarterbacks all-time have thrown for over 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns. Carr should become No. 17 during this season.
The 6-3, 218-pound senior from Bakersfield, Calif., has started the 2013 season in Heisman fashion. In the season opener against Rutgers, he completed 52 passes for 456 yards and five touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights, ranked No. 4 in scoring defense and No. 10 in total defense nationally in 2012, defeated Arkansas of the SEC this past Saturday.
He threw for 460 yards and five more scores against Boise State, including a late fourth-quarter touchdown drive to regain the lead. He was named National Offensive Player of the Week by CBSsports.com and National Player of the Week by ESPN.
His trophy case was already full before this season. He was Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2012, first-team All-Mountain West, and the NRA Gunslinger of the Week by Lindy’s. Entering the 2013 season, he was on the Watch List for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Lindy’s named Carr the preseason Mountain West Most Valuable Player and ranked him the fourth-best senior quarterback in the country.
But, even with his impressive array of honors and statistics, Carr’s off-the-field resume is where he makes the greatest impact. In every sense, he is a man of faith and family. He leads his team by example and has the respect of Bulldog coaches and players.
“Derek makes a conscious effort to make God his number one priority,” wide receiver Davante Adams, the Mountain West 2012 Freshman of the Year, told Lindy’s Bill Sorrell. “He leads with his voice, as well as by example.”
“His faith helps him through a lot of tough situations, whether it’s a tough game, with the press or addressing them,” said senior wide receiver Isaiah Burse.
The toughest situation for Carr and his wife, Heather, came just a few weeks before the season opener. Their first child, son Dallas, was born on August 6, but within a few hours, it was obvious that there was a serious problem. During the 23 days before he could go home from the hospital, Dallas had three surgeries to untangle and repair his damaged intestines. Throughout the ordeal, the Carr family kept details private and Derek apologized to his teammates for having to miss practices.
When he returned, he was back with a passion, performing as well as any quarterback in the country. After three games, Carr has 145 consecutive passes without an interception and leads all active FBS quarterbacks with at least one scoring pass in 23 consecutive games. He has averaged 373.3 passing yards per contest with 12 touchdown passes and only one interception.
He has led the Bulldogs into the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ Top 25 polls. Before this week, that hadn’t happened since 2008.
And, of course, there’s that win over Boise State.
I talked with Carr and Fresno State head coach Tim DeRuyter at the Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas in late July. They told me the right things … Boise State was “another game on the schedule,” and “you have to take them one game at a time.” But, that Sept. 21 date had been circled on the calendar and everybody in the conference was talking about it.
In other parts of the country, it’s hard to put that win in perspective. The Broncos have long been the region’s biggest name. Some want to dismiss them, not giving respect to the Mountain West.
But, few fans would know the answer to this question. Which teams nationally have won the highest percentage of their games over the past six decades, from 1953-2012? Here’s the top 10 in reverse order … Penn State, Auburn, Southern Cal, Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, Ohio State … and BOISE STATE. That’s pretty strong company, with the Broncos sitting atop the nation’s best programs during the last 60 seasons.
In dramatic fashion, Carr led his team to the historic win over those Broncos, at least temporarily knocking them from the perch, and giving rise to www.DC4Heisman.com. It broke a seven-game losing streak in the series. And, most importantly, Heather, with little Dallas in her arms, was there in Bulldog Stadium to watch it happen.
There could be a Bulldogs-Broncos rematch. Boise State would have to win at Utah State; both teams would have to beat dangerous Wyoming, then avoid other possible conference upsets.
If that happens, circle Dec. 7 on the calendar. The inaugural Mountain West Championship Game will be played that day.
If Fresno State keeps on winning, that game could be for much more than the conference title. Just nine days before the 2013 Heisman Trophy is awarded, it could also be for a BCS Bowl berth.
For sure, the trophy is a longshot. Players from non-BCS conferences don’t win the Heisman, and right now, Carr isn’t among the top 12 vote-getters from the ESPN experts on the Heisman Watch web site.
Still, keep that Dec. 7 date circled and visit www.DC4Heisman.com often.
It would be hard to find a better, more deserving candidate than Derek Carr.
