Would you vote for Jameis Winston for the Heisman Trophy?
The prize for college football’s best player is supposed to include consideration of a young man’s character, and this year’s story line includes an allegation of sexual assault against Florida State’s superstar quarterback.
There might not ever be a way out from under the shadow of the allegation for Winston, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman, or the Seminoles themselves even if the case eventually is resolved in Winston’s favor.
Winston, for example, is certain to lose Heisman votes – he’s among the contenders, if not the outright leader, for the award – due to speculation about the case. Conclusions will be drawn prematurely.
There’s no such thing as complete exoneration when the stigma of the allegation itself stains so deeply.
The only thing Winston and the Seminoles can do is take care of their on-field business to remain in pursuit of a national title, which is precisely what they did Saturday afternoon on the road in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a 37-7 rout of Florida.
The Gators, bringing a welcome end to one of the worst seasons in school history, performed less the role of a dangerous rival than one of a convenient patsy.
Winston, whose case isn’t likely to move forward before the Heisman ballots are counted, led the rout. He was 19-of-31 passing for 327 yards and three touchdowns.
If he’s bothered by the investigation, it didn’t show … anywhere.
“How y’all doing?” Winston said upon walking into a packed post-game media session at which football-only questions were allowed.
The only tangential reference Winston made to his situation was something about “everything in our heads.”
Not that anyone’s public disposition should be interpreted as an indication of innocence, or guilt, but the presumption has to fall to the benefit of the accused.
“I’m not worried about my day,” Winston said at one point.
It was nothing more than team-first football talk, but somehow carried personal meaning.
Winston would get my Heisman vote if such a thing existed, because no proof of his guilt has been presented. He hasn’t been charged, has provided a DNA sample matching what was found on his accuser’s clothing and has claimed the sex was consensual. It’s a sordid mess beyond the standard he-said, she-said ugliness. It comes replete with claims of police favoritism shown Winston and intimidation of the woman claiming to be a victim, and with timeline oddities regarding her identification of him as her attacker.
But absent more revelatory evidence, the consideration of Winston’s worthiness as a Heisman candidate should focus on his performance as a quarterback.
He has been marvelous all season in leading the Seminoles to a 12-0 record.
And he’ll probably be marvelous in next weekend’s Atlantic Coast Conference title game against Duke.
“His competitiveness is ridiculous,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Nothing fazes the guy. He’s a football junkie. He loves the whys of the game.”
It took some time for the ‘Noles to get rolling – their lead was just 3-0 late in first half – but a 96-yard touchdown drive changed everything and all but decided things against Florida’s weakling offense.
Winston was terrific without being breathtakingly spectacular.
“The more heated it becomes, the better he is,” Fisher said.
Things appeared to get heated between coach and quarterback on the sideline in the fourth quarter when Winston lost track of the evaporating play clock, and Fisher called timeout. Fisher grabbed Winston by the facemask and pulled him close for a lecture.
“That’s just how we communicate,” Fisher said.
Winston did almost everything else right, which pretty much has been the definition of his football act this season.
The hapless Gators, who lost for the seventh consecutive time to finish 4-8, were overmatched and overwhelmed. It was a cakewalk for Winston and the Seminoles, who’ll be heavy favorites against the Blue Devils.
“Duke won?” Winston said when informed of its division-clinching victory against North Carolina. “That’s good.”
The votes for the Heisman are due in the days after the ACC title game.
Under current circumstance, Winston deserves to win it.
