The original intent of the Heisman Trophy was to honor the best all-around player in college football. The first one was given in 1933, a time when players were required to play on both sides of the ball. Today, in the era of specialization, some guys only play on certain downs or in certain situations.

How then to judge the best all-around player?

You can’t, because there is no such thing. Defensive players and offensive linemen automatically are eliminated because their performances are more difficult to quantify and evaluate than quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers. So it boils down to a question of…well, how exactly do we pick the Heisman winner?

I’ve been the Heisman’s Kentucky representative for almost 30 years, and I’ll freely admit that my criteria change from year to year. I’ll also admit to a certain degree of local and regional prejudice.

One year I voted for Derek Abney of Kentucky because I thought he dominated games with his combination of receiving and kick returns. He was as big a game-changer as anybody I saw that season. Naturally, mine was the only vote he got.
I’m also proud that I voted for Gordie Lockbaum of Holy Cross in the 1980s. He played both ways on a pretty good team – linebacker on defense, running back on offense. That’s what I call a football player and I wasn’t alone. Lochbaum finished in the national top five two years in a row.

Last year I voted for Brian Brohm of Louisville because I thought he was the best quarterback in the nation. I admit that part of it was local prejudice. I also admit that I felt he should be honored for his entire career, not just his senior season, although his senior season was outstanding considering how his team fell apart around him.

Someday, when Brian is a star in the NFL, I will be vindicated. I will be identified in news stories as the only person in the country who voted for him to win the Heisman.

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The second place on my ballot – we vote for three, in order – went to Tim Tebow of Florida, the eventual winner. I couldn’t quibble with that. Equally dangerous as a passer and runner, Tebow was a workhorse and a leader. Plus, like Brohm, he was strong in the character department – and old-fashioned “Mr. Touchdown,” if you will.

When a guy wins it as an underclassman – Tebow was only a sophomore last season – and decides to come back instead of going pro, some voters view him as the champ until somebody takes it away from him, the way it is in boxing, but others almost go out of their way to give it to somebody, anybody, else.

Since Archie Griffin became the only back-to-back Heisman winner in 1975 and ’75, four players – Billy Sims of Oklahoma, Ty Detmer of BYU, Jason White of Oklahoma, and Matt Leinart of Southern Cal – have won the Heisman and returned. All failed to repeat despite Heisman-worthy seasons.

Tebow fell off my ballot after he made some critical mistakes in Florida’s upset loss to Ole Miss, but he bulled his way back on by leading the Gators to a shockingly one-sided win over LSU.

Nevertheless, unless Florida runs the table, Tebow will be hard-pressed to keep the Heisman from going to one of the QBs from the Big 12 who weekly light up scoreboards like pinball machines.

The wide-open spread offense is all the rage in the Big 12, meaning that any QB who can’t routinely pass for a minimum of 300 yards and three TDs should feel humiliated. It’s like this: Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell is putting up other-wordly numbers, but is regarded as only the fourth or fifth best thrower in the league.

Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford succeeded Tebow as the Heisman front-runner until the Sooners lost to Texas last week. Now Longhorns’ quarterback Colt McCoy – is that a great QB name or what? – is pretty much in a dead heat with Missouri QB Chase Daniel on most Heisman Watch lists.

One’s stock will drop quicker than you can say, “Wall Street bailout,” after their teams meet this week. The game also will feature another legit Heisman candidate in Missouri wideout Jeremy Maclin, an all-around player who receives and returns kicks. He could be the bailout position if all the Big 12 quarterbacks take gas.

Of course, it’s also possible that the Big 12 plays the lousiest defense in the nation. If that’s the conclusion of enough voters, then quarterbacks such as Darryl Clark of Penn State and Max Hall of BYU – whose teams are both unbeaten – could make a late surge. Fairly or not, a Heisman candidate is judged partly on how well his team does. This is even more important than looking good on national TV.

The only Heisman winner to play for a losing team is Paul Hornung, whose Notre Dame team went 2-8 when he won in 1956. Hornung won because (a) he had enjoyed a great junior year, (b) he stood out on both sides of the ball against tough competition, and (c) quarterback at Notre Dame still is the most glamorous position in college football.

In fact, you can write down sophomore Jimmy Clausen, the current ND quarterback, as one of next year’s early front-runners. After a so-so freshman season on a bad Irish team, Claussen is impressing a lot of folks this season. His arm strength is pro-caliber. He just needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making.

I’m still a long way from making up my mind. I’m looking for a running back who’s also a good receiver. Or vice-versa. I’m looking for guys who repeatedly make big plays on special teams. I’m looking for versatility.

If somebody stuck a gun in my back and made me vote today, I’d have to put Tebow first, Daniel second, and McCoy third. But that’s only the pick du jour. There’s still plenty of time for another Gordie Lochbaum to make himself known.