Grothe On Heisman: I Don’t Have A Chance In Hell

Posted Sep 16, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Sep 16, 2008 at 06:52 PM

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University of South Florida junior QB Matt Grothe has been appearing on some Heisman Trophy lists and the school is officially promoting him as a Heisman candidate.

Grothe, however, doesn’t expect to be getting the bronze statue.

“Honestly, I don’t have a chance in hell to win the Heisman,” Grothe told The Tampa Tribune Tuesday. “Not just this year, any year. It’s politics.

“We’ve been around for 11 years, it [Heisman] will go to a school that’s been around forever.”

The last player to win from a somewhat non-national power was BYU’s Ty Detmer in 1990. Since 1991, the winners have been from Miami, Florida State, Colorado, Ohio State, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, USC and Oklahoma.

Grothe said he’s appreciative of any recognition or consideration he receives as a Heisman candidate because it will help the school with recruiting down the road.

Grothe also has been popping up on some Heisman lists .

I have a Heisman vote, and it really doesn’t matter how many yards Grothe runs for or throws for. If he’s going to be considered a serious Heisman candidate on a national scale, the most important stat will be 12 – as in 12 regular season victories. That will garner Grothe the most attention, leading an undefeated team to the Big East title.

Earlier Monday, Grothe was a guest on the Jim Rome show. Click on the MP3 link above to hear Grothe in the Jungle.

In the past two weeks, his father received threatening messages from UCF fans and, when asked by a Tribune reporter, Grothe said last week he believes college players should get compensation for jersey sales.

First HOT director dies: Sid Haton, the University of South Florida’s first marching band director and who orchestrated the first appearance of the Herd of Thunder, died Friday in North Carolina. He was 45.