If any of you sports fans have not figured out by now, I am an Auburn fan, and rest assured, I am not a fair weather guy.
When it comes to talking about Alabama — the school — I have mixed emotions. I am pro-Alabama — the state — and pro-SEC.
But I do not want Trent Richardson to win the Heisman Trophy.
Why, you might ask? Here is why.
The Heisman Memorial Trophy is given to “the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.”
In my opinion, the winner should not only be given this consideration, but what his individual effort meant to his team.
Opponents of this argument will say, “Trent has meant a great deal to the Tide and has had an extraordinary individual effort.”
I agree.
But here lies the problem to me in giving him the award.
Alabama simply has too good a football team to crown one individual.
Take Richardson away from Alabama, and they would likely have the same number of wins this season.
Take Andrew Luck away from Stanford or Robert Griffin III away from Baylor and you would have two basement teams, not the 11-1 Cardinal and certainly not the 9-3 Bears.
I said at the start of the season to give the trophy to Luck, and I stand by that now.
The only thing that makes me rethink this is the performance put on by Griffin III.
He is an absolute beast and a one-man army if there ever was such a thing as far as football goes.
The performances of these two, and what they mean to their team as a whole, beats Richardson’s case hands-down.
Alabama fanatics want the trophy to go to “Trent” as they all call him, but I think he is third in line at best.
Hate me all you want, but I doubt many Bama fans would say the Tide would be a poor team without him. It would leave a bad taste in their mouths, and it just would not be true.

J.R. Tidwell is sports editor for The Franklin County Times. He can be reached at (256) 332-1881, ext. 31.