But in the end, Ingram barely edged out Gerhart for 1st place. I was very impressed with his acceptance speech. You could tell that it really meant a lot for him and that he had put in countless hours to deserve it. He got emotional thanking God first and foremost - not something you hear many athletes do nowadays, so that was good to hear. He thanked his coaches, administrators, and family by name and didn't just reference them by title. He was also very humbled to be the school's first Heisman winner. Even though Colt didn't win (I'm biased, I know), I didn't feel so bad after Ingram so graciously accepted the award. What a classy young man, something the sporting world needs right now after the Tiger Woods train wreck. But something towards the end of the presentation left me with an uneasy feeling inside . . .Did anyone else notice that when Ingram finished the speech, he only gave hugs to the black former Heisman winners and only gave the white dudes a handshake? Was that just a random coincidence? However, none of the white guys opened up their arms as if to give him a hug either. But would things have been different if the white guys were younger? These guys grew up in the era of segregation and the Civil Rights movement. What if Gerhart, McCoy, or Tebow would have won? Would they have got hugs from the white guys and handshakes from the black guys? Were the white guys sad deep down that the white finalists didn't win? Why couldn't the white guys give Ingram a hug, and be genuinely excited for him? But on the other hand, why couldn't Ingram perhaps make it easier by opening up his arms too?
I don't want to take away from Ingram or the ceremony, I just thought that very last scene was telling. It was sad to see on such a happy night. What do you guys and gals think?
3 comments:
While I think Ingram is good, I think Gerhart was better. If Stanford's team would have been better, or if Gerhart would have played for any of the top ten teams I think he would have won. But both of these guys will go to the NFL.
I remember driving back from Florida a couple years ago and stopping to get gas in Southern Alabama. I stopped at two stations, one in a white part of the town and one of the black part of the town (two different towns.) The white gas station consisted of two giant guys with huge beards, drinking beer by their truck with the confederate flag proudly hoisted from their trailer hitch. At the 2nd gas station when paying for my gas I tried to talk to this black lady cashier, but she would not respond to any of my questions and glared at me the entire time. I felt like saying "Hey, I'm not from here, I like the brothas." But I didn't, I just left. I think it's hard for us out her in the west to understand that divide. I realize Ingram is from Michigan but I think the brothas just feel a natural connection to other brothas and not as much with white folks. So that doesn't bother me, I wish it wasn't like that, but that's a lot of history to overcome. I think it isn't as big a deal in our generation (people in their 20's or 30's) and I think as time passes that divide will narrow somewhat.
I didn't really follow any of the Heisman candidates, so I don't have much to say about that. And I didn't watch the ceremony (I'm a girl, do understand) but as far as what made you uneasy, I feel bad that tension like that ever even existed. But, I remember very well that trip from Florida, and I think I went in the gas station too with Creighton, and I just felt awful that the black woman wouldn't even try to be friendly to us. It made me feel like I did something wrong. But you could tell that feeling ran deep. Just like the confederate men we saw.
But I'm glad to hear he was so gracious in his acceptance speech. It's so refreshing to hear people not afraid to thank God.
Hey, can I be added as an author? I want to post something...
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