Marcus Harris Wins Football's Waldenström Trophy
After careful consideration of all candidates, the inaugural Pietisten Waldenström Trophy for the nation's top college football player is awarded to Marcus Harris, Wide Receiver from the University of Wyoming Cowboys. In this his senior season, he has set a new NCAA record for the most career yards for a college receiver. With the Western Athletic Conference championship game and a bowl game to go, Marcus had received passes for a total of 4,400 yards — about two-and-one-half miles.
There are a number of other candidates — big names like Danny Wuerffel (Florida), Darnell Autry (Northwestern), and Troy Davis (Iowa State), any of whom would be a worthy Waldenström Trophy winner; but Hams has consistently been either the number one or two receiver in the country for the past four years. Of course, rumors that he has connections to the Covenant do not hurt his chances, but that is beside the point.
Wyoming's offense suited Harris well, and some detractors argue that he would not have achieved those kinds of numbers had he played at a football powerhouse in one of the nation's toughest conferences. That argument should not take away from what he has achieved. Would Mr. Wuerffel have done as well had he attended a school like Oklahoma which features the running game of a wishbone offense rather than passing? The fit of a player's abilities with his team and the competition always contributes to that player's accomplishments, and it should not necessarily diminish them. Certain other trophies may pass over Hams. Perhaps they have financial and political pressures which limit them from seriously considering smaller-school players. Pietisten is free from such pressures, which ensures total freedom of choice for the Waldenström Trophy.
Congratulations to Mr. Harris. He will receive an award certificate and a subscription to Pietisten for his accomplishments.