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Heisman Snubjob: Keenan Reynolds

By Kyle Andrews

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Nov 21, 2015; Tulsa, OK, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) makes a run against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in a 44-21 win at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joey Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Keenan Reynolds of Navy has been everything that any college football team could want out of their leader at the quarterback position.

Reynolds has had 112 career touchdowns as a Midshipman and holds the career record for rushing touchdowns in the NCAA (83). He was also the leader in the Heisman fan voting on ESPN at one point during the season.

However, his Heisman fan voting aspirations were taken away after being mysteriously removed from the fan voting. ESPN’s comments left the Naval Academy in a sense of disappointment and confusion. ESPN left a statement that sent many fans into a frenzy:

"“For the final three days of the Nissan Fan Vote, we adjusted the list to include any players who have received 1% or more of the Fan Vote to date,” an ESPN spokesperson wrote. “Voting closes this Saturday, December 5, at midnight EST.”"

Navy Athletics department ended up sending out a series of tweets that were very well warranted.

Reynolds name was still on the ballot. This did not make things much easier for fans, however. Voters would have to vote via the “Nominate Your Player” feature. Also, according to Scott Allen of the Washington Post, “the ‘American Conference’ filter is easy to miss at the bottom of the ‘Choose Conference’ menu.”

ESPN attempted to try to clear up any misunderstanding with fans and the Naval Academy, however it just lead to more confusion.

“When the names change on the ESPN Experts’ Poll, they automatically change on the Heisman House site. ESPN and Nissan have no control over what names are on the Heisman House ballot,” the ESPN spokesperson wrote in an e-mail to the Washington Post.

Many other fans joined the hate parade against ESPN:

John Feinstein of CBS Sports also weighed-in with a furious rant against ESPN and their voting process and their snubbing of Keenan Reynolds for the Fan Vote:

"Because he doesn’t play at a power conference school; because he only played on ESPN once this season (Navy’s home games are televised by CBS Sports Network) and because none of the so-called NFL draft experts have him on their radar because he will be SERVING OUR COUNTRY when he graduates.No one expected Reynolds to win the Heisman for all of the above reasons. But there was still a way—an easy one—for the Heisman Trust blowhards and ESPN to do something right. One of the Heisman’s corporate shills stages an online fan vote. The winner receives one Heisman vote, cast by the corporation. It has absolutely no affect on the outcome, but it is symbolic."

My opinion on it is about the same as many other people’s opinion on this matter. Reynolds got cheated out of a Heisman vote. It is absolutely unfair that someone who will serve our beautiful country so valiantly can’t even receive a measly vote in the Heisman race that he would most likely not win anyway because of ESPN pushing the power-5 conferences down our throats.

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Yes I understand, Navy is only in the American Athletic Conference, but it doesn’t diminish Reynolds’ performances by any means at all. He has worked very hard to become the player that he is today and has broke multiple records, IN THE NCAA. How could he not be sitting up there in New York City with his fellow Heisman candidates, when he has 83 career rushing touchdowns? It is absolutely ridiculous.

However, our voices have finally been heard. Since many have complained and gone against ESPN and their “crusade” against the little guy, Reynolds has been re-added, along with Luke Falk, Trevone Boykin and Dak Prescott, back to the voting page on Thursday.

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