It's a shame, it's a sham, it's Heisman.

Byline: George Schroeder The Register-Guard

I am staring at a rectangular card, trying to figure out how to fill in the blanks.

The task is to select "the most outstanding college football player in the United States for 2007." When it arrived in the mail last month, the choice at the top of my Heisman Memorial Trophy ballot was clear: Dennis Dixon, Oregon.

Then Dixon's knee twisted, and the season did, too. And the guy who was once the frontrunner isn't likely to make it to New York (we'll know today, when the finalists are announced, but don't hold your breath). Now we're hearing about Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden and Colt Brennan and Pat White and Chase Daniel.

And I'm not sure who to pick.

This whole Heisman thing is a sham, really. That is, if we're actually trying to pick the most outstanding player in the country. The most outstanding player in the country is probably some linebacker somewhere, or a defensive tackle, someone you've barely heard of. Someone who never had a chance of winning the award.

Almost always, the Heisman goes to the most outstanding college football player playing quarterback or running back at a Top 10 school, preferably a traditional power. Sometimes, a wide receiver sneaks into the mix, or a passing wizard from a mid-major. But not very often.

So yeah, it's a sham. Everyone knows this. But if we accept that reality, it's a fun sham.

Despite the injury, Dennis Dixon still has a place on my ballot. But where?

Before he was hurt, no one was having a better season. No one meant more to his team's success. Anyone who didn't believe it then knows it now, because when he became a highly animated spectator, Oregon stopped having success.

Without Dixon, the Ducks have lost three straight, and rarely looked good doing it. They've dropped from the national title hunt to New Year's Eve in El Paso.

It's unfortunate, what happened. And it knocked Dixon out of the Heisman race. Still, he was so unexpectedly good, such a great story. Even sidelined, he deserves more than a throwaway third-place vote. Make him No. 2.

This leaves two open slots. They'll go to Tebow and McFadden. The best thing about each guy is this: He's not just the MVP of a top team. Florida is a traditional power, but the Gators lost three times. Arkansas was a power 40 years ago, but these days, the Hogs are more interesting off the field than on (except when McFadden has the football).

Another point for each: Their schools did not send me a gimmicky knickknack. If you're mailing out bobbleheads, there's a reason you have to.

Both guys are spectacular. Tebow threw 29 touchdown passes, ran for 22 more. McFadden piled up 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns, threw for four TDs, caught a TD pass. As important as the stats, both guys make you go "wow."

But who's No. 1? I can't decide. So finally, I turn to someone else.

Fifty-four Heisman winners were eligible to vote this year. If Dixon had won, he'd have started voting next year. So he might as well get a chance now.

What do you think, Dennis?

His answer is immediate: "Darren McFadden."

What about Tebow?

"McFadden, he brings so much to the game," Dixon says. "He can run the ball, he can throw the ball. He's a tremendous athlete. ... Everything that you want in a player, he's got."

Good enough. With Dixon's help, my ballot: 1. Darren McFadden. 2. Dennis Dixon. 3. Tim Tebow.

But Dixon is not quite finished.

"I'd love to put myself in that position," he says. "But I hate to talk about myself."

And this is the shame of it all.

Because if not for the blown knee, we'd all still be talking about Dixon.

Voting for him, too.

E-mail George Schroeder at [e-mail].