By Brian Whitehead
Daily Titan Sports Columnist

McCoy, last season's Heisman runner-up, has helped his Texas Longhorns to a 13-0 record and a spot in the 2010 BCS Championship Game in Pasadena, Calif. Photo Courtesy MCT.

I can feel the electricity of the moment, the rarity of the accomplishment.

The perfect play, the perfect stage, the perfect blend of cockiness, showboating, unsportsmanlike conduct and confidence.

For 13 electrifying seconds, everything fell into place, like the outcome was predestined from the start.

Baby-faced Desmond Howard, the sensational Michigan wide receiver, fields a punt at his own seven-yard line. He takes two full strides to the right, slams on the breaks and cuts back left, leaving a pair of shattered Buckeye ankles in his wake.

In approximately 1.47 seconds, he reaches full speed.

As bodies collide and tacklers lunge at his white and maize cleats, he emerges from an over-matched group of Ohio State special teamers, breaking through weak tackles with the ease of an 18-wheeler. Following another disgusting juke move to the right, he’s up the sideline with just the poor punter to beat.

(Waiting.)

He beats the punter and leaves a vapor trail on his way to the promised land.

Instant euphoria. But that’s not the best part.

Howard takes six long strides into the heart of the end zone, tucks the ball under his right armpit, points to a photographer behind the goal post with his left hand and stops on a dime.

With his momentum carrying him forward, Howard lifts his left knee to his chest and completes the greatest college touchdown celebration of all-time with … the Heisman pose.

A month later, he unanimously won the coveted award. Just like he said he would.

God, I love that clip.

Flashforward to 2009.

Tebow can become the second player to win the coveted Heisman trophy since Ohio State's Archie Griffin in '74 and '75. Photo Courtesy MCT.

In comparison, this year’s Heisman race was as exciting as getting a colonic. There were no “Hello Heisman!” exclamations, no season-defining plays, and to put it bluntly, no excitement, whatsoever.

What a contrast from the beginning of the year. In September, all three 2008 finalists were back in college, preparing to compete for not only the BCS National Championship, but the Heisman as well.

Florida’s Tim Tebow, Texas’ Colt McCoy and reigning winner, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford all envisioned a reunion in New York City this December for what could have possibly been the closest Heisman race in recent memory.

Well, all that hype lasted about a week.

Bradford injured his money-maker in the first game of the season while Tebow and McCoy grotesquely underwhelmed early on. And quite frankly, not much has changed.

On Monday, five Heisman finalists were announced: McCoy, Tebow, Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, Alabama running back Mark Ingram and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Ugh. That list is about as easy to look at as Khloe Kardashian’s face in HD.

You look at those five and there’s not a Vinny Testaverde, Ricky Williams or Troy Smith in the bunch. But, there’s gotta be a winner. So let’s break down the finalists:

McCoy: Throughout the season, the winningest quarterback in college football history did little to separate himself from up-and-coming Heisman hopefuls.

With 30 total TDs (the majority of them piling up against the likes of Louisiana-Monroe, Wyoming, University of Texas at El Paso and Missouri) McCoy’s numbers take a hit in the “he did it against the best of the best” category. His zero touchdown and three-interception game against Nebraska Saturday in the Big 12 Conference title game didn’t exactly help his cause.

Gerhart: The most consistent player of the bunch, all the numbers are there (1,736 rushing yards, 26 TDs, 100-yards-plus rushing in 10 of 12 games, three 200-yard performances, nine multi-TD games). The only knock against Gerhart is he’s the best player on a four-loss Stanford team.

Ingram's three-touchdown performance in the SEC Championship game against Florida solidified his Heisman candidacy. Photo Courtesy MCT.

Ingram: The man has been electrifying all year. If an early October 172-yard rushing performance against Mississippi put him on the Heisman radar, then a 246-yard track meet against South Carolina a week later guaranteed him an invite.

Will Ingram walk away with the trophy? Probably not, but his team did just win the biggest regular season game in SEC football history. Quite a consolation prize, wouldn’t you say?

Tebow: Unfortunately, the Heisman isn’t a Lifetime Achievement Award. And with mediocre 2009 stats (2,413 yards passing, 31 total TDs – 13 rushing), that’s the only kind of award Tebow is winning this year.

On the bright side, he does own a “Get Into Heaven Free” card, so I think he’ll be OK.

Suh: The most dominating defensive player in the country, bar none. That’s exactly what Suh is: the second coming of Warren Sapp.

Besides having the most awkward name to spell and/or say this side of Dick Kazmaier, the last time a defensive tackle won the Heisman was, well, let’s just say crazier things have happened.

All things considered, this year’s recipient will be anything but unanimous selection. Finally, some suspense.

Personally, I’d give it to Desmond Howard every single year.

Come on, he did the Heisman pose.