The top four players vying for the Heisman Trophy share many of the same characteristics.

Two are running backs and two are quarterbacks. Two are Sooners and two are Trojans. All four are undefeated.

Jason White, Adrian Peterson, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush all have good arguments for and against them.

If only the Downtown Athletic Club, which presents the Heisman, could be convinced to hold off on its ceremony.

Instead of presenting the award Dec. 11, wait until after the Orange Bowl. However, that won't happen. If OU and USC meet in the Orange Bowl, the Heisman winner will have already been decided. The argument over who will win the Heisman will rage on until this weekend's games and then until the award is presented.

But the four top candidates and their common bonds make it easy to argue over which player is the best. But what also needs to be determined is what the Heisman is and what should be taken into consideration.

The definition of the Heisman-winner should be: the player most valuable to his team during the course of the current season.

There are already too many awards given to the best player in college football.

The Heisman should be determined the same way the national champion should be--by a tournament.

White against Peterson and Leinart against Bush. One vote for a Sooner, one for a Trojan and a second vote to determine the winner.

White and Peterson is the more difficult of the two matchups. White's numbers are down this season, but not necessarily in a bad way. While yardage and touchdowns are down due to an stronger running game, his interceptions and sacks are also well below what he put up in 2003. Two numbers that are up are completion percentage and passer rating.

But Peterson better fits the description of player most important to his team (especially for White). The transformation of the OU offense has kept White off his back and made him healthier for the postseason.

The argument for Bush is similar to Peterson's. However, Bush doesn't get the ball as much as Peterson. He draws the attention of defenses, but hasn't transformed the Trojan offense. He's a versatile player who is fun to watch, but doesn't do enough to even deserve a USC Heisman.

The matchup between Leinart and Peterson for Heisman is also an easy one to decide.

Without Peterson, the Sooners are still a 10- or 11-win team with conference and national championship potential. However, without Leinart the Trojans would struggle.

Leinart deserves the Heisman, and not for his performance against Notre Dame, in which the Trojans ran up the score against the Irish. Leinart earns no points for doing what White and OU have been criticized for.

He does earn points for being the most important player to his team.
hello there & you too