Each year when the Heisman Trophy is awarded in early December, I am reminded that arguably the most recognized and prestigious individual honor in sports is given out before the season has actually concluded. Yet, even worse, there was a time when the trophy was bestowed before the regular season had ended. Thus, concerning the most outstanding player in Georgia football history, therein lies a long-time claim which is actually more so a fallacy than fact.

Having mentioned the claim before, here is an updated version, a UGA football history lesson of sorts, of its counter that two years prior to actually taking home the Heisman Trophy, the Bulldogs’ Herschel Walker should’ve won the award in 1980, as well, but did not—and not simply because he was merely a freshman.

In 1980, Walker finished third in the Heisman balloting behind winner George Rogers of South Carolina and Pittsburgh’s Hugh Green. A common belief is the freshman phenom did not win the award solely because he was, well, a freshman, whereas Rogers was a senior. This assumption, although perhaps slightly—very slightly—accurate, does not fully reveal why Herschel was not honored.

More so than Walker or Rogers' class status, by Friday, November 28—the day Heisman ballots were due 37 years ago—Rogers held the ultimate edge because the senior's regular season was all wrapped up. Herschel, on the other hand, and his Bulldog teammates still had one game remaining on their regular-season schedule against Georgia Tech the very next day.

Herschel Walker probably still would not have won the Heisman in 1980 if all voters felt free to vote for a freshman, but he could’ve captured the award if his entire regular season was considered by voters, whether he was a freshman or otherwise, and subsequently likely would’ve taken home the trophy as a newcomer.

Against the Yellow Jackets, Walker rushed for 205 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns in a 38-20 Georgia victory and, in the process, became the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher for freshmen, breaking Tony Dorsett’s record of 1,586 yards set seven years before. The outstanding effort was Walker’s third 200-yard rushing performance in Georgia’s last four games—a Heisman-like performance that, fortunately for Rogers, voters could not take into account because of the absurd deadline to submit ballots.

"If [the Georgia Tech] game had counted in the Heisman Trophy balloting [Walker] would have won it as a freshman," Coach Vince Dooley said at the time. "It’s a shame the Heisman voting is done so early. Here’s a back who has gained over 1,600 yards, set all kinds of records, and has played on an undefeated, No. 1-ranked team. If that’s not deserving of a Heisman Trophy, I don’t know what is."

Instead, this is what Heisman voters had to consider in 1980: South Carolina and Rogers’ regular season was completed on November 22. In 11 games, Rogers rushed for 1,781 yards and was instrumental in the Gamecocks achieving an 8-3 record. For Walker, his last impression for voters was an un-Herschel/un-Heisman-like performance against Auburn on November 15, gaining just 77 yards on 27 carries (2.9 average), while not even leading his own team in rushing.

Following the Heisman’s presentation to Rogers, and after the fact a slight uproar was caused because not all regular-season games were considered for all candidates, John Farrell, the chairman of the Downtown Athletic Club, felt compelled to comment. Farrell indicated that if Walker’s performance against Tech had been considered, it "probably" would have made a difference in the voting, but added, "we have to stick to our [ballot] deadlines."

In addition, there were several newspaper articles within a few days of the trophy’s ceremony proclaiming Herschel should’ve won considering his final performance. A number of Heisman voters even indicated later if the voting was held after the regular season had ended for all teams, they would have voted differently. Notably, on December 18, 1980, Walker was honored as the UPI’s NCAA Back of the Year. The freshman had 47 votes to the second-place Rogers’ 39 votes—voting that was administered after Georgia's regular season had ended.

History has repeatedly shown that one game can make or break an individual’s season. Evidently, one disallowed regular-season game kept Herschel Walker from capturing the coveted Heisman Trophy on two occasions.

Before actually winning the trophy in 1982, and much more so than Herschel should’ve won the Heisman in 1980 but didn’t because he was a freshman, he could’ve received the award that year if all 11 of his regular-season games had been considered—and, accordingly, likely would’ve been honored.

Nevertheless, as they say, should've, could’ve, would've.