Northern Illinois' communications department kicked off a Heisman Trophy campaign for Huskies junior quarterback Jordan Lynch on Wednesday.
"Yes, we are definitely starting a campaign for Jordan," Northern Illinois associate athletic director for communications Donna Turner wrote in an e-mail on Wednesday. "At this point, we definitely feel like what he is doing for our team is worthy of mention and comparable to any other quarterback in the country.
"We're working up a website, Facebook page (Jordan Lynch for 6), using the hashtag #VoteLynch and will be getting him out to do some media locally and nationally (interviews, etc.). We also will have multiple videos, including a weekly 'Lunch with Lynch.' A lot of these are still in developmental stages, but we're having fun with it and raising awareness of not only Jordan Lynch, but of Northern Illinois Football!"
Lynch currently leads the country in total offensive yards (3,169), is No. 2 in rushing yards (1,185), No. 1 in touchdowns responsible for with 32 (rushing and passing), broke the NCAA record for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback with seven, tied Garrett Wolfe for the school record for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games in a season, has thrown 146 passes over five games without an interception, has thrown 17 touchdowns to three interceptions, is No. 1 in the MAC and No. 23 nationally with a 152.2 passing efficiency, is No. 16 nationally with 10.0 points a game and the Huskies are 8-1 this season.
"I think the guy should be on the Heisman list," Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren said recently. "He's close to breaking the all-time record for quarterbacks in rushing, throws four TDs, averages 130-plus a game (rushing). He doesn't turn the football over, he's playing so hard and ... he's a clutch player. I love the guy.
"There wasn't a lot of attention on him (earlier this season) because he hadn't earned it yet. You have to have a body of work, and now he does. If he can keep doing it, and we can keep winning while he's doing it, then he'll be a guy that's in those conversations and he deserves to be. The people that compete against him, they know where I'm coming from. A lot of running quarterbacks don't throw the ball well, so teams put everybody in there, and they stop him. Last week, he threw for four touchdowns. He threw for a bunch (of yards) against Army, who put everybody in (the box). Teams that want to play back in coverage, then he runs."