Push is on to get Heisman for Flint native

FLINT (WJRT) -- (11/09/09) -- There's a campaign underway to push University of Alabama running back Mark Ingram for the Heisman Trophy.

Ingram played at Grand Blanc and Flint Southwestern Academy during his high school career.

Now he's being mentioned as a candidate for college football's most prestigious award.

At Bryant's Barber Shop in Flint, all the talk these days is about Mark Ingram and the fantastic year he's having with the Crimson Tide. Ingram has been a steady customer at Bryant's for the past five years.

"I just talked to him. He's in good spirits. He's keeping a level head as far as the Heisman goes," said Ingram's barber, Ken Simpson.

Norm Bryant played football alongside Ingram's grandfather at Flint Northern. Bryant wishes he had a Heisman ballot.  "He's just a kid when he comes in. You'd never know he was up for the Heisman Award."

Ingram's grandfather says the trophy would be great, but Mark, who had 144 rushing yards last week against LSU, would rather help his team win a national championship

"Awards are great and they're great to receive, but you can't sacrifice your team, and that's they way he is," Ingram's grandfather, Art Johnson.

The Flint Convention and Visitors Bureau has been contacted by an Alabama professor who is pushing for Ingram. He wants to flood the Heisman judges with e-mails about mid-Michigan's "favorite son."

(Judge Duncan Beagle) Will it sway? I don't know. But if nothing else, it puts Mark's name in their memory banks a little bit," said Genesee County Circuit Judge Duncan Beagle

Everyone who knows Ingram say he's a great player and even better person. "He's just a class act. He's polite, courteous, respectful, and I think he's the kind of guy from the Flint area we would want to promote," Beagle said.

"He's a Christian kid. He's very humble. He's a very team-oriented kid, no matter what sport he's playing," added Johnson.

If you'd like to send an e-mail to show your support for Ingram,

ESPN ranks Ingram as their number one choice for the Heisman

Click here to support Mark Ingram.

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