Crouch Leaves Heisman Home, Brings Experience to Versus

One shouldn't extrapolate from the notion that because Eric Crouch doesn't flaunt his Heisman Trophy, he isn't proud of winning it.

Let's face it: Winning college football's most prestigious individual honor, as Crouch did in 2001 for Nebraska, can open a few professional doors for a person.

Lugging the actual Heisman itself around can be a load, Crouch says. When you add the weight of the stainless steel carrying case the Downtown Athletic Club provides the winner to the statue itself, you're talking about 100 pounds easy.

"It becomes a challenge just getting it in and out of cars by yourself," Crouch said. "I've just elected to take it places very rarely."

And while his Heisman will be showcased at an Omaha museum during the college football season, Crouch himself will be showcasing his knowledge of the game as a studio analyst on Versus telecasts.

Crouch, who threw and ran for a combined 2,600 yards and 25 touchdowns in his Heisman year as an option quarterback, worked Thursday night's Utah-Pittsburgh game and will be back in the studio Saturday for the channel's airing of the Wisconsin-UNLV game at 11 p.m. ET.

"I think it will go well," Crouch said of his Versus stint. "I've got a lot to learn in this industry about being in front of the camera. I also have a lot of credibility to lend to the game. My perspective is to bring that to the forefront. "

"I'll just share my experiences with the college game, the basic knowledge of the X's and O's of football. I think people appreciate that. With all that knowledge, I feel like it's time to give back to the fans and the people who really enjoy watching the game of college football."

Crouch, who owns and operates a playground and recreational equipment business in Omaha, thinks Mountain West teams Utah, which knocked off preseason Big East favorite Pittsburgh Thursday, and TCU could be in the national title picture.

It just so happens that most of Versus' telecasts are of games involving the conference, but Crouch also includes Alabama, Ohio State and future Mountain West entrant Boise State on that list.

"I know there are a lot of doubters out there based on their (Boise State) strength of schedule, but hey, that's the way it works," Crouch said. "Sometimes a program has earned that spot to be at the top and they've won year after year and had undefeated seasons. It's not by chance. It's because they've done the hard things and won football games week in and week out."


Crouch is high on his alma mater, and the work coach Bo Pellini has put in bringing Nebraska back to national prominence.

Crouch thinks the Cornhuskers' secondary is as good as it has ever been, but he has questions about the offense.

Crouch, who was drafted by St. Louis and later cut by Green Bay before playing in Europe and in Canada, said he's surprised at how enthusiastic Nebraska fans are about leaving the Big 12 after this season and joining the Big Ten.

"I would have thought that people would have been saddened more that we're not playing Texas or Oklahoma or Missouri or Kansas that we built the legacy around as long as the program has been around," Crouch said.

"People are really taking it with open arms and accepting it. There's a lot of excitement about moving to the Big Ten and playing teams like Penn State and Iowa and Ohio State and Michigan and being able to travel to different parts of the country. It's going to be good for the university all around from academics to football to basketball."