Toby Gerhart once was a talented player on the Stanford football team. After 12 games, he is a name and a player that no Stanford fan will forget.

Stanford has not had many players like Toby Gerhart, and he has rightfully surpassed all the great Stanford running backs this year after three months of running, gunning, leg-churning, powerful football. His record-breaking, award-winning season has been special for him and for all Stanford fans. It was exciting to follow his season this year — the Cardinal faithful enjoyed having him on their side, following and relishing in his success week after week.

Toby is a breath of fresh air in an atmosphere of many overzealous, attention-loving, “me”-type players. He has had an outstanding season and what is even more satisfying is the way he did it — with a no-nonsense, classy, shut-up-and-play attitude. He just rolled along, ran hard, played tough and didn’t complain. His reward is a place atop the Stanford and Pac-10 record books, appearances in college football highlight reels, and a true legacy on the Farm.

I believe I speak for all Stanford fans when I say that Toby has been the man for Stanford football this year. It has been remarkable to see him rise up and achieve so much after struggling through the first part of his Stanford career. His freshman year he started once and ran for 375 yards on the year. Sophomore year he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the season. After a tough first two seasons in which the team’s combined record was 5-19, Gerhart only got stronger. Junior year was his coming out year with 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns. We all know what happened this year. He came to play from day one and four years later, he is still running as hard as he was the first day of his Stanford career.

Although I cannot forget to mention the players around him that were vital to his success this year — I’m looking at the offensive line and quarterback here — it was Toby who hit the holes this year as hard as anyone, with physicality, resolve and confidence. He refused to go down at first contact and refused to capitulate, making the defense swarm him to get him down. The offensive line or quarterback can’t really help you with that. It came from inside his mind and his heart — no defender was too big or too strong or too tough for him.

Gerhart’s stats might have been even better were it not for what I believe was panic play-calling in the Wake Forest and Cal games. He only carried the ball six times in the second half at Wake Forest in a game where the Demon Deacons scored 21 second-half points and Stanford none. And just two weeks ago against Cal, when Stanford had first-and-10 from the 13-yard line with under two minutes left and a chance to win the game, a play to the All-American bruiser was not called. But it was the games where he carried the team on his back that made his season. He torched possible Rose Bowl participant Oregon for 223 yards and three touchdowns. He ran over USC for 178 and three. Notre Dame watched him go for 205 and three. He met pay dirt four times against Cal. When called upon, he took the team in his hands and he never failed to deliver.

Toby has also been a victim of East Coast-biased sports reporters and media that have not given him the credit he deserves and a real chance in the Heisman race. It seems like it pains broadcasters and sportswriters, save a few, to put Toby in the Heisman discussion with stats that would virtually lock the Heisman for anyone from the SEC, USC, Ohio State or Texas.

Today, Gerhart is better known throughout the nation than he was at the beginning of the year, but in the world of college football and all the media coverage, he still lagged. He dominated the Pac-10 this year and was one of the nation’s biggest playmakers. He should have been elevated earlier in the year by the media like they did Tim Tebow, Mark Ingram and Colt McCoy. Instead of hearing more about Gerhart’s numbers and ability, we watched 20 interviews of Florida’s Tebow. More people should have seen and appreciated the kind of player and person Toby really was. He was the beating heart of the Stanford offense: rushing, gushing through all aspects of the offense, giving it life and zest. Without him, Stanford’s season probably would have been a lot different. He may very well have been the single most important player for a team this season.

Toby will be a finalist for the Heisman trophy. It is unfortunate that it took 12 games for the nation to finally realize what kind of player he was this year and how valuable he was to the Stanford team. Becoming a Heisman finalist is an honorable and memorable accomplishment for Gerhart and the Stanford program. Toby deserves that ticket to New York and to be in the discussion of the nation’s best players. Plain and simple, the guy deserves some limelight and should absolutely be recognized for the complete player he was this year.

But a testament to Toby’s character is how the disappointing lack of hype and credit fazed him throughout the year: not one bit. The guy still went out and played hard every game, every down, even if he didn’t get the ball. When he scored a touchdown the ball did not go flying and he did not break into dance. If he ever thought he should have gotten the ball in any particular moment, you would never have known it. He ran hard and got up when he was hit down. He was a strong competitor and a punishing runner, but was gracious in defeat. He had the great without the glamour. It was a pleasure to watch such a player achieve so much success with so much humility. It’s a big part of why we rooted for him.

So thank you, Toby, for making this a season to remember for Stanford football. Thank you for your passion, drive, competitiveness and tenacity. You were a huge reason that Stanford emerged from the doldrums this season and regained respect. All your accolades are well-deserve, and the honors couldn’t be bestowed upon a better person. Thank you for giving Cardinal fans the thrills without the frills. You deserve everything you get from here on out, which will only be good. Because of you, it has been great to be a Stanford fan.

Regardless of how everything pans out the rest of the way, Toby has had a season for the records and for the memories. Stanford students and Stanford fans will remember this season as the one where Gerhart dominated whenever he stepped on the field, no matter who lined up across from him. Fans will remember the “Toby” chants as he powered his way through the line. The extra cheers when he was hit but carried multiple defenders a few more yards. The short yardage plays when everyone in the stadium knew who the ball was going to. The “I Heart Ger Heart” sign in the south end zone. The big runs and catches. The 27 touchdowns (don’t forget about that passing one). The man he was on the field. The man he was off the field. Stanford football in 2009 was the season of Toby Gerhart. For the Cardinal and for Toby, it was a season to remember, and a season unlike any other.

Danny Belch is trying to hold back his tears while he reminisces about Toby. Share your favorite Toby memories at dbelch1 “at” stanford.edu.