Heisman hopeful Mark Ingram Jr. escapes the sins of his father

Mark Ingram Jr. tries to escape. Not in the same sense in which the Alabama sophomore star running back and leading Heisman Trophy candidate has scampered for nearly 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns during the Tide's still perfect year this season. No, that all seems to come naturally for the 5-10, 215 pound game-changing slasher. Rather, the separation he seeks comes in the form of creating an identity all of his own, carving out a way of life for himself that all but assures the sins of the father are not innately passed along to the son.

Ingram Jr. will take his place in the front row of the Heisman ceremony this weekend alongside the likes of Florida's Tim Tebow, Texas' Colt McCoy and Stanford's Toby Gerhart as a finalist for college sports most coveted player award. Yet, win or lose, the questions he'll face will almost certainly be as much about the life and times of his wayward father as they are about any of his raised accomplishments.

Such is the burden of being the son of a former NFL star, not to mention one now nearly known as much for having gravely tarnished his Super Bowl-winning image as for being a big play receiver with the New York Giants with a stream of decisions so poor they have landed him a jail sentence on bank fraud charges.

But understand that's not to imply the bond between father and son has at all become strained. Quite the contrary, as at his sentencing, Ingram Sr. begged the judge to postpone the start of the prison term so he could help guide his son through his freshman season. When that rather unusual request was refused and the judge ordered him to report to federal prison in just a few short weeks, Ingram Sr. went on the lam. At the time of his arrest several weeks later, he was found camped in front of a TV set watching Mark Jr. play.

Father and son speak now at least twice a week, each man earnestly relying on the other to help him through the most challenging phase of life either has ever known. It's during those talks when each candidly shares his goals and dreams for and with the other. "He's made some mistakes, and he's a better man because of it," Mark Jr. told Sports Illustrated recently. "He wants to help me and my sisters be the best."

It's lessons in that mindset that have landed Ingram Jr. in New York this weekend, where he is expected by many and cheered on by others to take his place as the nation's top collegiate gridironer. It's a feat and victory as much about perseverance as it is talent.

"I'm proud of my dad," said Mark Jr. "But now I'm becoming known for what I do, for being myself, and I'm not living in his shadow anymore. I'm carving out my own identity."

And somewhere a father proudly looks on.