My brother-in-law called me the other day, but it wasn’t to send me season’s greetings from deep in the heart of Texas.

For years, he was a University of Texas fan, like so many others in the Lone Star State believing burnt orange is a primary color. But after his twin daughters recently graduated from Texas A&M, this born-again Aggie has bought into the 12th Man tradition like no other, and now thinks the only good Longhorn is the kind you barbecue on the grill.

"I hear from my daughters (on Facebook, of course) you aren’t quite sold on Johnny Football," he said in his all-natural imitation of Matthew McConaughey, not even bothering to say hello. "I can’t imagine for the life of me, why."

From there, he made his case how Texas A&M redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel is the obvious choice to be handed the Heisman Trophy this Saturday night in downtown New York. For a good five minutes, he rattled off more numbers than the talking heads on CNBC discussing the impending fiscal cliff.

He’s the first freshman to throw for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 in a single season, he set the single-game SEC record for total offense two times and has 4,600 yards of offense. By contrast, Hawaii had 3,159 yards entering Saturday night’s game with South Alabama.

"If you look at his stats, it’s not even close," my brother-in-law said in summation. "Who else could you vote for?"

Who else, indeed?

OF ALL THE Heisman Trophy voters across the continent, I’m faced with a unique dilemma. I am a graduate of the 101st class of Texas A&M and my youngest daughter spent her junior high years as Manti Te’o’s Kahuku classmate before he departed for the Honolulu city lights.

Oh yeah, did I mention she’s dating his cousin?

So you can see, when I cast my ballot on Monday, just hours before the deadline approaches, my choice will be filled with consequences no matter whose name I jot down on the dotted line.

Manziel and Te’o have separated themselves from the rest of the field. And if you listen to all the white noise out there, it appears Manziel already has won this thing, keeping my vote from being the deciding factor for either side.

As I told my brother-in-law, I haven’t decided yet. What Manziel has done in the premier league in college football is undeniable. When a guy supplants Cam Newton’s single-season total for offensive yards, you have to take note of the accomplishment.

But Te’o is an equally deserving choice. He left the Hawaiian islands to become the face of the most storied program in college football. He didn’t do it alone, but by most accounts, the Fighting Irish couldn’t have done it without him.

In five weeks, the Irish will play for the national championship. The Aggies will not. And that should count for something as well. Factor in the personal loss Te’o has faced with the death of his grandmother and girlfriend and it would seem he’s the sentimental choice.

Honestly, I don’t know who I will choose tomorrow. But in the end, it couldn’t be more wrong or right, no matter which player gets the nod.

Paul Arnett is the sports editor of the Star-Advertiser and the Heisman Trophy state representative. He can be reached at parnett@staradvertiser.com or 529-4786.