Heisman Trophy

By Dee Dee Smith

The Heisman is the highest designation a college football player can receive. Named after the late football player and coach John Heisman, this trophy is awarded to a distinguished college player in December of each year.    

The Selection Process:

Any and all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) players are eligible to receive the Heisman award.  Nonetheless, all former winners have come from division 1A (having major sports programs), and most have been college seniors.  Athletes are chosen because of their athletic ability and their contribution to their team’s overall success.

The process for selecting Heisman winners is similar to that of political primaries.  Representatives from a panel of sports journalists are selected to represent and vote on behalf of their particular region of the country.  These representatives, along with all former Heisman winners and one public vote determine the award recipient.  

The History of the Heisman and the Trophy:

According to the official website of the Heisman, this award/honor was originally awarded by and thus known as the Downtown Athletic Club Award.  The Downtown Athletic Club (a privately owned recreation club in New York city) held the first award presentation at the end of the football season of 1935.  Quite a bit of effort was put into the design and artistry of the actual (or Heisman) trophy.  Sculpted by the famous artist Frank Eliscu, the trophy created in bronze is a replica of a football player seeming to be headed to a "touchdown".

Former Heisman Winners:

Reggie Bush (2005/University of Southern California - USC) - Bush was a 2006 NFL draft first round pick.  He is currently a running back with the New Orleans Saints. 

Charles Woodson (1997/University of Michigan) - Woodson began his career with the Oakland Raiders.  He would later join the Green Bay Packers.  In his NFL career, Woodson was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1998.

Barry Sanders (1988/Oklahoma State) - Sanders had a great NFL career.  He was named Rookie of the Year in 1989, Most Valuable Player in 1997 and in 2004 was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bo Jackson (1985/Auburn) -  Running back Bo Jackson is just an overall athlete.  After having a successful career with the NFL, Jackson also played professional baseball.

Herschel Walker (1982/Georgia) - Walker went on to play for both the United States Football League and the National Football League. 

Tony Dorsett (1976/Pittsburgh) - He and his college team won a great victory over Georgia in the Super Bowl.  Dorsett would later play for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos.  He was awarded the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1977, was a Super Bowl XII Champion and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994. 

Ojay Simpson (1968/USC) - Went on to be a distinguished player in the NFL, sportscaster and actor.  Most recently Simpson has been in the media due to legal/criminal allegations. 

Roger Staubach (1963/Navy) - Staubach had a great career with the Dallas Cowboys.  He was named the most valuable player in the Super Bowl VI, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985

The Legacy Continues

To the surprise of many, Tim Tebow, a sophomore from Florida was awarded the coveted Heisman this year.  He is the first sophomore to ever receive the award, and was the first player from the Southeastern Conference to receive the award in over a decade.  Tebow was presented the trophy during a ceremony in the ballroom of the Hilton New York

The Future of the Heisman

For many years the prized Heisman Trophy was housed at the historic Downtown Athletic Club  But later this year, the Heisman will have a new home.  This spring/early summer, the Heisman will move to it’s new home at the National Sports Museum in Manhattan.