The Heisman Trophy

BY JIMMIE McDOWELL


NEW YORK NEW YORK----The 76th Annual Heisman Trophy Dinner was again a truly great Awards Dinner. I have attended 48 Heisman Dinners and enjoy serving as the Heisman's Southern Regional Representative covering seven states.


Rusy Riska, who retired as the Heisman's Executive Director, has attended 49 of these dinners and was looking forward to his 50th this year but health problems kept him from being there. He was missed by every one privileged to have known him.


Auburn's great field general Cameron Newton, 6-6 and 260, was the runaway choice for the Heisman. He is only a junior, but is expected to forego his senior year and declare his desire to turn pro. I asked Cam if Ole Miss has ever expressed interest in him and he said he heard from Ole Miss when he was in high school. He enrolled at the University of Florida where the competition was Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman. He said he was not really interested in Ole Miss because the Rebels had Jevan Snead, who was supposed to have been back for two more seasons but chose to forego his final year and make himself available for the draft.


He thought he might go in an early round but was shocked when he was overlooked by every pro team. Tampa finally signed him as a free agent but cut him twice.


Mississippi State was interested in Cameron because Dan Mullen, the Florida offensive coordinator, got the State job. Cam was a Junior College star in Texas after leaving Florida.


Newton led Auburn to a perfect season and the invitation to play also unbeaten Oregon in the championship game in January.


Oregon is the school which played Doak Walker and Kyle Rote and SMU in the Cotton Bowl with once beaten Ole Miss staying home after shellacking Mississippi State in the Golden Egg battle with fearless Farley Salmon calling the shots after Charlie Conerly's departure.


Cam's Mother was in New York and danced with her son at the Heisman's Dinner Dance on Sunday after being named the Heisman winner on Saturday evening.


William Dockery, president of the Heisman Trust, presented the Award on national TV. Bill is tall but had to look up to the Auburn field general in making the presentation. He challenged Cam to come back for his final year and join Archie Griffin as the only two time Heisman winner.


Newton is Auburn's third Heisman winner following Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson, who were both there to congratulate Cameron. The three other finalists were Andrew Luck of Stanford, Darron Thomas of Oregon, and Kellen Moore of Boise State. who all can return next year. Luck is expected to turn pro.


Last year's winner Mark Ingram was not a contender. I told one and all last year that Ingram was the second best running back the University of Alabama ever had. Some asked who was better? FORREST GUMP, I replied.


Enjoyed seeing my son Michael and my grandson Joshua while in New York. Mike is the senior Director of Cultural Affairs for Los Angeles and the President of the Los Angeles Stage Alliance. Joshua is a New York Designer. Along with pal Skip Slon we enjoyed dinner at one of my favorite New York Restaurants Neary's Pub where Ireland born Jimmy Neary presides. His lovely daughter Una lends a helping hand on weekends after her top job in the Financial world during the week. Jimmy and Una were guests at a Notre Dame game this fall. They are regulars at the New York Giants home games in the Jersey Meadowlands new stadium.
Paul Hornung, Johnny Lattner, Hop Cassady, Steve Spurrier, John David Crow, Jim Plunkett.Johnny Rodgers. Archie Griffin,Joe Bellino, Pete Dawkins, Tony Dorsett,George Rogers,Doug Flutie,Ty Dettmer were also on hand.
Spurrier nearly attended Ole Miss before going to Florida. His Father, a minister, wound up getting a church in Florida after Steve grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee. Years later I asked Ole Miss Coach Johnny Vaught could he had not gotten some good North Mississippi preacher to retire so Rev. Sputtier could have gotten a Church in or near Oxford. Vaught said he would have never done anything like that.
Vaught also lost Lance Alworth to Arkansas when he refused to recruit married players. He changed that rule after losing Alworth, who is in the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Heisman Dinner and the American Football Coaches Association had their banquets the same night in New York City.
Rob Whalen and Tim Henning , carrying on in the tradition of Rudy Riska, are to be commended for another job well done.,
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