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Freshman Becomes First-Ever to Win Heisman Trophy: ‘Dreaming About This Since I Was A Kid’

Dec. 8, 2012 9:43pm Erica Ritz

Texas A&M Quarterback Johnny Manziel Becomes First Freshman to Win Heisman Trophy | Football

Heisman winner quarterback Johnny Manziel of the Texas A&M University Aggies poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award prior to the 78th Heisman Trophy Presentation on December 8, 2012 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)

(TheBlaze/AP) — “Johnny Football” just got himself a way cooler nickname: Johnny Heisman.

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, taking college football’s top individual prize Saturday night after a record-breaking debut.

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o finished a distant second and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein was third in the voting. In a unique Heisman race, with two nontraditional candidates, Manziel broke through the class barrier and kept Te’o from becoming the first purely defensive player to win the award.

Manziel drew 474 first-place votes and 2,029 points from the panel of media members and former winners.

“I have been dreaming about this since I was a kid,” he said during his acceptance speech after hugging his mom, dad and kid sister.

In this Nov. 17, 2012, file photo, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel rolls out to throw a touchdown pass during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Sam Houston State in College Station, Texas. (Photo: AP)

Manziel seemed incredibly calm after his name was announced, hardly resembling the guy who dashes around the football field on Saturday.

Te’o had 321 first-place votes and 1,706 points and Klein received 60 firsts and 894 points.

Just a few days after turning 20, Manziel proved times have truly changed in college football, and that experience can sometimes be overrated.

For years, seniors dominated the award named after John Heisman, the pioneering Georgia Tech coach from the early 1900s. In the 1980s, juniors started becoming common winners. Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win it in 2007, and two more won it in the next two seasons.

(Photo: Twitter/@TimTebow)

Adrian Peterson had come closest as a freshman, finishing second to Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart in 2004. But it took 78 years for a newbie to take home the big bronze statue. Johnny Football really can do it all.

Peterson was a true freshman for Oklahoma. As a redshirt freshmen, Manziel attended school and practiced with the team last year, but did not play in any games.

He’s the second player from Texas A&M to win the Heisman – John David Crow took it home in 1957 – and did so without the slightest hint of preseason hype. Manziel didn’t even win the starting job until two weeks before the season.

(L-R) Heisman finalists quarterback Collin Klein of the Kansas State Wildcats, quarterback Johnny Manziel of the Texas A&M University Aggies and linebacker Manti Te’o of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish speak during a press conference prior to the 78th Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 8, 2012 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)

But who needs hype when you can fill-up a highlight reel the way Manziel can?

With daring dashes and elusive improvisation, Manziel broke 2010 Heisman winner Cam Netwon’s Southeastern Conference record with 4,600 total yards, led the Aggies to a 10-2 in their first season in the SEC and orchestrated an upset at then-No. 1 Alabama in November that stamped him as legit.

He has thrown for 3,419 yards and 24 touchdowns and run for 1,181 yards and 19 more scores to become the first freshman, first SEC player and fifth player overall to throw for 3,000 yards and run for 1,000 in a season.

Manziel has one more game this season, against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 4.

CBS News has more on Manziel’s background:

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Comments (33)

toohotty72
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 11:59pm
Now I know where all the golden domers went to whine. How pathetic.

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FISH_BONE
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:02pm
test

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aZjimbo
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 5:31pm
The Heisman trophy is by far and away the most overrated award in all of sports. It’s about offensive stats and nothing else.

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JBob
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 3:26pm
From the website of the Heisman Trophy Trust: “The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”
The Heisman voters from across the nation demonstrated that they either no longer care about the stated qualifications of the Heisman award or that they are so shallow that they got c aught up in the hype of the “Death Star” (ESPN), or that they were simply too lazy to do their homework. So let’s take a look. A mere 6 months ago, “Johnny Football” as Manziel has become known, was arrested for disorderly conduct, failure to identify and for using a fake ID. In a report from the Manhattan Mercury (Manhattan, KS), his father had to bribe him with cars to be a “model citizen”. Compare that with the excellence and integrity of Manti Te’o and Collin Klein who placed second and third respectively in the voting. Teo’ is a model of great citizenship and personal faith and integrity. Collin Klein’s story is one that should jump out to every voter as the ideal of a Heisman Trophy winner. Home schooled, a devout Christian who lives his faith. His teammates say he epitomizes every one of his college coaches 16 points for success. We have witnessed the death of celebrating those stated virtues upon which the Heisman should be awarded, if it ever was to begin with.

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SchoeneTante
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 3:09pm
The Heisman is awarded ANNUALLY to the “most outstanding player” in college football. It is not awarded to the person with the best 4 year college career, or else no one but four-year seniors would be eligible. Nor is it meant to be a predictor of who will be successful in the NFL. A crystal ball would be necessary for that. So the lists of Heisman players who have failed in the NFL that have been posted to this thread are completely irrelevent to this discussion. Also irrelevant is the argument about players who have had longer careers. The relevant argument is, “Who was the most outstanding college football player this season?” The answer to that question is, of course, completely subjective, sort of like arguing which is the most outstanding ice cream flavor–chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. Or who is the entertainer of the year at a music awards show. It is a popularity contest, so there can be no “wrong” winner. Whoever the majority of the voters thinks is the most outstanding for this season wins.

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righthanddrive
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 3:01pm
Let’s enjoy achievement in college football while we can. Let’s applaud these young men who strived to be the best in their chosen sports field. It may not be for long. I was watching CSPN3 on the Safety Risks in Youth Football (ages under 14) sponsored I think by the Aspen Institute/Brain Injury Research Institute. The message – 97% of all catastrophic injury was blamed on football, tackling in particular. From what I gather the conclusions the panels seemed to suggest flag football as an alternative, to, and this is scary, ‘take the decision out of the hands of the parents’ whether their kids should play flag or real football, also coaches do not embrace ‘change’ very well so look for football panels to decide what your kids will play…and just maybe say goodbye to your favourite professional sport – football and just maybe say hello to flag football with dare I say it co-ed teams!!!

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FSM_47
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 2:34pm
20 year old college Sophomore becomes first Freshman to win the Heisman Trophy? Well, he is an Aggie :-)

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Mephisto
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 1:45pm
What a travesty!

“Johnny Football” is a freshman quarterback @ Texas A&M. One good year doesn’t make him a Heisman Trophy candidate and shouldn’t have made him a winner. Man’Ti Teo, Notre Dame’s middle-linebacker should have won. He had four good years and got betteer each successive year.

What’s “Johnny Football” going to do in the next three years? Get better? We can only hope. Turn pro? Ever heard of Ryan Leaf. Be another Michael Vick or Robert Griffin III? Not likely.

I’m sure if he stays in school, he’ll have a successful collegiate career. If he decides to turn pro early, he’ll be a bust. The difference between the college and professional ranks is astronomical and he won’t be able to parley his skills at that level.

The Heisman Trophy has gone the way of the Nobel Peace Prize. They give it to anybody, especially those with no track record and who don’t deserve it.

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BruceHenry
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 7:49am
Talking stats? Case Keenum, 5631 yards passing, 48 TD’s……Johnny, 4600 yards passing, 43 TD’s. Case Keenum, 19,217 yards passing and 155 TD’s plus 23 rushing most in NCAA history. Doesn’t even get an invite to the Heisman party! All show and no go folks.

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- December9
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:04pm
  Good for him, but in the spirit of the times shouldn’t he share it with the losers so they don’t feel bad.
  
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TheMajority
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 7:33am
See what happens when everybody gets a trophy? It teaches you not to try as hard as you could, and a freshman can come along and actually earn it right from under your pampered azzes.

NFL, “National Felon League”, stop wearing pink, and get your act together.

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Triple7
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 4:26am
1989 Andre Ware Houston Quarterback Bust
1990 Ty Detmer BYU Quarterback Career back up
1991 Desmond Howard Michigan Wide receiver Bust
1992 Gino Torretta Miami Quarterback Never made an NFL roster
1993 Charlie Ward Florida State Quarterback Pro Basketball player
1994 Rashaan Salaam Colorado Running back Bust
1995 Eddie George Ohio State Running back Good career
1996 Danny Wuerffel Florida Quarterback Back up
1997 Charles Woodson Michigan Cornerback/Punt returner Potential HOF
1998 Ricky Williams Texas Running back Decent career
1999 Ron Dayne Wisconsin Running back Bust
2000 Chris Weinke Florida State Quarterback Back up
2001 Eric Crouch Nebraska Quarterback Played wide receiver.
2002 Carson Palmer* USC Quarterback Decent career
2003 Jason White Oklahoma Quarterback Wasnt drafted
2004 Matt Leinart USC Quarterback Bust
2005 Reggie Bush(vacated)[n 1] USC Running back Ok career
2006 Troy Smith Ohio State Quarterback Out of the league
2007 Tim Tebow Florida Quarterback 15 minutes are winding down
2008 Sam Bradford* Oklahoma Quarterback Yet to be determined
2009 Mark Ingram, Jr. Alabama Running back On the road to bust
2010 Cam Newton* Auburn Quarterback Yet to be determined
2011 Robert Griffin III Baylor Quarterback So far so good.
2012 Johnny Manziel Texas A&M Quarterback

I put little faith in this popularity award. The best player in college is either a quarterback or running back? B.S. Look at the track record. Years of rubbish.

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- paultard
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 7:04am
  Ya left out Barry Sanders 1988 far from a bust.. A close second Rodney Peete and Third H.O.F. QB Troy Aikman.. ’88 was a good year!
  
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- beatobama
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 7:40am
  Roger Staubach, Joe Theismann…not exactly bit players.
  
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- OIF3survivor
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 11:44am
  Triple7:
  
  I’d have to agree. I can’t believe that Te’o, who definitely had more of an impact on his team, and college football, was a ‘distant’ second in the voting. He has played more than just a significant role in leading a team to a national championship game. Honestly, without his 7 interceptions, tackles for loss and outright leadership, ND was likely never going to do any better than 9-3…possibly 7-5 this season.
  Manziel may very well have a great career in his remaining years with A&M and in the pros but really as we football fans have heard over and over and over, championship teams are made with a great defense. Having Manziel Means a team that will likely score, unless a player like Te’o is on the other side and returning tipped passes for a pick-six and stopping your running game cold.
  
  Just my take but Te’o is much more likely to impact a team’s chances for a win than yet another great QB.
  
  Report this comment
- SamIamTwo
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 3:00pm
  You could have gone back to Steve Owens…the drunken wife beater.
  
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biffo
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 1:57am
The sports press celebrated Tebow’s religion, and got slammed by their hollywood elders. Tebow, remember him? The Jets’ have stuffed him in a locker and have allowed poor Sanchez to have his career ruined by the disgusting, racist, NFL, and the MSM. Not a peep of this young man’s religion. More likely told that he will lose big money, endorsements, and draft position if he trumpets his religion as a force in his life. Oh, no.. better come from a fatherless, crime ridden background than show an intact, loving, true American FAMILY!! The secular, socialist media are seeing more and more young men in college and high school, coming from intact, loving, successful families and will have deal with that, sooner or later. The feminist cabal is going after the alpha male dominated NFL, and will have them beaten and emasculated, playing flag football with a number LGBT role models in positions of influence and fake celebrity. The socialist, education cabal is already destroying any males, and male sports, starting at birth (if the boys survive their mother’s ‘choice’). Enjoy this young man’s success for now. The minority in charge hate him, and what he stands for. racist, secular, ESPN will have at him with tiny bites ans silence, while celebrating and excusing the pro sports criminal of the year, every chance they get. Watch and compare how Tebow and Johnny Heisman make out….

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- KingCanon
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 5:11am
  Excellent Biffo!
  
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lefty5005
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:20am
You know Montana was the 7th pick in the 3rd round? Of course, Tom Brady went in the 6th round. Whatever happened to a few of the heisman guys, it has been sort of a curse. I hope he does well though and I think he will. That much talent and he is well grounded should make for big NFL money.

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 2:41am
  I’d like to see him stay with Texas A&M at least for another couple of years to develop and get evn better. He’s way too green for the NFL.
  
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- JBob
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 3:31pm
  Well grounded? Read my post that I just left.
  
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jungle J
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:54pm
he only got it because they don’t know he is white.

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soybomb315_II
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:31pm
Apparently Manziel is a really devout christian…I’ve been wondering why nobody is attaching themselves to his faith like they do for Tebow. My thinking is that Manziel is more quite and therefore not a magnet personality….

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dealer@678
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:25pm
I take that back. He’s better than Joe Montana especially at that age

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dealer@678
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:20pm
This guy is the next Joe Montana.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:28pm
  ….or the next Chris Weinke.
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:44pm
  remember eric crouch?
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 6:42am
  … & Ryan Leaf?
  
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DadRocked
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:04pm
Ahhhhh…
Just another sign of hope from the next generation !

Congrats Kid…

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Locked
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:04pm
Good for Manziel!

Honestly, sorry to Manti Te’o but Notre Dame is as corrupt as the Catholic hierarchy when it comes to confronting sexual assault. That school should be banned from having a team after the **** they’ve gotten away with over the past few years; as a Christian, it sickens me to even think they had a chance at being rewarded for their football program.

I still think college sports corrupt an already easily-influenced higher education system, but good for the young men who have achieved prominence.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:37pm
  Don’t be naive, LOCKED
  
  There’s actually a higher reported percent of protestant ministers being pedophiles than Catholics.
  http://www.reformation.com/
  
  It’s an even higher percentage for public school teachers.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 9:30am
  Who’s being naive East? I’m talking about the university, not the church. I suggest reading up on what ND has gotten away with.
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 11:37am
  sorry LOCK…
  
  i get a little defensive about Catholic bashing.
  You’re right about ND corruption- though there’s a lot of blame to go around among most any school that banks it’s reputation on a football team.
  
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