Heisman Trophy

One day after this season's Heisman Trophy winner quietly slipped into an interview room, looking like an Oklahoma fan dressed in a Sam Bradford jersey, the previous season's Heisman winner made a star-studded, security-escorted entrance onto a Sunday center stage. "Get off the podium!" a man with a dark suit, wearing an earpiece, bellowed at reporters who were angling for position to hear Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. What, no bomb-sniffing dogs? No one said whether this man was from U.N.C.L.

reporting from bulverde, texas Felix "Doc" Blanchard, the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner and Army's Mr. Inside in college football's most famous running-back combination, died Sunday. He was 84. Blanchard's daughter, Mary Blanchard, told the Associated Press late Sunday night in a phone interview that her father, the oldest living Heisman winner, died of pneumonia at home in Bulverde, a small town in central Texas, earlier in the day.

A report that the Heisman Trophy won by Charles White will be sold to the highest bidder next month comes as news to Charles White. He hawked it years ago. "That thing's been gone a long time," says the former USC tailback, who won college football's most coveted individual honor in 1979. "I needed some money for my five kids when I got out of football. I had to do something. . . . "People have to do what they got to do. In my situation, hey, either I sell that trophy or my family don't eat."

The first person to congratulate Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was the player who won it last year -- Tim Tebow. The star quarterbacks from the top two teams in the country shook hands Saturday night, then embraced. On Jan. 8, with the national championship on the line, it won't be so cordial. Bradford, Oklahoma's amazingly accurate and quick-thinking passer, won the Heisman after leading the highest-scoring team in major-college history to the BCS title game.

In the eyes of many experts around the nation, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow sewed up the Heisman Trophy on Saturday in a record-setting performance against Florida Atlantic. Now the only question is whether voters are willing to break tradition. Tebow had three touchdowns passing and another rushing in Saturday's 59-20 victory, bringing his season totals to 26 through the air and 20 on the ground. He is the first major division player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, trying to become the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, the runner-up for last year's award, were among the four finalists selected Wednesday. Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan were the other finalists. The award will be presented Saturday in New York. Tebow ran for 838 yards and a Southeastern Conference-record 22 touchdowns.

The race for the 73rd Heisman Trophy has mirrored the season itself -- it has been a madcap mess. Candidates rose and fell, sort of the way schools ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll did. In the same way that Ohio State and Louisiana State ended up as the last teams standing in the Bowl Championship Series standings, the Heisman race also staggered to a finish.

NEW YORK -- Tim Tebow took a few deep breaths, steadied himself, then plowed through his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech much the same way he takes on tacklers -- fast and furious. In rapid fire, Florida's sophomore quarterback thanked everyone he could think of, some of them twice. When it came time to take hold of the 25-pound bronze statue, he looked as if he wasn't sure whether he should run with the prize or throw it. He does both so well.

One says that rules are rules, and Reggie Bush should lose his Heisman Trophy if he broke them. Another says Bush's parents -- not the former USC star -- should be punished. A third warns about rushing to judgment before all the facts are known. Those were among the views of fellow Heisman winners when asked recently whether Bush should be allowed to keep his trophy if the NCAA determines he was ineligible when he won it.

Call a blitz when Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow throws the ball and he won't blink. Wince as massive defensive linemen try to stop his fearless runs then watch him shrug off his wounds, which this season included a broken bone and shoulder bruise in his right (non-throwing) arm. "If those guys are out there giving 100% for me I can take on a few guys for them," he said of his teammates. But tell Tebow that he can't oblige every autograph-seeking fan and he will be miserable.