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John cappelletti’s heisman speech ranked as no. 10 greatest inspiring moment in college football history.

Penn State football legend John Cappelletti’s moving Heisman Trophy acceptance speech was ranked as the No. 10 greatest inspiring moment in college football history by ESPN.

ESPN is running a “#CFB150” series to commemorate the sport’s 150th anniversary. The series will include a number of countdown lists like this one throughout the 2019 season.

#CFB150 : The Greatest Inspiring Moments in College Football History Ranking at #10 – #PennState 's John Cappelletti makes a moving 1973 Heisman Speech. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/ZKEpFFZvWb — Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) September 27, 2019

John Cappelletti is the only player in Penn State football history to ever capture the Heisman Trophy as college football’s most outstanding player. He won the award in 1973 after posting 1,522 rushing yards and 17 scores in a season that the Nittany Lions finished undefeated. The 1973 season is one of 16 recognized among the greatest in program history on Beaver Stadium’s facade, and Cappelletti became the first and only Penn State football player to have his jersey number retired in 2013.

Although Cappelletti was dominant on the gridiron for Joe Paterno’s team, he was more well-known for the inspirational story surrounding that magical 1973 season.

The running back’s younger brother, Joey, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of three. Joey Cappelletti was one of the first patients to undergo chemotherapy as a cancer treatment, but he passed away due to his ailment at the age of 14 in 1976. During his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech, John held back tears as he talked about his little brother.

“If I can dedicate this trophy to him tonight and give him a couple days of happiness, this is worth everything,” Cappelletti said during his  speech . “I think a lot of people think that I go through a lot on Saturdays and during the week as most athletes do. You get your bumps and bruises, and it is a terrific battle out there on the field. Only for me, it is on Saturdays and it’s only in the fall.

“For Joseph, it is all year round, and it is a battle that is unending with him. He puts up with much more than I’ll ever put up with, and I think that this trophy is more his than mine because he has been a great inspiration to me.”

A straight-to-TV movie called “ Something For Joey ” was released in 1977, and it chronicled the bond between the two brothers during John’s football career at Penn State.

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In the most upsetting turn of events, Mikey graduated from Penn State with a digital & print journalism degree in the spring of 2020. He covered Penn State football and served as an editor for Onward State from 2018 until his graduation. Mikey is from Bedminster, New Jersey, so naturally, he spends lots of time yelling about all the best things his home state has to offer. Mikey also loves to play golf, but he sucks at it because golf is really hard. If you, for some reason, feel compelled to see what Mikey has to say on the internet, follow him on Twitter @Mikey_Mandarino. You can also get in touch with Mikey via his big-boy email address: [email protected]

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Joe Burrow gives all-time great Heisman Trophy acceptance speech

Joe Burrow had an incredible season for the LSU Tigers that might have only been surpassed in quality by his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech.

Burrow on Saturday won the Heisman Trophy by a record margin. He received the highest percentage of first-place votes ever, the highest percentage of possible points, and the highest percentage of ballots named.

Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy in a landslide: -Second most total first-place votes (841) -Largest margin of victory (1,846 points) -Highest percentage of first-place votes (90.7%) -Highest percentage of possible points (93.8%) -Highest percentage of ballots named (95.5%) — Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) December 15, 2019

Much like his historic margin of Heisman victory, Burrow delivered a historic speech. He discussed his path, which included his time at Ohio State. He gave credit to his LSU teammates. He thanked Ed Orgeron. He recognized how privileged he is to excel coming from an area of Ohio that is impoverished.

Here is his entire speech — it’s well worth your time:

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FULL TRANSCRIPT: Joe Burrow Heisman Trophy victory speeches

(WAFB) - Joe Burrow became the second LSU player to be awarded a Heisman Trophy Saturday, Dec. 14.

Burrow’s acceptance speech, which followed a short presentation of the award, was filled with laughter and tears. Read a transcript of the full speech below.

“I think the first thing I want to say is, I want to thank my O-line first. [Saahdiq Charles], [Adrian Magee], [Ed Ingram], [Lloyd Cushenberry], [Damien Lewis], [Austin Deculus], [Badara Traore], that are tied in with the chips for guys like [Chase Young]. Those guys have been unbelievable this year and I couldn’t have done it without them. I got so many weapons on the outside, [Terrace Marshall Jr.], [Ja’Marr Chase], [Justin Jefferson]. I mean those guys have been unbelievable.

All of my teammates have supported me and welcomed me with open arms, a kid from Ohio coming down to the Bayou, and welcoming me as brothers. It’s been so awesome.

I want to thank the Heisman people for a great weekend. Thank you for allowing me to be here as well as my family. And, it’s an honor to stand on the same stage as all of you [Heisman winners]. I grew up watching most of you. And, it’s just an honor to be on the same stage and eat dinner with you guys. It’s been so awesome. You’ve all been so kind to me.

My parents, like [Tom Rinaldi] said, my dad [for] the first time in 51 years that he wasn’t a player or a coach. And, him retiring this year has been, you know, a dream come true for me and my family, my brothers in the audience, my mom.

I’m just so thankful for LSU and Ohio State. Playing at two of the best programs in the country. Great coaches both places.

My journey, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world. I think the story of this Heisman Trophy with me, [Justin Fields], [Jalen Hurts], and [Chase Young] we have transfers who’ve all had different stories. That’s three great players and both of those guys have pushed through adversity. It’s awesome hearing their stories and sharing this weekend with them.

I tried to leave a legacy of hard work and preparation, and loyalty, and dedication everywhere I go. And, I’m surrounded by such great people that make that so easy. Great strength coaches. Coach [Mickey Marotti] is in the audience, [he’s] my strength coach from Ohio State, and Coach [Tommy Moffitt] is watching from home. And, they’ve made me a great person and a great player and so much better because of them.

Coming from southeast Ohio it’s a very impoverished area and the poverty rate is almost two times the national average. There’s so many people there that don’t have a lot and I’m up here for all those kids in Athens and Athens County that go home to not a lot of food on the table, hungry after school. You guys can be up here, too.

I’d like to thank Louisiana, the entire state. Like I said earlier, [I’m] just a kid from Ohio coming down and chasing a dream. And the entire state has welcomed me and my family with open arms and invited us in to be native Louisianans. I’ve learned to love crawfish and gumbo. During crawfish season, Coach O made sure we have pounds and pounds and pounds of crawfish during our year.

Coach O, you have no idea what you mean to my family. I didn’t play for three years, you took a chance on me not knowing if I could play or not. And I am forever grateful for you. Can you imagine a guy like Coach O giving me the keys to his football program? He just means so much to me and my family and to LSU. I sure hope they give him a lifetime contract, he deserves it.

Coach [Joe Brady], Coach [Steve Ensminger], Coach [Jorge Munoz] are all here. You guys have helped me through so much, understanding the game, putting so much on my plate that I couldn’t ask for a better group of coaches. [You] helped me be successful.

So thank you to everyone, everyone here. There’s so many people that I should thank and unfortunately, I just don’t have the time, but those people know what they mean to me and my family. So when I lift this trophy again it’s for LSU, Ohio State, southeast Ohio and all of Louisiana. Thank you.”

Copyright 2019 WAFB. All rights reserved.

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Inspired ON

John Cappelletti’s Heisman Trophy Speech

InspiredON by Family — Usually it’s the top athletes who inspire boys to dream big dreams of being the star on the field and doing great things. This story flips that notion upside down. This time it’s an 11-year-old boy, stricken with cancer, who inspired his older brother, Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti. In 1973, in one of the most moving speeches in the history of college football’s top award, the Penn State running back dedicated the trophy to his 11-year-old brother, Joey, who was battling leukemia. What follows are some excerpts from his acceptance speech that night, and a video highlight of the evening.

John Cappelletti, from direct transcripts of the speech:

“My mother and my father, there isn’t a greater couple around. I know my mother always cries at these affairs, so I want to try not to. She’s a very, very strong woman and very dedicated, not only to her children and husband, but also to God, and I think this helped her out with putting up with us and going through all she has gone through. I think one small example of this, a personal thing with me that I think a lot of people may have noticed, is that my legs are as straight as arrows and that I have no trouble walking now or running, but one time in my life I couldn’t walk without tripping. My mother not only brought me through this but she brought just about every member of our family through something like this.

“My father is a very quiet man, he’s been a great father to all of us. He asked me the other day when I was home what I thought of him as a father. I wouldn’t say much to him then because it’s hard to express things like that, but there is no greater person I have more respect for than this man.

“The next part — I’m very happy to do something like this — I thought about it since the Heisman was announced 10 days ago. … The youngest member of my family, Joseph, is very ill. He has leukemia. If I can dedicate this trophy to him tonight and give him a couple days of happiness, this is worth everything. I think a lot of people think that I go through a lot on Saturdays and during the week as most athletes do, and you get your bumps and bruises and it is a terrific battle out there on the field. Only for me it is on Saturdays and it’s only in the fall. For Joseph, it is all year round and it is a battle that is unending with him and he puts up with much more than I’ll ever put up with and I think that this trophy is more his than mine because he has been a great inspiration to me.”

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as John gave this speech. Just watch the video:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YdgWihXJvE]

Unfortunately, his little brother, Joseph, died two years later in 1975.

There’s more to the speech, too. Check it out here, at the Penn State University Archives .

3 thoughts on “ John Cappelletti’s Heisman Trophy Speech ”

I rember this

I had the pleasure to meet John at PSU when Merrill Lynch sponsored an event honoring him as well as several other Heisman Winners, including John Bertelli, of Notre Dame. I especially remember shaking John’s hand and telling him how heart warming his Heisman acceptance speech was to me. My best friend, Owen Koch, a Pennsylvania All-State tackle, died of leukemia several weeks after our high school graduation. He, like John’s little brother, suffered greatly before death released him from his pain. I was never more proud to be a PSU grad the day that I met John.

William R. Phillips, PSU Class of 1963

Thank you for sharing this, William. Anyone who sees this speech will remember it always. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. May he rest in eternal peace.

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‘Just keep believing.’ Read Caleb Williams’ full Heisman Trophy speech

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The following is a transcript of the speech USC quarterback Caleb Williams delivered after winning the Heisman Trophy.

First, I’d like to say thank you. Thank you. This is really awesome. This is really awesome to be up here. So first off, I’d like to thank all the Heisman Trust, all the voters, the finalists that sit right here in front of me — C.J. [Stroud], Max [Duggan], Stets [Stetson Bennett]. You guys are unbelievable competitors. And I am so happy to be up here with you all. Knowing Stets from when I went to Georgia on my visits and him being my host, which is kind of funny that I’m up here with him now.

But we’ve all been through this journey these past couple of days together. And I may be standing up here today, but you all get to go to College Football Playoffs.

Guess you can’t win them all.

Caleb Williams wins the Heisman Trophy, cementing his place in USC football lore

After a stellar 2022 campaign, USC quarterback Caleb Williams wins the Heisman Trophy, beating out runner-up Max Duggan, C.J. Stroud and Stetson Bennett.

Dec. 10, 2022

To the men standing behind me. Thank you for your passion for the game. Because kids like me that have dreams and goals of being up here and of being the best started from watching you all, so thank you.

Next, special shout out to my fellow Trojan Matt [Leinart], Cars [Carson Palmer], Mike [Garrett] for always supporting me since I’ve made this journey across the country to USC. But to now be a part of this historic fraternity is truly an honor. It’s something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. While this may be an individual award, I certainly understand that nothing — and absolutely nothing — in this sport, nor life, is done alone.

I would like to thank our athletic director Mike Bohn and his wife, Kim, for being here today. Mike, I appreciate you for always and always making us the best student-athletes possible. My teammates and I greatly appreciate you and all you’ve done for USC.

Big dog, Coach [Lincoln] Riley. We committed to each other on two separate occasions, but with the same dream. As we say, and you’ve heard me say in the locker room, there can never be a great book or a great story without some adversity in it. So since our OU days, we’ve been through a lot. And even the sudden change in field from Norman, Oklahoma, to the University of Southern California, our dreams have not changed. They say you either change your dreams or change your habits, and I damn sure wasn’t going to change my dreams. I’m glad you didn’t change yours either. But we both know the job’s not done.

Mama Riley [Caitlin Riley, Lincoln’s wife], [Riley’s daughters] Sloan, Stella, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family. And not only that, allowing him to coach me way more than he — he should probably be at home.

I’d like to thank all my USC brothers. I know we didn’t finish the way we wanted to, but the culture bond that we formed will last forever. As I said, we do still have some unfinished business. A special shout out to this group. To the group that’s here today, the offensive linemen. Stand up big guys, wherever you are. We’re all here to celebrate our accomplishment. This doesn’t happen without each one of you — Bobby [Haskins], Courtland [Ford], [Andrew] Vorhees, Gino [Quinones], Brett [Neilon], Dedi [Justin Dedich], Jonah [Monheim], Mason [Murphy]. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you to my brotherhood at Gonzaga College High School. Coach Randy Trivers, where you at, big dog? Stand up. Hey, hey.

You had the courage to start a ninth grader in the toughest high school conference in the country. The Gonzaga experience both on and off the field helped to prepare me in more ways than you can imagine. Coach, you may not know this. But the Gonzaga motto that you drilled into us. “men for others,” has helped inspire me to create the Caleb Cares Foundation, which is all about giving back. So thank you, coach. Thank you, Gonzaga.

It is important to surround yourself with good people and a team that you can trust. Special thanks to Mama Judy, Cody and Phil. Now to my mentors, Coach Mar, Coach Russ [Thomas] and Coach Basha. I appreciate you for always holding me accountable as the man and as a football player and always speaking the truth to me, even when I don’t want to hear. You taught me how to be a QB and not play the position of QB. You taught me how to look at myself in the mirror and like the man that’s looking back.

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And now, to the most important woman in my life. Thank you for always being my mom first. The woman behind the scenes who has a smile on her face and is willing to help others. You’re an inspiration to me in many ways. To the old man over there, my dad, he always walks to the beat of his own drum. Thank you for showing me the way. You instilled a work ethic in me at a young age that I can’t thank you enough for. From the training sessions and the late-night practices, even opening Athletic Republic so my guys and I could go train. You’re always there for me making sacrifices in your life so I can achieve my dreams, which eventually became our dreams. It may seem to go unnoticed and unappreciated, but you mean the world to me. We’re in this together and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

That’s where my journey started. And it’s not the 4-year old kid that loved just going out there and running and tackling somebody and scoring touchdowns. The journey really started when I was 10. And the season ended and I had to turn my equipment in. And there’s one thing that I vividly remember, is telling my dad in the car ride home that this is what I wanted to do for my career. I wanted to be a football player. I wanted to be a quarterback. I loved it. I loved everything about it. Fast forward a couple years later, I’m crying in a hotel room. And many of you have probably seen me cry after a loss. My team and I just lost the national championship and I didn’t get the chance to play. My coach told me I was too small.

That night, a fire ignited in me. That night I decided to play quarterback. And not only be playing quarterback, but to be the best quarterback. I wanted to impact the game. I wanted to share the ball with all my teammates. And if you know me and my dad, very plan-based, we stayed up all night putting together a plan. And a journey slash plan went like this: 5:30 a.m., breakfast club workouts. We also have 6:30 in the p.m. lift, running conditioning, getting bigger, stronger and faster. We had nutritionists, sleep patterns, sports psychologists, coaching experts and learning and playing the game. The more I learned, the more I wanted.

But the path hasn’t always been easy. And this is me speaking to the 11-year-old out there who’s watching right now, who was told you’re too small, like they told me. Go out there, show them how big your heart is. To the seventh grader who was passed over on the team like I was, use that adversity to ignite your passion like I did. To the ninth grader out there who no one believes can make varsity, you can if you believe. To the 10th grader losing in the championship game but had belief that we were gonna come back and win down 20 in the first half. Always believe that there’s one more Hail Mary up your sleeve. And to the college freshman who was fighting for a chance to contribute and get on the field with your brothers, your time is coming, keep going. And if you lose your bid to get to the College Playoffs, know that you will get through it like I did. And like I just learned. Back to work. The job isn’t done.

The early setbacks that I encountered lit a fire, they started my journey. Your journey will be your own. Just keep believing and keep pursuing your goals. If you’re willing to put in the work and surround yourself with positive people, you can achieve anything. I used to write down my goals in a journal and what used to just be words on a piece of paper has me standing here today. So everyone dreams really do come true.

Thank you. Fight On.

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'Just keep believing.' Read Caleb Williams' full Heisman Trophy speech

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The following is a transcript of the speech USC quarterback Caleb Williams delivered after winning the Heisman Trophy.

First, I'd like to say thank you. Thank you. This is really awesome. This is really awesome to be up here. So first off, I'd like to thank all the Heisman Trust, all the voters, the finalists that sit right here in front of me — C.J. [Stroud], Max [Duggan], Stets [Stetson Bennett]. You guys are unbelievable competitors. And I am so happy to be up here with you all. Knowing Stets from when I went to Georgia on my visits and him being my host, which is kind of funny that I'm up here with him now.

But we've all been through this journey these past couple of days together. And I may be standing up here today, but you all get to go to College Football Playoffs.

Guess you can't win them all.

To the men standing behind me. Thank you for your passion for the game. Because kids like me that have dreams and goals of being up here and of being the best started from watching you all, so thank you.

Next, special shout out to my fellow Trojan Matt [Leinart], Cars [Carson Palmer], Mike [Garrett] for always supporting me since I've made this journey across the country to USC. But to now be a part of this historic fraternity is truly an honor. It's something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. While this may be an individual award, I certainly understand that nothing — and absolutely nothing — in this sport, nor life, is done alone.

I would like to thank our athletic director Mike Bohn and his wife, Kim, for being here today. Mike, I appreciate you for always and always making us the best student-athletes possible. My teammates and I greatly appreciate you and all you've done for USC.

Big dog, Coach [Lincoln] Riley. We committed to each other on two separate occasions, but with the same dream. As we say, and you've heard me say in the locker room, there can never be a great book or a great story without some adversity in it. So since our OU days, we've been through a lot. And even the sudden change in field from Norman, Oklahoma, to the University of Southern California, our dreams have not changed. They say you either change your dreams or change your habits, and I damn sure wasn't going to change my dreams. I'm glad you didn't change yours either. But we both know the job's not done.

Mama Riley [Caitlin Riley, Lincoln's wife], [Riley's daughters] Sloan, Stella, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family. And not only that, allowing him to coach me way more than he — he should probably be at home.

I'd like to thank all my USC brothers. I know we didn't finish the way we wanted to, but the culture bond that we formed will last forever. As I said, we do still have some unfinished business. A special shout out to this group. To the group that's here today, the offensive linemen. Stand up big guys, wherever you are. We're all here to celebrate our accomplishment. This doesn't happen without each one of you — Bobby [Haskins], Courtland [Ford], [Andrew] Vorhees, Gino [Quinones], Brett [Neilon], Dedi [Justin Dedich], Jonah [Monheim], Mason [Murphy]. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you to my brotherhood at Gonzaga College High School. Coach Randy Trivers, where you at, big dog? Stand up. Hey, hey.

You had the courage to start a ninth grader in the toughest high school conference in the country. The Gonzaga experience both on and off the field helped to prepare me in more ways than you can imagine. Coach, you may not know this. But the Gonzaga motto that you drilled into us. "men for others," has helped inspire me to create the Caleb Cares Foundation, which is all about giving back. So thank you, coach. Thank you, Gonzaga.

It is important to surround yourself with good people and a team that you can trust. Special thanks to Mama Judy, Cody and Phil. Now to my mentors, Coach Mar, Coach Russ [Thomas] and Coach Basha. I appreciate you for always holding me accountable as the man and as a football player and always speaking the truth to me, even when I don't want to hear. You taught me how to be a QB and not play the position of QB. You taught me how to look at myself in the mirror and like the man that's looking back.

And now, to the most important woman in my life. Thank you for always being my mom first. The woman behind the scenes who has a smile on her face and is willing to help others. You're an inspiration to me in many ways. To the old man over there, my dad, he always walks to the beat of his own drum. Thank you for showing me the way. You instilled a work ethic in me at a young age that I can't thank you enough for. From the training sessions and the late-night practices, even opening Athletic Republic so my guys and I could go train. You're always there for me making sacrifices in your life so I can achieve my dreams, which eventually became our dreams. It may seem to go unnoticed and unappreciated, but you mean the world to me. We're in this together and I wouldn't want it any other way.

That's where my journey started. And it's not the 4-year old kid that loved just going out there and running and tackling somebody and scoring touchdowns. The journey really started when I was 10. And the season ended and I had to turn my equipment in. And there's one thing that I vividly remember, is telling my dad in the car ride home that this is what I wanted to do for my career. I wanted to be a football player. I wanted to be a quarterback. I loved it. I loved everything about it. Fast forward a couple years later, I'm crying in a hotel room. And many of you have probably seen me cry after a loss. My team and I just lost the national championship and I didn't get the chance to play. My coach told me I was too small.

That night, a fire ignited in me. That night I decided to play quarterback. And not only be playing quarterback, but to be the best quarterback. I wanted to impact the game. I wanted to share the ball with all my teammates. And if you know me and my dad, very plan-based, we stayed up all night putting together a plan. And a journey slash plan went like this: 5:30 a.m., breakfast club workouts. We also have 6:30 in the p.m. lift, running conditioning, getting bigger, stronger and faster. We had nutritionists, sleep patterns, sports psychologists, coaching experts and learning and playing the game. The more I learned, the more I wanted.

But the path hasn't always been easy. And this is me speaking to the 11-year-old out there who's watching right now, who was told you're too small, like they told me. Go out there, show them how big your heart is. To the seventh grader who was passed over on the team like I was, use that adversity to ignite your passion like I did. To the ninth grader out there who no one believes can make varsity, you can if you believe. To the 10th grader losing in the championship game but had belief that we were gonna come back and win down 20 in the first half. Always believe that there's one more Hail Mary up your sleeve. And to the college freshman who was fighting for a chance to contribute and get on the field with your brothers, your time is coming, keep going. And if you lose your bid to get to the College Playoffs, know that you will get through it like I did. And like I just learned. Back to work. The job isn't done.

The early setbacks that I encountered lit a fire, they started my journey. Your journey will be your own. Just keep believing and keep pursuing your goals. If you're willing to put in the work and surround yourself with positive people, you can achieve anything. I used to write down my goals in a journal and what used to just be words on a piece of paper has me standing here today. So everyone dreams really do come true.

Thank you. Fight On.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .

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The key to writing the best Heisman acceptance speech

By john buhler | dec 14, 2019.

So you’re about to win the Heisman Trophy? We’re gonna tell you how to write the best Heisman acceptance speech possible and what to do with your hands.

Just because you’re great at playing college football doesn’t mean that you are well-equipped at delivering an acceptance speech.

When you’re getting ready to potentially win the Heisman Trophy, sitting in that chair with a bunch of dudes you don’t even really know, we’re gonna give you some tips on how to crush your Heisman acceptance speech and what to do with your hands.

First things first, this is what you do with your hands: You shake hands of former Heisman winners you walk by, then you grab the Trophy and don’t drop it (it is heavier than you think) while the entire world takes a million photos of you. After you’re done with that, grab the dais with both hands and don’t let go. Otherwise, you will end up regretting it more than that not-so spiffy suit you’ve got on five years from now.

Now, the most important part of the night…”SPEECH!”

This is hard stuff, but you have to only do one thing above all else: Be completely confident in every word you say, no matter how stupid and factually inaccurate it is. Pretend you’re up in D.C. filibustering a bill your collective party hates. Attack the podium with that kind of gusto and you’ll be off to a great start.

As for preparing a speech, don’t do that. Wing it, but carry up a pair of reading glasses and that note pad you’ve been scribbling on since you got into that Holiday Inn Express last night. So you’re up on that stage, you’ve got your glasses on and you’ve got your note pad. You’ve got this. Now it’s time to give college football its greatest soliloquy since Mike Gundy said he was 40.

Okay, we’ve got the swagger and the pieces of flare covered. Now, it’s time to give thanks.

Thank god or some higher power first. Next, you gotta thank your parents, coaches, teammates and everyone who helped you get to this point. You’ll feel overwhelmed when you think back to your mom and/or dad playing catch with you when you were a youth. Try and keep your emotions in check. But if you feel the tears swell up, let it flow, man.

When you get to talking about your dad, let go of the podium and do that over-the-top handshake you and Pops came up with in the driveway last summer. If you didn’t do that, find a YouTube video of a sub-.500 NBA team before tipoff doing their pre-game handshakes and imitate all the best attributes of those said handshakes.

Lastly, the most important thing you can do during the Heisman speech is thanking your mom. She’s a special lady who tolerated all your crap K through 12. Slightly remove your reading glasses and wipe that single tear streaming down your face with the top sheet of paper on your doodling pad. That way it’ll look impromptu because men don’t carry tissues and the south will bless your heart.

After you’ve thanked all the people you can think of in five minutes, walk away from the podium and give a hand gesture that speaks to you. No, don’t give the fine New York people the bird, give them a peace sign at the very least. They’d respect that, but give them what the really want. They. Want. Horns. Down! Go with rock and roll and then hit em’ with the Horns Down. End speech.

Next. College coaches who would be the life of the tailgate party. dark

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.

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2017 Heisman speech video and transcript: Baker Mayfield’s emotional post-win moment

The Oklahoma QB wins the 83rd Heisman Trophy.

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New York City — Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield won the 2017 Heisman Trophy award on Saturday night, beating out Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson and Stanford running back Bryce Love. Mayfield becomes the first Sooner QB to win the Heisman since Sam Bradford in 2008.

The victory wasn’t at all surprising. The senior lit up Big 12 defenses all season, throwing for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns, and he rushed for another five scores. OU clinched a College Football Playoff spot by beating TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game, but even by mid-November, Bovada had pulled Heisman odds entirely .

Here’s Mayfield’s speech, mostly transcribed below:

Thank you, Billy [Sims, the OU legend who spent the ceremony hollering, “Boomer!”]. Wow. This is unbelievable for me, being up here among these greats. It’s something that words can’t describe. God has put me in a position, I’ve been so blessed, and a lot of the time, I wonder why, but it’s such an honor, to be up here. It’s unbelievable. First, I’d like to say congratulations to Bryce [Love]. Good season, man. Heck of a year. You played well. Getting to know your family as well. No wonder you turned out great. Keep balling. Lamar, good to see you again, man. You know I love your family. You guys are special people. Now I’d like to thank the Heisman Trophy Trust. It’s an honor just to be here, and a blessing. To my big boys up front that protect me, you got Zeus [ Orlando Brown ], Cody Ford , Ben Powers , Erick Wren , Dru Samia , and Bobby Evans. Boys back home, it wouldn’t happen without you. Keep the physicality. We got two more, so we’re worried about that. This one’s for you guys. To my receivers and running backs, I wouldn’t trade for anything. That’s who I’d pick to be in a foxhole with you guys. Our defensive guys as well, they get me better every week. And also our scout team guys, I got respect for them. They keep me competitive during the week, and our team would not be where it’s at without you. I’m proud to play behind those people. It’s been a tough journey. They showed the videos. I walked on twice. To my coaches back at Lake Travis [High School], you guys instilled a work ethic in me that has never left. I think they won their playoff game tonight, so shout out to Lake Travis. To everybody at OU. Staff welcomed me with open arms, and it’s been the best thing that ever happened to me. You guys have pushed me to be the best. Everybody there, it’s been a dream come true. There’s a standard and tradition there thats set very high. The strength staff that pushes me, I came in and wasn’t the most physical specimen that you ever seen, but they push me, really mentally. The nutrition team, I couldn’t do it without you. Coach Stoops, you welcomed a chubby, unathletic kid into the program with open arms. I wouldn’t say that many would do that, but thank you. The thing I’m most thankful for is hiring Coach Riley. The day you did that: changed my life. Coach Riley, you’ve been a great mentor to me. Been through a lot together, so appreciate you. My family, love you guys. There were times that I had to move. You guys made sacrifice after sacrifice, just so I could chase my dreams. Wouldn’t be here without you. Love you. Sacrifice after sacrifice, you guys have instilled a mentality in me of loyalty and how to have a family thats second to none. To all the Sooner fans back home, including Billy up here too, its been a dream come true. Although i grew up in Austin, Texas, I was always Sooner-born and Sooner-bred, and like they say, when I die I’ll be Sooner-dead. It’s an honor to get to represent my school, and there’s many more people that I can thank that helped me get here. Can’t name everybody, cause theres too many. Although that statues gonna have my name on it, it’s more deserving to my team and my coaches. To the kids out there: don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.

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The Best Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time

Who is the best Heisman Trophy winner of all time? Since 1935, the Heisman Trophy has been handed out to the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Some of the greatest players in college football history have won this award. The Heisman Trophy is one of the most coveted awards in all of American sports. Of the tens of thousands of players who compete on Saturdays, many of them want to win this award. So, who is the best Heisman ever?

P ro Football Hall of Fame running backs like Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders, USC's Marcus Allen and Texas's Earl Campbell were all recipients of the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State's Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman winner. More recently, quarterbacks like LSU's Joe Burrow, Auburn's Cam Newton, Baylor's Robert Griffin III and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel have won the award.   

Vote up the best Heisman Trophy winners of all time., and help decide who is the greatest Heisman ever!

Barry Sanders

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Herschel Walker

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Earl Campbell

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Marcus Allen

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Only Two-Time Heisman Winner Ever

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Who's won the Heisman Trophy? College football winners list

• William E. Ricks

The Heisman Trophy is the most coveted hardware in college football, perhaps all of sports.

USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams is the newest member in the Heisman brotherhood. He is the seventh Trojans player (not including Reggie Bush , who forfeited his Heisman) to win the award, tying USC with Notre Dame , Oklahoma and Ohio State for the most Heisman wins from one school.

Williams' Heisman victory puts him alongside a long list of legendary college football players who hoisted the trophy. He, along with many other recipients, had pivotal moments from their seasons that helped them earn the award.

2022 -- Caleb Williams , QB, USC Trojans

Williams shined in his first year at USC, finishing the regular season with 4,075 yards passing and 37 passing touchdowns. He also added 372 yards and 10 scores on the ground. His 47 total touchdowns were the most in the FBS this season. He led his Trojans squad to an 11-2 record, a top-10 finish in the final College Football Playoff rankings and a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic berth.

There were a lot of jaw-dropping moments from Williams' season, but he solidified his Heisman status against Notre Dame. It began before the game when his nail design had an explicit barb toward the Fighting Irish.

Read more : Williams' Heisman season told by his nail art

Williams finished with 232 yards passing and one touchdown pass. He did damage on the ground as well, rushing for 35 yards and three scores. Williams eluded Notre Dame defenders all night en route to a 37-28 win.

Williams knew his performance was Heisman-worthy, hitting the pose after a touchdown run in the third quarter.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams accepts the 2022 Heisman Trophy award.

Williams is the third USC quarterback to win the Heisman, joining Matt Leinart (2004) and Carson Palmer (2002).

2021 -- Bryce Young , QB, Alabama Crimson Tide

Young became the second consecutive Alabama player to hoist the Heisman Trophy after former Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith won in 2020. Young, a first-year starter, finished the regular season with 4,322 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes.

The quarterback's defining moment came in the 2021 SEC championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Young torched Georgia's top-rated defense for 421 yards passing and four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) en route to a 41-24 win. Young also led his squad to the top spot in the CFP rankings that year.

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith is announced as the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner.

2020 -- DeVonta Smith , WR, Alabama Crimson Tide

Smith became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard of the Michigan Wolverines in 1991. Smith finished the regular season with 98 receptions for 1,511 yards, both tops in the nation that year. Including the postseason, he caught 23 touchdown passes in 2020, which was first in the country.

You could pick a few games as Smith's "Heisman moment," but his performance against LSU takes the cake. He carved up the Tigers for 231 yards receiving and three touchdowns on eight catches in a 55-17 win . But perhaps the most impactful moment of Smith's season was his motivational Heisman acceptance speech.

Joe Burrow reflects on his Heisman Trophy win and shows his appreciation for LSU head coach Ed Orgeron.

2019 -- Joe Burrow , QB, LSU Tigers

Burrow's 2019 campaign was historic on many fronts. His 48 regular-season touchdown passes and 77.9 completion percentage are Heisman records. Including the postseason, Burrow tossed 60 touchdown passes, which was an FBS record at the time.

Burrow, LSU's first Heisman recipient since Billy Cannon in 1959, led his team to its first CFP berth and a national championship with a 13-0 record

Burrow showed up in big games, including the Tigers' matchup against the Crimson Tide on Nov. 19, 2019. He threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns to help LSU snap an eight-game skid against its SEC rival with a 46-41 win.

Burrow delivered a moving Heisman acceptance speech, shouting out his hometown of Athens, Ohio.

Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray wins the 2018 Heisman Trophy, making it back-to-back years a Sooner has won the award.

2018 -- Kyler Murray , QB, Oklahoma Sooners

Murray's dual-threat abilities captivated the college football world and caused headaches for opposing defenses.

In 2018, Murray threw for 4,504 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 892 yards and 11 scores. According to Heisman.com , Murray's 205.72 passer rating remains the highest for a Heisman-winning quarterback. He was the leader of an Oklahoma team that finished 12-1 and received a CFP berth.

Murray had plenty of eye-popping stat lines that season, but he put up video game numbers against the West Virginia Mountaineers . He finished with 364 yards passing, 114 yards rushing and four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in a thrilling 59-56 win .

Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield is crowned with the 2017 Heisman Trophy, and Mayfield expresses what the award means to him and credits his team for getting him to this point.

2017 -- Baker Mayfield , QB, Oklahoma Sooners

According to Heisman.com, Mayfield's Heisman win was the first time a former walk-on earned the award since NCAA scholarships began in the 1950s. The 6-foot-1 signal-caller finished the 2017 regular season with 4,340 yards passing and 41 touchdowns. He also added 310 yards and five scores on the ground. Mayfield became the first senior to hoist the Heisman since Troy Smith in 2006.

One could view Mayfield's flag plant on the Ohio State Buckeyes' turf as a defining moment in his Heisman campaign. But his performance against the Oklahoma State Cowboys was simply unreal. He finished with 598 yards passing and six total touchdowns (five passing, one rushing). His Sooners squad needed every one of those scores, as it squeaked by its in-state rival 62-52 .

Louisville QB Lamar Jackson wins the 2016 Heisman Trophy, becoming the youngest winner of the award.

2016 -- Lamar Jackson , QB, Louisville Cardinals

Jackson's name is all over the Heisman record books because of his sensational 2016 campaign .

His 4,928 yards of total offense remain the second most by a Heisman winner, trailing Ty Detmer's 5,022 total yards in 1990. Jackson's 51 total touchdowns are third most among Heisman winners. He also finished with 1,538 rushing yards, the most ever by a Heisman-winning quarterback. He became the youngest player to win the hardware at 19 years and 337 days old.

Jackson garnered Heisman attention early during a two-game stretch against the Syracuse Orange and Florida State Seminoles in September 2019. He accumulated 627 passing yards, 345 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns (two passing, eight rushing) over that span, resulting in wins for his Cardinals team.

Let's not forget the striking red blazer Jackson wore to the awards ceremony, a stylish end to his Heisman season.

Derrick Henry opens up about his childhood and how being raised by his grandmother inspired him to be the man he is today.

2015 -- Derrick Henry , RB, Alabama Crimson Tide

Henry ran through the competition (literally) to win the second Heisman Trophy in Alabama football history. He rushed for 1,986 yards in 2015, an SEC record. His 23 rushing touchdowns tied the conference record. He ran for 200-plus yards in four games that season, joining Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker as the only players to do so in SEC history.

On Nov. 7, 2015, Henry made a statement against LSU. He finished with 210 yards rushing and three rushing scores en route to a 30-16 victory. Henry gave people more evidence he was worthy of the Heisman with a 271-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Auburn Tigers three games later .

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner.

2014 -- Marcus Mariota , QB, Oregon Ducks

Mariota put on a show as a junior, finishing the regular season with 3,783 yards passing and 38 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 669 yards and 14 scores. He also caught a touchdown pass, which brought his touchdown total to 53, tying Sam Bradford for most in Heisman history. He also became the first Oregon Duck, Polynesian player and person from Hawaii to win the award.

In the Ducks' final game of the 2014 regular season, Mariota put an exclamation point on his Heisman campaign. He finished with 313 passing yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 33 yards and three scores against the Arizona Wildcats . His big day propelled Oregon to a convincing 51-13 victory.

On Dec. 8, 2012, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel makes history as the first freshman to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

2013 -- Jameis Winston , QB, Florida State Seminoles

Winston, who was a redshirt freshman, won the Heisman after throwing for 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns. At the time, he became the youngest player to earn the award at 19 years and 342 days old .

Winston led his Seminoles squad to a 13-0 record and national championship in his Heisman season, becoming the first redshirt freshman to win the award and the national title in the same year.

Winston caught the attention of many after he shredded the Pittsburgh Panthers ' defense in the 2013 season opener, completing 25 of 27 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-13 victory. He also added a rushing score to his stat line. But his Heisman moment arguably came against the Clemson Tigers on Oct. 19 when he had 444 yards passing and four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in a 51-14 win.

2012 -- Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M Aggies

Manziel gave defensive coordinators fits during the 2012 season en route to winning a Heisman Trophy. He accumulated 4,600 yards of total offense (3,419 passing, 1,181 rushing) and 43 total touchdowns (24 passing, 19 rushing). His yardage output is an SEC record that helped the Aggies obtain a 10-2 regular-season record.

Texas A&M's matchup against Bama is when Manziel solidified his Heisman status. He dazzled against the Crimson Tide, finishing with 253 yards passing and two touchdown passes. He added 92 yards on the ground in a 29-24 win over Alabama. Manziel kept the Bama defense guessing with his improvisational skills all game.

Manziel became the first freshman to hoist the Heisman Trophy.

Caleb Williams does a great job to keep the play alive for the completion, tops it off with a TD run later in the drive and then strikes the Heisman pose.

Here's a rundown of the rest of the Heisman winners in the award's history:

2011 -- Robert Griffin III, Baylor Bears

2010 -- Cam Newton, Auburn Tigers

2009 -- Mark Ingram, Alabama Crimson Tide

2008 -- Sam Bradford, Oklahoma Sooners

2007 -- Tim Tebow, Florida Gators

2006 -- Troy Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes

2005 -- Reggie Bush, USC Trojans (forfeited for NCAA violations)

2004 -- Matt Leinart, USC Trojans

2003 -- Jason White, Oklahoma Sooners

2002 -- Carson Palmer, USC Trojans

2001 -- Eric Crouch, Nebraska Cornhuskers

2000 -- Chris Weinke, Florida State Seminoles

1999 -- Ron Dayne, Wisconsin Badgers

1998 -- Ricky Williams, Texas Longhorns

1997 -- Charles Woodson, Michigan Wolverines

1996 -- Danny Wuerffel, Florida Gators

1995 -- Eddie George, Ohio State Buckeyes

1994 -- Rashaan Salaam, Colorado Buffaloes

1993 -- Charlie Ward, Florida State Seminoles

1992 -- Gino Torretta, Miami Hurricanes

1991 -- Desmond Howard, Michigan Wolverines

1990 -- Ty Detmer, BYU Cougars

1989 -- Andre Ware, Houston Cougars

1988 -- Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State Cowboys

1987 -- Tim Brown, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

1986 -- Vinny Testaverde, Miami Hurricanes

1985 -- Bo Jackson, Auburn Tigers

1984 -- Doug Flutie, Boston College Eagles

1983 -- Mike Rozier, Nebraska Cornhuskers

1982 -- Herschel Walker, Georgia Bulldogs

1981 -- Marcus Allen, USC Trojans

1980 -- George Rogers, South Carolina Gamecocks

1979 -- Charles White, USC Trojans

1978 -- Billy Sims, Oklahoma Sooners

1977 -- Earl Campbell, Texas Longhorns

1976 -- Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh Panthers

1975 -- Archie Griffin, Ohio State Buckeyes

1974 -- Archie Griffin, Ohio State Buckeyes

1973 -- John Cappelletti, Penn State Nittany Lions

1972 -- Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska Cornhuskers

1971 -- Pat Sullivan, Auburn Tigers

1970 -- Jim Plunkett, Stanford Cardinal

1969 -- Steve Owens, Oklahoma Sooners

1968 -- O.J. Simpson, USC Trojans

1967 -- Gary Beban, UCLA Bruins

1966 -- Steve Spurrier, Florida Gators

1965 -- Mike Garrett, USC Trojans

1964 -- John Huarte, Notre Dame

1963 -- Roger Staubach, Navy Midshipmen

1962 -- Terry Baker, Oregon State Beavers

1961 -- Ernie Davis, Syracuse Orange

1960 -- Joe Bellino, Navy Midshipmen

1959 -- Billy Cannon, LSU Tigers

1958 -- Pete Dawkins, Army Black Knights

1957 -- John David Crow, Texas A&M

1956 -- Paul Hornung, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

1955 -- Howard Cassady, Ohio State Buckeyes

1954 -- Alan Ameche, Wisconsin Badgers

1953 -- Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

1952 -- Billy Vessels, Oklahoma Sooners

1951 -- Dick Kazmaier, Princeton Tigers

1950 -- Vic Janowicz, Ohio State Buckeyes

1949 -- Leon Hart, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

1948 -- Doak Walker, SMU Mustangs

1947 -- Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

1946 -- Glenn Davis, Army Black Knights

1945 -- Doc Blanchard, Army Black Knights

1944 -- Les Horvath, Ohio State Buckeyes

1943 -- Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

1942 -- Frank Sinkwich, Georgia Bulldogs

1941 -- Bruce Smith, Minnesota Golden Gophers

1940 -- Tom Harmon, Michigan Wolverines

1939 -- Nile Kinnick, Iowa Hawkeyes

1938 -- Davey O'Brien, TCU Horned Frogs

1937 -- Clint Frank, Yale Bulldogs

1936 -- Larry Kelley, Yale Bulldogs

1935 -- Jay Berwanger, Chicago Maroons

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The 25 greatest Heisman-winning seasons of all time

The Heisman Trophy is one of sports most indelible awards, given to the best college player during a season. There are most valuable player awards in virtually every sport, but no personal award carries the magnitude of the Heisman. Of course, some Heisman seasons are much bigger than others. Some stand out by their sheer domination, while others culminate a career worth of greatness. The 25 players listed below had outstanding seasons that not only ruled their individual seasons but also have given us lasting memories for years and years. These are the greatest Heisman-winning seasons of all time.

Marcus Allen, USC (1981)

Allen shredded defenses for 2,427 yards (he was the first back to run for 2,000 regular season yards) and 23 total touchdowns. He set or tied 16 records in 1981, including most 200 yard games in a season, career and highest per-game average. 

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (2008)

Bradford would become the second sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy (Florida's Tim Tebow would win it the prior season) by leading one of the top scoring offenses in college football history. Bradford would throw for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns (and only six interceptions) and add five rushing scores. Oklahoma would become the first team to score 60 or more points in five consecutive games. Bradford was the first player in over 50 years to win the Heisman Trophy despite not receiving the most first place votes. (Tebow had nine more first place votes.)

Earl Campbell, Texas (1977)

Campbell led the nation in rushing in 1977 with 1,744 yards and 19 touchdowns. He saved the best for last, as he ran for a career-high 222 yards in his final regular-season game against Texas A&M to help his team finish the season undefeated. (The Longhorns would lose to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl.) He finished his Texas career with 40 touchdowns in 40 games.

Howard Cassady, Ohio State (1955)

Cassady had a huge season in 1955, rushing for 964 yards and 15 touchdowns...numbers that were ridiculous at the time. He also never had a pass completed against him when he played defensive back. 

Glenn Davis, Army (1946)

"Mr. Outside" had a remarkable career and it could be argued that his 1945 season, when his teammate Doc Blanchard won it, was more worthy of the Heisman Award. Davis rushed for 712 yards in 1946 with seven touchdown rushes and six receiving touchdowns. Davis was a runner-up for the Heisman in 1944 and 1945 before winning it in 1946.

Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (1999)

As Dayne was wrapping up his Heisman season, he would break Ricky Williams' career rushing yards mark. He ran for 2,034 yards and 20 touchdowns, capping off a career that featured two seasons in which he ran for at least 2,000 yards. He also rushed for at least 1,400 yards in all four years. 

Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (1976)

Dorsett set the all-time career rushing mark in 1976 with his 2,150 yards and 23 touchdowns. His biggest moment of the season was when he shredded Penn State for 224 yards en route to a national championship for the Panthers. 

Doug Flutie, Boston College (1984)

Flutie's Heisman season is remembered mainly for one play: the Hail Flutie against Miami. The truth is that Flutie had already done a lot to earn his Heisman Trophy. He passed for 3,454 yards and 27 touchdowns that year and became the first quarterback in 13 years to win the Heisman. 

Archie Griffin, Ohio State (1974)

So which one of Griffin's Heisman seasons was the best? His junior year makes this list, as he ran for a career-high 1,695 yards and 12 touchdowns. Griffin averaged 6.6 yards per carry and 111 yards per game for the Buckeyes. He dominated the Heisman voting that season, beating USC's Anthony Davis by over 1,000 points.

Desmond Howard, Michigan (1991)

Howard was a lethal receiver and returner for Michigan, and it all came together for a magical 1991 season. He actually led the Big Ten in scoring that year. He caught 985 yards worth of passes for 19 touchdowns, rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns and returned 694 yards worth of punts and kicks for two more touchdowns. 

Nile Kinnick, Iowa (1939)

Kinnick once played 402 consecutive minutes as the Hawkeyes quarterback and defensive back and missed only 18 minutes of game time all season long. He threw for 11 touchdowns despite attempting just 31 passes all season. He was involved in 107 of the 130 points the Hawkeyes scored that season, leading Iowa to a 6-1-1 mark, and he was named The Associated Press Athlete of the Year. Iowa's football stadium was renamed Kinnick Stadium and is the only college football field named after a Heisman winner.

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (2017)

Mayfield followed up 2016 when he was a Heisman runner-up by winning the award in 2017. He threw for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 71 percent of his passes and tossing just five picks. He led the Sooners to a College Football Playoff berth and finished the year with a passer rating of 203.76.

Kyler Murray, Oklahoma (2018)

Murray stunned everyone by replacing Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and winning his own award the very next year. Murray (who was playing out the year before heading to play in the Oakland Athletics' farm system) threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,001 yards and 12 more scores. His season went so well that he became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

Cam Newton, Auburn (2010)

Newton played just one season at Auburn, but it was one of the best seasons a quarterback has ever had. He threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns as well as rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns as he led the Tigers to a national championship. Newton's Heisman moment was when he brought Auburn back from a 24-0 deficit to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl. 

Mike Rozier, Nebraska (1983)

Rozier was the main cog in a Cornhuskers' potent rushing attack in the early 1980s. In 1983, Rozier rushed for 2,148 yards and 29 touchdowns, and his 7.8 yards-per-carry that season is among the best all time. In a game against the Kansas Jayhawks, Rozier would rush for 230 yards...in the first half. He ended the season with four consecutive 200-yard games. 

Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State (1988)

Sanders' 1988 season is one of the best campaigns in sports history, let alone in college football. Sanders ran for 2,850 yards and 44 touchdowns (including the bowl game). He had seven games in which he rushed for at least 200 yards and four games when he ran for at least 300 yards. Only 13 schools in 1988 rushed for more yards than Sanders did by himself. 

O.J. Simpson, USC (1968)

Simpson nearly (read: should have) won the Heisman trophy in 1967, but he certainly dominated the award in 1968. Simpson ran for 1,880 yards and 232 touchdowns and won by what is still the largest margin of victory for a Heisman winner. In his final game as a Trojan, he ran for 171 yards and a TD in a loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

Tim Tebow, Florida (2007)

Tebow's 2007 was filled with firsts. He was the first quarterback to throw for 20 touchdowns and run for 20 touchdowns. (His 23 rushing touchdowns set the mark for most in a season by a player in any position in SEC history.) He also was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. Amazingly, his 2007 Heisman season was sandwiched between two national championships won by Tebow and Florida.

Vinny Testaverde, Miami (1986)

Testaverde continued Miami's remarkable run of great quarterbacks by becoming the first one to win a Heisman. In 1986, Testaverde passed for 2,557 yards and 26 touchdowns in leading the Hurricanes to an undefeated regular season. (Miami would lose to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl.) He blew away the Heisman voting field, as he received 1,541 more points than Temple's Paul Palmer. 

Herschel Walker, Georgia (1982)

This is how the Heisman trophy works sometimes: Walker's 1981 season was even better, but Marcus Allen's year earned him the award. So Walker's 1982 season instead made him a Heisman legend. He ran for 1,752 yards and 17 touchdowns that season despite playing a few games in a cast. Georgia lost its shot at a national championship when Penn State beat the top-ranked Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl.

Charlie Ward, Florida State (1993)

Ward and Florida State had a magical 1993 season when the program won its first national championship and first Heisman Trophy. Ward threw for 3,032 yards and 27 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He also rushed for 339 yards and four scores, and he holds the third-biggest margin of victory in Heisman history.

Ricky Williams, Texas (1998)

Williams rushed for 2,427 yards and 30 touchdowns in 1998 and set the all-time career rushing mark. He had two games in which he rushed for six touchdowns and another where he ran for five. Williams also had five games in which he ran for at least 200 yards (and twice ran for over 300) that year and shares the record for career 200-yard games.

Jameis Winston, Florida State (2013)

Winston had one of the best freshman seasons ever when he won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship. He threw for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns (he also ran for four scores), and he won the Offensive MVP of the BCS Championship. Winston would win the Heisman, Maxwell, Manning, Griffin and Associated Press Awards that year.

Charles Woodson, Michigan (1997)

When you are the only primary defensive player to win a Heisman trophy — especially when the guy who finished in second place was Peyton Manning — you've had one of the best seasons ever. Woodson picked off passes, defended some of the best receivers and even returned punts. He was a major player who led the Wolverines to a share of the 1997 national championship.

Danny Wuerffel, Florida (1996)

Not only did Wuerffel put up stats befitting of a Heisman winner (3,625 yards passing, 39 TDs) but also it was whom he did it against. The Gators faced No. 1 Florida State twice, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 11 Alabama, No. 12 LSU and No. 16 Auburn en route to its first national championship. Wuerffel ran Steve Spurrier's "fun and gun" offense efficiently and better than anyone who came through his Florida program.

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The 7 Best Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time, Ranked

The NFL MVP has turned into who is the best quarterback on the best team. The MLB MVPs are announced weeks after everyone has forgotten about the season. I assume the best player in college basketball has been Perry Ellis for the past decade. The NBA MVP is still held in high regard, but it doesn't have anything on the Heisman Trophy.

The Heisman has an unparalleled prestige. I love watching Heisman moments unfold in real time. I love the history. I love old winners attending the ceremony and welcoming a new brother into their fraternity. I love the portraits. I love the trophy itself. I love seeing the Nissan Heisman House get another tenant to help reduce rent.

Winning the Heisman Trophy cements players in college football lore regardless if they're remembered as one of the worst winners of all time , or, in this case, one of the best. Everyone who's won the award is great in some capacity, but there are seven who stand above the rest.

The 7 Best Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time

7. herschel walker, georgia.

Ronald C. Modra /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Georgia running back Herschel Walker ran for 1,891 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior in 1981. Yet, his best college season wasn't capped with a Heisman win, which shows how incredible the player who won it was. (Don't worry, we'll talk about him later.)

Walker followed up his career season by rushing for 1,752 yards and 16 touchdowns while leading the Bulldogs to a third-straight SEC Championship and an appearance in the national title game against Penn State. His numbers are even more impressive considering he only ran for 20 yards in the season opener after fracturing his thumb in fall camp .

The UGA back further grew his legend by bringing beloved Georgia mascot Uga to the Heisman ceremony in New York City .

6. Tim Tebow, Florida

Cliff Welch/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

College football hadn't seen a quarterback like Tim Tebow before he arrived at Florida. His uniqueness helped him become the first QB in college football history to ever run for 20 touchdowns and throw for 20 in the same season . Thus, he became the first sophomore to win the Heisman.

RELATED: The 10 Biggest Heisman Trophy Snubs in CFB History, Ranked

All in all, the Gator football player finished the year with 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air and 895 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground to beat out Arkansas running back Darren McFadden for the coveted award.

Who could forget Tebow hoisting the trophy with that humongous cast.

5. Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh

Tony Tomsic /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Dorsett was the NCAA's all-time leading rusher for 22 years before fellow Heisman winner Ricky Williams broke his record in 1998 .

His numbers during his 1976 Heisman season are out of a video game. He ran for 2,150 yards and 22 touchdowns and averaged 215 yards per game in the final seven contests . The Panther legend finished his career by running for 202 yards and a touchdown against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship.

4. Cam Newton, Auburn

Simon Bruty /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

RELATED: Cam Newton's "Heisman Moment" Helped Auburn Topple LSU

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton became the second signal caller to throw and run for 20 touchdowns in a season three years after Tebow. He threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for an astonishing 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns . He caught a touchdown pass, too.

The Auburn version of Newton was remarkable because he made everyone around him better. The offensive unit wasn't loaded with crazy talent — no other player played more than two games in the NFL — but Newton turned them into the seventh best offense in the country that season.

Aside from leading the Tigers to a national championship, Newton spearheading a 24-point comeback against Alabama is one of the greatest performances the sport has ever seen.

3. Marcus Allen, USC

Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

The guy who outperformed Walker in 1981 was none other than USC running back Marcus Allen. What did it take to win the award over the beast from Athens ? Only becoming the first 2,000-yard rusher in NCAA history (he finished the season with 2,427), setting 14 NCAA records, running for 200 yards in five straight games and scoring 23 total touchdowns. On top of all that, Allen led the Trojans in receiving with 34 catches for 256 yards.

Allen's Heisman season is indisputably one of the greatest in college football history. Walker easily wins the award any other year.

2. Joe Burrow, LSU

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Joe Burrow made everything look easy when he quarterbacked the 2019 LSU Tigers to the national championship. He threw for an unbelievable 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns against 6 interceptions while completing 76.3% of his passes .

All this — plus an undefeated season — led to Burrow securing 93.88% of total possible Heisman votes, which is the largest margin of victory in the trophy's history .

Sure, having NFL studs like Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase didn't hurt, but Burrow never looked phased when leading the offense. He was as close to perfect as you can get.

1. Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State

Doug Hoke /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

The Heisman Trophy was Barry Sanders' to lose from the moment the 1988 season kicked off. The Cowboy running back exploded for 2,628 yards and 37 (!) touchdowns on the ground while also handling kick and punt return duties. He finished the season with 3,250 all-purpose yards, which was an NCAA single-season record until Christian McCaffrey broke it in 2015 .

There isn't anyone defenses feared more in college football history than Sanders that year. He was unstoppable and walked away with the Heisman over USC running back Rodney Peete and UCLA QB Troy Aikman.

Honorable Mentions

1963 : Roger Staubach, Quarterback, Navy

1968 : O.J. Simpson, Running Back, USC

1977 : Earl Campbell, Running Back, Texas

1983 : Mike Rozier, Running Back, Nebraska

1986 : Vinny Testaverde, Quarterback, Miami

1991 : Desmond Howard, Wide Receiver, Michigan

1993 : Charlie Ward, Quarterback, Florida State

1998 : Ricky Williams, Running Back, Texas

2013 : Jameis Winston, Quarterback, Florida State

2016 : Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Louisville

2017 : Baker Mayfield, Quarterback, Oklahoma

2018 : Kyler Murray, Quarterback, Oklahoma

2020 : DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Alabama

MORE: The 8 Worst Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time, Ranked

You might also like, joe burrow's "heisman moment" versus georgia proved he was special, college football, the 10 worst heisman trophy winners of all time, ranked, the 21 greatest sec quarterbacks of all time, ranked, early heisman trophy futures odds: stroud overtakes young before season kickoff.

10 of the Most Famous and Inspirational Speeches from History

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

What makes a great and iconic speech? There are numerous examples of brilliant orators and speechmakers throughout history, from classical times to the present day. What the best speeches tend to have in common are more than just a solid intellectual argument: they have emotive power, or, for want of a more scholarly word, ‘heart’. Great speeches rouse us to action, or move us to tears – or both.

But of course, historic speeches are often also associated with landmark, or watershed, moments in a nation’s history: when Churchill delivered his series of wartime speeches to Britain in 1940, it was against the backdrop of a war which was still in its early, uncertain stages. And when Martin Luther King stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, he was addressing a crowd who, like him, were marching for justice, freedom, and civil rights for African Americans.

Let’s take a closer look at ten of the best and most famous speeches from great moments in history.

Abraham Lincoln, ‘ Gettysburg Address ’ (1863).

The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history, yet it was extremely short – just 268 words, or less than a page of text – and Abraham Lincoln, who gave the address, wasn’t even the top billing .

The US President Abraham Lincoln gave this short address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 19 November 1863. At the time, the American Civil War was still raging, and the Battle of Gettysburg had been the bloodiest battle in the war, with an estimated 23,000 casualties.

Lincoln’s speech has been remembered while Edward Everett’s – the main speech delivered on that day – has long been forgotten because Lincoln eschewed the high-flown allusions and wordy style of most political orators of the nineteenth century. Instead, he addresses his audience in plain, homespun English that is immediately relatable and accessible.

Sojourner Truth, ‘ Ain’t I a Woman? ’ (1851).

Sometimes known as ‘Ar’n’t I a Woman?’, this is a speech which Sojourner Truth, a freed African slave living in the United States, delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. The women in attendance were being challenged to call for the right to vote.

In her speech, Sojourner Truth attempts to persuade the audience to give women the vote . As both an ex-slave and a woman, Sojourner Truth knew about the plight of both groups of people in the United States. Her speech shows her audience the times: change is coming, and it is time to give women the rights that should be theirs.

John Ball, ‘ Cast off the Yoke of Bondage ’ (1381).

The summer of 1381 was a time of unrest in England. The so-called ‘Peasants’ Revolt’, led by Wat Tyler (in actual fact, many of the leaders of the revolt were more well-to-do than your average peasant), gathered force until the rebels stormed London, executing a number of high-ranking officials, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor, Simon Sudbury.

Alongside Tyler, the priest John Ball was an important leading figure of the rebellion. His famous couplet, ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, / Who was then the gentleman?’ sums up the ethos of the Peasants’ Revolt: social inequality was unheard of until men created it.

Winston Churchill, ‘ We Shall Fight on the Beaches ’ (1940).

Winston Churchill had only recently assumed the role of UK Prime Minister when he gave the trio of wartime speeches which have gone down in history for their rhetorical skill and emotive power. This, for our money, is the best of the three.

Churchill gave this speech in the House of Commons on 4 June 1940. Having brought his listeners up to speed with what has happened, Churchill comes to the peroration of his speech : by far the most famous part. He reassures them that if nothing is neglected and all arrangements are made, he sees no reason why Britain cannot once more defend itself against invasion: something which, as an island nation, it has always been susceptible to by sea, and now by air.

Even if it takes years, and even if Britain must defend itself alone without any help from its allies, this is what must happen. Capitulation to the Nazis is not an option. The line ‘if necessary for years; if necessary, alone’ is sure to send a shiver down the spine, as is the way Churchill barks ‘we shall never surrender!’ in the post-war recording of the speech he made several years later.

William Faulkner, ‘ The Agony and the Sweat ’ (1950).

This is the title sometimes given to one of the most memorable Nobel Prize acceptance speeches: the American novelist William Faulkner’s acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Literature at Stockholm in 1950.

In his speech, Faulkner makes his famous statement about the ‘duty’ of writers: that they should write about ‘the human heart in conflict with itself’, as well as emotions and themes such as compassion, sacrifice, courage, and hope. He also emphasises that being a writer is hard work, and involves understanding human nature in all its complexity. But good writing should also remind readers what humankind is capable of.

Emmeline Pankhurst, ‘ The Plight of Women ’ (1908).

Pankhurst (1858-1928) was the leader of the British suffragettes, campaigning – and protesting – for votes for women. After she realised that Asquith’s Liberal government were unlikely to grand women the vote, the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded by Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel, turned to more militant tactics to shift public and parliamentary opinion.

Her emphasis in this speech is on the unhappy lot most women could face, in marriage and in motherhood. She also shows how ‘man-made’ the laws of England are, when they are biased in favour of men to the detriment of women’s rights.

This speech was given at the Portman Rooms in London in 1908; ten years later, towards the end of the First World War, women over 30 were finally given the vote. But it would be another ten years, in 1928 – the year of Pankhurst’s death – before the voting age for women was equal to that for men (21 years).

Franklin Roosevelt, ‘ The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself ’ (1933).

This is the title by which Roosevelt’s speech at his inauguration in 1933 has commonly become known, and it has attained the status of a proverb. Roosevelt was elected only a few years after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which ushered in the Great Depression.

Roosevelt’s famous line in the speech, which offered hope to millions of Americans dealing with unemployment and poverty, was probably inspired by a line from Henry David Thoreau, a copy of whose writings FDR had been gifted shortly before his inauguration. The line about having nothing to fear except fear itself was, in fact, only added into the speech the day before the inauguration took place, but it ensured that the speech went down in history.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, ‘ Among Us You Can Dwell No Longer ’ (63 BC).

Of all of the great classical orators, perhaps the greatest of all was the Roman statesman, philosopher, and speechmaker, Cicero (whose name literally means ‘chickpea’).

This is probably his best-known speech. At the Temple of Jupiter in Rome, Cicero addressed the crowd, but specifically directed his comments towards Lucius Catiline, who was accused of plotting a conspiracy to set fire to the capital and stage and insurrection. The speech was considered such a fine example of Roman rhetoric that it was a favourite in classrooms for centuries after, as Brian MacArthur notes in The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches .

Queen Elizabeth I, ‘ The Heart and Stomach of a King ’ (1588).

Queen Elizabeth I’s speech to the troops at Tilbury is among the most famous and iconic speeches in English history. On 9 August 1588, Elizabeth addressed the land forces which had been mobilised at the port of Tilbury in Essex, in preparation for the expected invasion of England by the Spanish Armada.

When she gave this speech, Elizabeth was in her mid-fifties and her youthful beauty had faded. But she had learned rhetoric as a young princess, and this training served her well when she wrote and delivered this speech (she was also a fairly accomplished poet ).

She famously tells her troops: ‘I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too’. She acknowledged the fact that her body was naturally less masculine and strong than the average man’s, but it is not mere physical strength that will win the day. It is courage that matters.

Martin Luther King, ‘ I Have a Dream ’ (1963).

Let’s conclude this selection of the best inspirational speeches with the best-known of all of Martin Luther King’s speeches. The occasion for this piece of oratorical grandeur was the march on Washington , which saw some 210,000 men, women, and children gather at the Washington Monument in August 1963, before marching to the Lincoln Memorial. King reportedly stayed up until 4am the night before he was due to give the speech, writing it out.

King’s speech imagines a collective vision of a better and more equal America which is not only shared by many Black Americans, but by anyone who identifies with their fight against racial injustice, segregation, and discrimination.

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WATCH: Bryce Young Gives Heisman Speech

• Author: Donnie Druin

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young became the newest member of the Heisman Trophy club, earning the 87th award handed out to the best player in college football. 

Young, who became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman (fourth overall and second consecutive member of the Crimson Tide), ran away with the award by receiving 83% of possible points, giving him the seventh-most votes of all time.

Young, who also won all six voting regions, received the 10th-most first-place votes of all time at 684. Over 900 ballots were received before the winner was unveiled. 

For any player, winning the Heisman Trophy is a moment that will last forever, as their portrait and words will forever live in college football immortality. 

Heisman speeches are some of the best glimpses of raw emotion from the best athletes in their sport, especially those who were truly unsuspecting of the honor. 

While Young may have an inkling that he would take home the trophy, his speech was still thoroughly enjoyable to watch. 

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From the Heisman to white Bronco chase and murder trial: A timeline of O.J. Simpson's life

Once the most high-profile celebrity in the country, O.J. Simpson died Wednesday at the age of 76.

The California native lived a life consistently in the spotlight, whether it was his football career , his acting career or a murder accusation and trial that captivated the nation. Simpson was one of the most polarizing figures in the country and seemed to always be in the news, all the way up to his death on Wednesday.

"During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace," his family said in a statement on social media.

Here is a timeline of the biggest moments from Simpson's life:

When was O.J. Simpson born?

Simpson was born on July 9, 1947.

NFL DRAFT HUB: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis.

Where was O.J. Simpson born?

Simpson was born and raised in San Francisco, California.

Start of O.J. Simpson's football career

With Simpson still in the San Francisco area, he attended Galileo High School, where he was a star running back, defensive back and track athlete. After graduating in 1965, he started his college career at City College of San Francisco. There, he was named a junior college All-American as a running back in 1966. Simpson transferred to Southern California after two seasons.

O.J. Simpson wins Heisman Trophy

Simpson became an instant star for the Trojans. During his first season with Southern California, he led the nation with 1,543 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns to help lead USC to a national championship. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy race to UCLA quarterback Gary Beban.

His senior season in 1968, Simpson continued to lead USC as he ran for a then NCAA-record 1,709 yards and 22 touchdowns. Simpson won the 1968 Heisman Trophy by 1,750 points, a record margin at the time. To this day, his 855 first-place votes are the most in Heisman Trophy history. By the end of his college career, Simpson equaled or broke 19 NCAA, Pac-8 and USC records.

O.J. Simpson's first marriage

Simpson married Marguerite Whitley in 1967, and they had three children: Arnelle Simpson, Jason Simpson and Aaren Simpson. In 1979, one-year-old Aaren drowned in the family's swimming pool. Simpson and Whitley divorced in 1979.

O.J. Simpson is No. 1 pick in NFL Draft

With such a stellar college career, Simpson was the easy choice in the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft. He was the No. 1 overall pick by the Buffalo Bills.

O.J. Simpson breaks NFL rushing record

Simpson had a mediocre start to his NFL career, but he really broke out in his fourth season in 1972, when the Bills hired Lou Saban as head coach. That season, Simpson led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,251.

His legendary season came in 1973. On Dec. 16, 1973, Simpson ran for 200 yards against the New York Jets at Shea Stadium to become the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season − he finished with 2,003 rushing yards. His 143.1 rushing yards per game that season is still the highest mark in NFL history, and he was named league MVP that season.

O.J. Simpson retires

Simpson ran for more than 1,000 yards in the three seasons after his MVP year, but in 1978, Buffalo traded him to the San Francisco 49ers. Simpson wasn't a star for San Francisco, and he played two seasons for the 49ers before retiring in 1979 after a decade in the league.

He finished his career with 11,236 rushing yards, 2,142 receiving yards and 990 kick return yards. Simpson totaled 76 career touchdowns.

O.J. Simpson acting career

A football career didn't stop Simpson from becoming an actor , getting roles as early as 1968, the same year he won the Heisman. He appeared in several movies and TV shows, but his most memorable role was as Detective Nordberg in the "Naked Gun" comedy films, opposite star Leslie Nielsen. Simpson appeared in all three movies from 1988 to 1994.

Simpson also appeared in Hertz commercials and hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978. During this time, he also worked as a commentator on "Monday Night Football" and NFL games on NBC.

Documentary: How to watch FX’s 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' and ESPN’s 'O.J. Made in America'

O.J. Simpson inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

Simpson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, his first year of eligibility. During his enshrinement speech, Simpson thanked all of the people that were part of his football journey.

"I want to thank God for when I think about history and all the great people for allowing me to live at a time when such basic talents of body functions as running and jumping would be worthy of applause," Simpson said in his speech. " I just want all the fans in the NFL to know how much I appreciate it. No matter what stadium I would play in, you cheered me and made me feel appreciated and welcome. And I want to tell you that I know now already in my heart and in my memories the things that I will miss the most about this game is the sound of your applause and your cheers."

O.J. Simpson marries Nicole Brown

Simpson met Nicole Brown in the late 1970s and they were married in 1985. The couple had two children and were married for seven years before they were divorced in 1992.

Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman found dead

On June 12, Brown and friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Simpson had a domestic violence charge against Brown during their marriage and he was immediately a person of interest in the deaths.

O.J. Simpson police chase

Charges were pressed against Simpson and a warrant was issued for his arrest for the death of Brown and Goldman. Simpson planned to turn himself in, but instead led a low-speed car chase on June 17, 1994 that was televised with millions of viewers tuning in to see one of the most infamous moments of television history .

More: What happened to white Ford Bronco in O.J. Simpson car chase?

O.J. Simpson trial

With Simpson charged as the suspect in the murder of Brown and Goldman, his trial took place in 1995 and was dubbed the "Trial of the Century" as it was televised. People involved in the case, from the prosecutors to the judge, became celebrities.

With its coverage, the case had some of the biggest moments to ever happen in court, including when Simpson struggled to put his hand inside of the bloody glove found at the scene of the crime. One of Simpson's attorneys, the famous Johnnie Cochran, uttered a now-infamous phrase, "If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit."

More: Late Johnnie Cochran's firm prays families find 'measure of peace' after O.J. Simpson's death

O.J. Simpson found not guilty of murder

After nearly a year in court, the jury reached a verdict in Simpson's trial. On October 3, 1995, the jury found Simpson "not guilty" of the two murders, a decision applauded and ridiculed across the country. No one was ever arrest for the murders, but Simpson was found liable in a wrongful death lawsuit. He was ordered to pay millions of dollars to both families.

'If I Did It'

A book was released in 2007 titled "If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer," which supposedly detailed through an interview with a ghost writer − how Simpson would have killed Brown and Goldman. There was much controversy surrounding the release of the book, and the Goldman family was awarded the rights to book.

O.J. Simpson robbery, prison sentence

In 2007, Simpson and a group of people went into a room at Palace Station in Las Vegas, where he and others took memorabilia that he alleged was stolen from him at gunpoint.

He was arrested days afterward for his involvement, and his trial took place in 2008. In court, Simpson was found guilty of several counts and was sentence to 33 years in prison with the possibility of parole after nine years (2017). Simpson served his sentence at Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada.

O.J. Simpson release from prison

In 2017, Simpson was granted parole from his prison sentence and was released from prison on Oct. 1, 2017. In December 2021, Simpson was released from his parole.

O.J. Simpson cancer diagnosis, death

Simpson's family said he succumbed to a cancer diagnosis April 10. The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Simpson had prostate cancer and he received chemotherapy treatment.

Simpson’s diagnosis of prostate cancer was made public about two months ago, and he had received chemotherapy treatment.

Buckeye Greats: The Best Ohio State Players of All Time

H ey, kids and grown-ups who love football! Today, I will tell you about some super cool football players from Ohio State University. These players are so good; they're like superheroes on the football field!

Heisman Heroes

Archie Griffin (1972-1975):  Imagine being the best player not once but twice! That's Archie Griffin. He won the Heisman Trophy two times – that's a big deal in football. He was fast and strong, making him a fantastic player for Ohio State.

Vic Janowicz (1949-1951):  Next, we have Vic Janowicz. He was like a superhero, playing offense and defense. He was so good that he helped Ohio State win a national championship in 1950. He also won the Heisman Trophy, which means he was one of the best players in the whole country!

Gridiron Gladiators

Eddie George (1992-1995):  Eddie George was known as "The Buckeye Bullet" because he was so fast and robust. He ran with the ball like a speeding train, breaking many school records. He was a big reason why Ohio State did so well in 1995.

Chris Spielman (1984-1987):  Chris Spielman was like a brick wall on the field. He played defense and was good at stopping the other team. His hard work and toughness made him a favorite among his teammates.

Offensive Titans

Orlando Pace (1994-1996):  Orlando Pace was a giant on the field. He protected his team like a superhero, making sure the other team couldn't get past him. He was so good that he almost won the Heisman Trophy, which is rare for someone who plays his position!

Troy Smith (2003-2006):  Troy Smith was excellent at throwing and running with the ball. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2006, leading Ohio State to many victories. He was like a wizard on the field, constantly making incredible plays.

Defensive Dominators

Joey Bosa (2013-2015):  Joey Bosa was a force to be reckoned with. He was so strong and quick that the other team often couldn't stop him. He won many awards and was important for Ohio State's defense.

Mike Vrabel (1993-1996):  Mike Vrabel was like a Swiss Army knife on the field—he could do everything! He played different defensive positions and was known for his leadership and skill.

Legendary Leaders

Jack Tatum (1968-1970):  Jack Tatum, also known as "The Assassin," was famous for his powerful playing style. He was like a superhero on defense, always stopping the other team with his incredible strength and speed.

Howard "Hopalong" Cassady (1952-1955):  Hopalong Cassady was like a lightning bolt on the field. He could run super fast and was really good at scoring touchdowns. He helped Ohio State win a lot of games and even won the Heisman Trophy in 1955.

Beyond the Field

These players weren't just great at football but also great people. They worked hard, played fair, and inspired many kids to dream big and work hard.

That's the story of some of the best players from Ohio State University. They were all super talented and helped make Ohio State a great football team. One day, they'll inspire you and become a great player too! Remember, it's not just about being good at sports; it's about being a good person, too. Go Buckeyes!