Texas A&M Claims It Only Made $20,000 from Johnny Manziel's Heisman

Johnny Manziel and his Heisman Trophy may not be as valuable to Texas A&M as you once thought. Never mind the millions of dollars you think Johnny Football is bringing to the university and remove those mental images of everybody at College Station swimming in a pool overflowing with $100 bills.

It doesn't exist.

Well, that's at least what university spokesman Jason Cook wants you to believe.

According to Curtis Eichelberger of Bloomberg.com, Cook admits that Texas A&M only made $20,000 off of last year's Heisman that seemed to draw more attention than others.

"

The only money that can be directly attributed to Manziel is $20,000 from a football fundraising dinner where donors paid to sit at his table, and a portion of the team’s $60,000 in royalties from the sale of football jerseys, said university spokesman Jason Cook.

"

Why in the world is Manziel constantly throwing up the money sign after a touchdown if the most prestigious award in college football really isn't what it's cracked up to be? Apparently, we were all fooled.

"

People draw the conclusion that we make millions from Johnny winning the Heisman, Athletic Director Eric Hyman told Eichelberger. I’d say we’ve gotten more financial benefit from joining what’s widely perceived as the best football conference in the country and having a winning program.

"

Makes sense. According to the school, Texas A&M received $37 million worth of media exposure last year since leaving the Big 12. But I'm almost positive there would have been a lot less media attention if Manziel wasn't who he is, and if he didn't make history by becoming the first freshman to win the award.

Manziel should be tied to that figure.

Texas A&M also raised a school-record $740 million in the last fiscal year, beating its previous year’s total by $300 million. That also probably wouldn't have happened if Manziel led the Aggies to six wins and a trip to the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Who knows for sure exactly how much Texas A&M made off of Manziel's Heisman. We do know that once Robert Griffin won his Heisman at Baylor, the school set a Web traffic record and immediately was able to finalize plans for a new $250 million stadium. It's safe to assume that Baylor brought in a lot more than $20,000 in order to make that happen.

Whether it's millions or just barely enough to buy New York Yankees season tickets, Texas A&M is a lot better off with Manziel and his Heisman in College Station.

Follow @Randy_Chambers