How an Accidental TV Viewing Spurred My Research on Heisman Trends

A three-year-old insisted on using the remote control to change channels on a television in a Chicago hotel.

The entire family ended up looking at the movie, The Express, which told the life story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win a Heisman Trophy, in 1961.

The inspiration to do research on the Heisman Trophy began at that moment. After visiting the Notre Dame campus as we drove back to Cleveland, I realized that Tim Brown, a former Oakland Raider, won the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame.

That was enough to get me going. I started researching aspects of the history of the Heisman. Excerpts from this study are provided.

The first Heisman Trophy was awarded in 1935. Jay Berwanger of Chicago got the prize.

From 1935 to 1961, halfbacks received most of the Heisman Trophies. Nineteen halfbacks received the award, with Ernie Davis grabbing it in 1961.

Davis made history by becoming the first African-American to get the Heisman Trophy. His accomplishment was more dramatic because of his struggle with leukemia, which cut his professional career short.

Of all of the Heisman winners, 29.7 percent were halfbacks. In more recent years, quarterbacks have dominated, receiving nearly 37 percent of the awards.

From 1973 to 1983, running backs dominated. Here is the list:

1985	Bo Jackson	Auburn	RB
1984	Doug Flutie	Boston College	QB
1983	Mike Rozier	Nebraska	RB
1982	Herschel Walker	Georgia	RB
1981	Marcus Allen	Southern California	RB
1980	George Rogers	South Carolina	RB
1979	Charles White	Southern California	RB
1978	Billy Sims	Oklahoma	RB
1977	Earl Campbell	Texas	RB
1976	Tony Dorsett	Pittsburgh	RB
1975	Archie Griffin	Ohio State	RB
1974	Archie Griffin	Ohio State	RB
1973	John Cappelletti	Penn State	RB

Another observation is that Southern California, Notre Dame, and Ohio State have received more Heisman Trophies than the other schools.

I realized that Notre Dame was en route to Cleveland, so I insisted on visiting the campus. It was a sight to see. The "Touchdown Jesus" artwork on one of the buildings stands out.

I immediately gathered the names of the football players from Notre Dame who also won the Heisman. They are:

1. 1943 - Angelo Bertelli
2. 1947 - John Lujack
3. 1949 - Leon Hart
4. 1953 - John Lattner
5. 1956 - Paul Hornung
6. 1964 - John Huarte
7. 1987 - Tim Brown

Again, I got excited. Tim Brown is pictured in a display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is also a supporter of Sports and Education. He is a high achiever. He received the Heisman in 1987. 

Did the three-year-old know what he was doing when he insisted on looking at a certain movie? Maybe he did. He is the same three-year-old who met and took a picture with Tony Dungy at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

So, "out of the mouths of babes" can come the wisdom for the next generation. Let's commit to continuing to write about (and research) the connections between sports, education, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professions.

As we do so, we shine a beacon light for the future of the next generation, including our children and grandchildren.

Note: STEM hearing, addressing the crises in education in the United States.