1943 - QB Angelo Bertelli
Amazingly, Notre Dame’s first Heisman winner easily won the award despite playing just six of 11 games. It was more of a career honor for Bertelli, who finished second as a sophomore single-wing tailback and sixth as a junior quarterback. The Irish averaged 43.5 points their first six games before the Marine Corps called Bertelli into service. Teammates Creighton Miller and Jim White finished fourth and 10th in voting, respectively. Died June 26, 1999.
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Season stats: 25-of-36 passing for 512 yards and 10 TDs in six games.
Voting: 1. Bertelli, 648 points; 2. Bob O’Dell (Penn) 177; 3. Otto Graham (Northwestern) 140.
1947 - QB John Lujack
Bertelli’s replacement wound up winning the award himself. Lujack replaced Bertelli at quarterback as a sophomore and wound up leading the Irish to three national titles. Known for his prowess at directing the T-formation, Lujack spent nearly three years in the Navy, but returned and did not lose a game as a junior and senior. Also a punter and a halfback, Lujack finished third in 1946 Heisman balloting. Also was Associated Press male athlete of the year.
Season stats: 61-of-109 passing for 777 yards and nine TDs; 12 receptions for 139 yards and one TD.
Voting: 1. Lujack, 742 points; 2. Bob Chappuis (Michigan) 555; 3. Doak Walker (SMU) 196.
1949 - E Leon Hart
Hart and Yale’s Larry Kelley (1936) remain the only linemen ever to win the Heisman. A two-way player, Hart excelled as a blocker and rusher on defense and as a receiver on offense. Hart went 36-0-2 in his four-year career, claimed three national titles and was a three-time first-team All-American. Beat out Jackie Robinson and Sam Snead as 1949 Associated Press male athlete of the year. Won three NFL titles with the Detroit Lions. Died Sept. 24, 2002.
Season stats: 19 receptions for 257 yards (13.5) and five TDs; 18 rushes for 73 yards and three TDs.
Voting: 1. Hart, 995 points; 2. Charlie Justice (North Carolina) 272; 3. Doak Walker (SMU) 229.
1953 - HB John Lattner
One year after Billy Vessels became Oklahoma’s first Heisman winner, Lattner edged Minnesota’s Paul Giel (1,850-1,794) in the second-closest balloting in history. Lattner won the Maxwell Award as the top collegiate player as a junior and senior. A consensus All-American on offense and defense, he excelled as a runner, receiver, returner, punter and picker (13 career interceptions). Previous school record-holder for all-purpose yards.
Stats: 134 rushes for 651 yards (4.9) and nine TDs; 14 receptions for 204 (14.6); eight kickoff returns for 321 yards; 10 punt returns for 103 yards; four INT.
Voting: 1. Lattner, 1850 points; 2. Giel, 1,794; 3. Paul Cameron (UCLA) 444.
1956 - QB Paul Hornung
The Fighting Irish went 2-8 this season, making Hornung the only Heisman winner to play on a losing team. He won despite throwing three touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. A remarkable athlete, Hornung played quarterback, left halfback, fullback, safety and kicker. He later played for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring three straight seasons (1959-61).
Stats: 59-of-111 passing for 917 yards, three TDs and 13 INT; 94 rushes for 420 yards; three receptions, four punt returns, 16 kickoff returns, two interceptions; 14 PATs.
Voting: 1. Hornung, 1,066 points; 2. John Majors (Tennessee) 994; 3. Tommy McDonald (OU) 724; 4. Jerry Tubbs (OU) 561.
1964 - QB John Huarte
Huarte won the prestigious award despite being injured as a sophomore and seeing limited playing time as a junior. Using tight end Jack Snow (fifth in the Heisman) as his primary target, Huarte helped transform the Irish from a 2-7 the year before to a 9-1 team under first-year coach Ara Parseghian. Huarte finished third nationally in total offense and set 12 school records as a senior.
Stats: 114-of-205 passing for 2,062 yards, 11 INTs and 16 TDs.
Voting: 1. Huarte, 1,026 points; 2. Jerry Rhome (Tulsa) 952; Dick Butkus (Illinois) 505.
1987 - F/KR Tim Brown
This all-purpose threat became the first wide receiver (listed as a flanker) to win the award. Ranked sixth nationally in all-purpose yards. He finished his career as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in reception yards (2,493) and returned six kicks (three punts; three kickoffs) for touchdowns. A first-round pick (sixth overall) by the Oakland Raiders, he was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection.
Stats: 39 receptions for 21.7-yard average and three TDs; 34 rushes for 144 yards and one TD; 23 kickoff returns for 19.7-yard average; 34 punt returns for 11.8-yard average and three TDs.
Voting: 1. Brown, 1,442 points; 2. Don McPherson (Syracuse) 831; 3. Gordie Lockbaum (Holy Cross) 657.
Source: Notre Dame Oklahoma winners1952 - B Billy Vessels
The Sooners’ first Heisman winner rushed for 1,072 yards on 167 carries (6.4 per) and scored 17 touchdowns as a senior. Vessels started as a sophomore in 1950 and scored 15 touchdowns. The Sooners went 26-4-1 with Vessels and they finished fourth nationally his senior year. Vessels turned pro, played for the Edmonton Eskimos and was named top player in Canada his rookie season. He then served in the Army. Died Nov. 17, 2001.
Stats: 167 carries for 1,072 yards and 17 TDs; seven catches for 165 yards and one TD.
Voting: 1. Vessels, 525 points; 2. Jack Scarbaugh (Maryland), 367; 3. Paul Giel (Minnesota) 329.
1969 - RB Steve Owens
This 6-foot-2, 215-pound bulldozer from homestate Miami never seemed to tire. He had 358 carries his Heisman season, rushing for 1,523 yards, 23 touchdowns and setting four conference records. He still owns five school records. Finished with 57 career touchdowns. Had 55 carries against Oklahoma State in his final game, just a few days after winning the Heisman. He remains one of the school’s most revered athletes.
Stats: 358 carries for 1,523 yards and 23 TDs.
Voting: 1. Owens, 1,488 points; 2. Mike Phipps (Purdue) 1,334; 3. Rex Kearn (Ohio State) 857.
1978 - RB Billy Sims
Regarded by many as the greatest running back in OU history, Sims set a Big Eight single-season rushing record at the time with 1,896 yards his junior season. He led the nation in rushing, averaged more than 7.0 per carry and had four 200-yard games. Finished second in Heisman voting as a senior. Remains the school’s all-time rushing leader with 4,118 yards and seven 200-yards games. NFL career with Detroit Lions was shortened by injury.
Stats: 256 carries for 1,896 yards and 22 TDs.
Voting: Sims, 827 points; 2. Chuck Fusina (Penn State) 750; 3. Rick Leach (Michigan) 435.
2003 - QB Jason White
The pride of Tuttle courageously overcame two severe knee surgeries to win the award as a fifth-year senior. In one of the prolific seasons ever for a quarterback and showing a remarkable downfield touch, White threw 40 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions. He won numerous other player-of-the-year honors that season. As a sixth-year senior the following year, White finished third in Heisman voting behind Matt Leinart and freshman teammate Adrian Peterson.
Stats: 278-of-451 passing (.616) for 3,846 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Voting: 1. White, 1,481 points; 2. Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh) 1,353; 3. Eli Manning (Mississippi) 710.
Source: OU
