Woodson Picks Off Heisman Defensive Star, Not Manning, Takes Home College Football’s Top Award; Leaf Settles For Third

Charles Woodson came up with the interception of a lifetime Saturday night - the Heisman Trophy.

Woodson, Michigan’s All-American cornerback who also starred as a wide receiver and punt returner, made Heisman history as he became the first primarily defensive player to win college football’s most prestigious award.

In one of the biggest surprises in the 63-year history of the Heisman, Woodson won over Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, who had become the preseason favorite for the trophy when he announced last spring he was returning for his senior season.

“This will be with me the rest of my life,” Woodson said at the Downtown Athletic Club. “I was sitting in that chair and saying to myself, ‘Do I really have a shot?”’

While Manning threw for 3,819 yards, 36 touchdowns and led the third-ranked Vols (11-1) to the Southeastern Conference title and an Orange Bowl, the Heisman voters chose Woodson, who went from sublime to sensational whenever Michigan was on national TV.

Woodson’s dominance in the Wolverines’ 20-14 win over Ohio State on Nov. 22 may have been the Heisman clincher. He intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Buckeyes’ scoring threat, caught a 37-yard pass to set up Michigan’s first touchdown and then broke open a tight defensive struggle with a 78-yard punt return for a score his fourth TD of the season.

After the touchdown, Woodson looked as if he were ready to strike the Heisman pose, leaning forward and trying to stiff-arm an imaginary defender, but he was swarmed by celebrating teammates.

When asked if he’d like another shot at it after winning the Heisman, Woodson said “I’d love to strike the pose.” And he did.

He also struck a decisive blow for defense.

“Defensive players can now go out and play their games,” Woodson said. “This has opened doors.”

The closest a defensive player had come to winning was in 1980, when Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green finished second behind South Carolina running back George Rogers.

Since then, other defensive players have finished in the top five, including Marvin Jones (fourth, 1992); Steve Emtman (fourth, 1991); Brian Bosworth (fourth, 1986); and Terry Hoage (fifth, 1983).

But this year, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound Woodson came out on top - and it wasn’t really close.

Woodson beat Manning by 272 points, with Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf third, Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss fourth and Texas running back Ricky Williams fifth.

Woodson, from Fremont, Ohio, received 433 first-place votes and 1,815 points in balloting by the media and former Heisman winners.

Manning, who finished eighth last year behind winner Danny Wuerffel, had 281 first-place votes and 1,543 points.

“I’m disappointed for them (Tennessee fans),” Manning said. “I’d be less then honest if I said I didn’t want to win it for them.”

“I didn’t know what to expect, I was excited just to be here as a candidate. I really had a lot of fun this year. I have one game left and I’m going to cherish it and cherish the days leading up to it.”

Penn State running back Curtis Enis was sixth, followed by Iowa wide receiver Tim Dwight, UCLA quarterback Cade McNown, Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch and West Virginia running back Amos Zeroue.

The closest Heisman vote was in 1985, when Auburn’s Bo Jackson edged Iowa’s Chuck Long by 45 points. The largest victory margin was in 1968, when USC’s O.J. Simpson beat Purdue’s Leroy Keyes by 1,750 points.

Last year, Florida’s Danny Wuerffel beat Iowa State’s Troy Davis by 189 points.

In the regional breakdown, Woodson won five of the six voting regions, with Manning taking only the South.

Leaf, who led the No. 8 Cougars (10-1) to their highest ranking ever and a berth in the Rose Bowl against Michigan, had 70 first-place votes and 861 points. Leaf, a junior, threw for 3,637 yards and 33 TDs.

Moss, who set a major college record with 25 TD catches in leading the Thundering Herd to the Mid-American Conference title in the school’s first season in Division I-A, had 17 first-place votes and 253 points.

Manning, the All-American son of former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, set 33 school records in leading the Vols to their first SEC title since the league split its divisions in 1991. But another loss to Florida - 33-20 on Sept. 20 - may have cost him Heisman votes just as it did last year, when he threw four interceptions in a 35-29 defeat and Wuerffel went on to win the trophy.

This year, it was Woodson’s turn. The former Mr. Ohio Football had seven interceptions, caught 11 passes for 231 yards and two TDs and scored on a 33-yard reverse and his punt return.

Woodson became the third Michigan player to win the Heisman. Desmond Howard won in 1991 and Tom Harmon won the award in 1940.

MEMO: Cut in Spokane edition.

These sidebars appeared with the story: Charles Woodson at a glance Junior cornerback/WR, Michigan 7 interceptions 11 receptions, 231 yards, 2 TDs 33 punt returns, 283 yards, 1 TD

HEISMAN TROPHY VOTING Chart includes first-, second- and third-place votes and total points (voting on 3-2-1 basis):

Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total

Charles Woodson, Mich. 433 209 98 1,815 Peyton Manning, Tenn. 281 263 174 1,543 Ryan Leaf, Washington St. 70 205 241 861 Randy Moss, Marshall 17 56 90 253 Ricky Williams, Texas 4 31 61 135 Curtis Enis, Penn State 3 18 20 65 Tim Dwight, Iowa 5 3 11 32 Cade McNown, UCLA 0 7 12 26 Tim Couch, Kentucky 0 5 12 22 Amos Zereoue, W.Va. 3 1 10 21