Sports: Weinke is the 1

Weinke is the 1

By BOB HARIG

NEW YORK -- There were plenty of doubters, including those in the Florida State football program who decided long ago to schedule their annual season-ending banquet on Saturday -- the same night as the Heisman Trophy presentation.

No way anybody figured a 28-year-old former professional baseball player would be at the storied Downtown Athletic Club in position to win. No way anybody figured he'd walk away with college football's most prestigious award.

But FSU quarterback Chris Weinke overcame questions about his age, a six-year layoff from football and a serious neck injury to become the 66th Heisman Trophy winner, edging Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel.

The announcement set off a wild celebration at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, where Weinke's FSU teammates held their banquet and watched the presentation on ESPN.

"I don't think I've ever been this nervous for a game," said Weinke, who is 32-2 as a starter for FSU. "I didn't know what to expect. I was going to absorb everything that took place, and I got a different feeling when I walked into this place.

"It hasn't sunk in yet. To be the recipient is beyond my wildest dreams. Obviously credit needs to go to those guys who are celebrating at the banquet in Tallahassee. This is an individual award, but it's not gained by an individual but a number of people.

"I didn't expect this," he said. "I didn't set this as one of my goals. My goals have always been geared toward the team. This is a reflection of the success of our team this year."

Weinke led the third-ranked Seminoles to an 11-1 record and a shot at defending their national championship in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 against Heupel's Sooners, who are 12-0 and ranked No. 1.

The FSU quarterback received 369 first-place votes among the 796 ballots that were returned and had 1,628 points to finish ahead of Heupel by 76 points, the seventh-closest vote in history. Purdue quarterback Drew Brees finished third (619) and Texas Christian running back LaDainian Tomlinson was fourth (566).

"I just had a feeling he wouldn't be able to win that thing; I don't know if anybody had a better feeling than me when he did," said FSU coach Bobby Bowden from Tallahassee, where more than 2,000 people attended the banquet. "There was simultaneous screaming and applause as soon as everyone heard "Chris.' None of us heard "Weinke.'

"I'm very proud of him. I wish I would have been up there and I wish our coaches could have been up there."

Weinke led the nation this season with 4,167 yards passing and 33 touchdown passes. Doing so at the age of 28 was viewed with skepticism and admiration.

His detractors argued that being so much older than other students gave him a big advantage in terms of maturity and physical development. His supporters point out that Weinke missed six years of football and only came back to FSU after an aborted professional baseball career.

"Chris Weinke is a profile in courage," said FSU athletic director Dave Hart, who was part of the packed room on the 13th floor of the Downtown Athletic Club. "When he came back after that six-year absence, there was a ton of rust. The coaches will tell you there was a lot of doubt. That was a courageous move.

"Then he came back from that six-interception game against N.C. State (in 1998), a severe neck injury (later that season). Why come back after that? He doesn't just come back, he excels. He keeps overcoming these things."

Perhaps the biggest thing Weinke overcame was the notion that he was too old to win the Heisman Trophy. There were plenty who believed that Weinke had an unfair advantage over other college students, and plenty of speculation that it would hurt him among voters. After all, Weinke is older than 14 starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

In the end, though, there was no major backlash.

Weinke was left off 122 of 796 ballots received among 922 registered Heisman voters. That was 16 more than the 106 that left Heupel off their ballot. Voters are allowed to rank three candidates.

"Success in college football is not about age, but about experience," said Weinke, the oldest winner of the award. "I was no better a quarterback at age 24 than I was at age 18. Everything that happened was because of the experience I gained."

Ironically, Weinke was a teammate, although briefly, of FSU's other Heisman winner, quarterback Charlie Ward (1993). When Weinke showed up for preseason practice in August 1990, Ward was another quarterback buried on the depth chart.

A few days later, Weinke signed a baseball contract, and toiled in the Blue Jays organization for six seasons before resuming his football career in 1997.

"Who would have ever thought that, seven years apart, guys who came in together would win the Heisman Trophy?" Weinke said.

All four finalists arrived having already been honored with hardware. But it is Weinke's picture that will hang on the Downtown Athletic Club's wall.

"This was beyond my wildest dreams," he said. "I feel like I'm the luckiest guy in the world."