** This thread discusses the Content article:
Heisman Trophy Records: Heisman Firsts, Seconds, and Thirds **
Everyone is well aware that we have two Heisman trophy winners playing each other in this year's National Championship game, Tim Tebow of 2007 and Sam Bradford of 2008--and congratulations to Sam Bradford by the way, he played a great season--but this Heisman vs. Heisman type battle is not a first.
Below are some Hesiman records of the past, some Heisman records missed, and some Heisman records waiting to be set. The best is saved for last.
Heisman Seconds
This will be the second time in the BCS that two Heisman winners have played each other in the National Championship game. The last time was the 2004 National Championship in the Orange Bowl where Jason White of OU the 2003 Heisman Winner played against Matt Lienart of USC the 2004 Heisman Winner.
Tebow next year will have a shot at second Heisman, which would make him the second person to win two Hesman trophies, following in the footsteps of Archie Griffin, Heisman winner of '74 and '75.
Heisman Thirds
Sam Bradford this year made the third time a person has won the Heisman without receiving the most first-place votes. The other two times are Paul Hornung of Notre Dame in '56 and Billy Sims of Oklahoma in '78, with Tim Tebow being the player this year that recieved the most first-place votes.
Sam Bradford also has the possibility of being the third ever Heisman winner to win the National Championship game the same year. The second Heisman winner to win their National Championship Game is Matt Leinart of USC in 2004; the first was Charlie Ward of Florida State in 1993. There is a running record of Heisman winners doing terribly in thier bowl games, especially National Championship games. This is trend all Florida fans are hoping continues this year, and a trend Sam Bradford thinks doesn't say a lot.
This years National Championship will be the third time that two Heisman players have played in the same National Championship game. The first is the 2004 National Championship with Lienhart vs. White mentioned above. The second is the the 2005 National Championship which featured Lienart again, playing with his teammate Reggie Bush, Heisman winner of 2005.
Also Tebow missed the possibility for winning 3 Heisman trophies this season.
Heisman Firsts
This year could be the first time that the current Heisman winner has lost to a previous Heisman winner in the National Championship.
Last but not least... And funny... If the Gators win the National Championship this year, it will be the first time that a Heisman winner has lost to both the second and third place Heisman contenders in the same year. This being both Tim Tebow of UF the third place finalist potentially beating Sam Bradford in the National Championship January 8, 2008--and Colt McCoy of Texas the second place finalist beating Sam Bradford in the "103rd Red River Shootout" Conference Game on October 11, 2008.
