Chris Low, ESPN Senior Scribbler
Essayist’s Observe: This tale used to be at the start printed in 2017 and has since been up to date. Watch “The Great Heisman Race of 1997” from ESPN motion pictures following the 2023 Heisman Trophy rite.
Twenty-six years next, it’s a Heisman Trophy elegance that also has disagree friends.
It featured 4 first-round choices, 3 past Corridor of Famers and one debatable determination.
There used to be Tennessee QB Peyton Manning, who spurned NFL riches the while prior to to go back to university to win an SEC name and throw for three,819 yards and 36 touchdowns. There used to be Michigan’s do-everything playmaker Charles Woodson, who ruled at cornerback but additionally excelled on particular groups and offense for the unbeaten and top-ranked Wolverines. There used to be the rather unknown vast receiver at Marshall making defenses glance foolish in Randy Moss. And there used to be big-armed Washington Circumstance QB Ryan Leaf, important the Cougars to the Rose Bowl.
When Woodson edged Manning to develop into the primary basically defensive participant to win the coveted award, it activate howls of protests in Knoxville, Tennessee. To this presen, enthusiasts on both sides fiercely debate if the electorate were given it proper.
In order we honour probably the most charming Heisman Trophy races ever, let’s revisit that season during the ocular of avid gamers — together with all 4 finalists themselves — coaches and media participants who had been there.
Manning stumbles towards an used nemesis
Then turning ailing hundreds of thousands of bucks to go back to university for his senior season, Manning endeared himself perpetually to Tennessee enthusiasts and entered the 1997 season because the prohibitive Heisman favourite. However for the whole lot Manning completed at Tennessee, it’s who he didn’t beat, truthful or no longer, that hounded him for a lot of his school occupation. He used to be 0-3 towards Florida as a starter, and despite the fact that he used to be 6-1 towards Tennessee’s alternative two huge competitors (Alabama and Georgia), a 33-20 loss to the Gators — highlighted through a Manning interception returned 89 yards for a TD through Tony George — in September 1997 used to be one thing most of the Heisman electorate held towards him and opened the door for anyone else to win it.
Tony George: It’s the loudest I ever heard the Swamp. I’ve been again for video games and haven’t heard it similar to that rowdy. Once I snip again and may see the function order, I used to be considering, “There’s no way anybody is going to catch me.” I will nonetheless pay attention the roar of that community. That’s why I used to be in a position to kick it into anther tools. Peyton used to be using them ailing the ground, and I used to be drained. My adrenaline simply took over.
Tennessee OL Trey Teague: Deny dubiousness he would have received it had we crushed Florida. And every now and then while you’re out in entrance that a lot, you’ve were given a media that creates one thing to discuss, one thing crowd will pick out up and examine. The media, for my part, roughly fueled Woodson’s candidacy, and clearly Michigan used to be undefeated. So it allowed crowd to really feel OK about that vote. If anyone appears to be like again on it and says they nonetheless be ok with it, they’re both mendacity to themselves or the sort of Michigan or Obese Ten particular person that they’ve blinders on.
George: In point of fact, Peyton were given screwed when he didn’t beat us for the ones 4 years. It’s kind of a bittersweet time for me, choosing him off and returning it for a landing. You’re like, “Yeah, I had something to do with it and maybe he did deserve it.”
Florida tutor Steve Spurrier: Yeah, we perceived to all the time beat them, and I’m positive that didn’t backup him any. However I don’t know. Tennessee went forward and received the SEC that while. Every now and then, the ones Midwest guys … perhaps they only sought after a defensive again to win the item. I will see why all the ones Vols are nonetheless insane about it.
Knoxville local and Marshall QB Chad Pennington: I felt for Peyton as a result of he had such an excellent occupation and completed the whole lot, and simply because he didn’t beat Florida — as though it’s utterly on his shoulders — is bigoted to keep that towards him. I additionally assume they had been seeking to acknowledge a superb participant in Woodson who did a couple of issues on either side of the ball in addition to particular groups. It used to be a hardened determination. But when Tennessee beats Florida that while, next Peyton is most likely the Heisman Trophy winner.
Manning: I simply don’t have a bundle of ideas on [if beating Florida would have given him the Heisman] or a bundle of research on it. I’ve by no means actually long gone ailing that highway prior to.
Woodson bursts onto the scene
Woodson used to be a spotlight ready to occur in 1997, however his one-handed interception within the 23-7 win over Deny. 15 Michigan Circumstance used to be a play games for the ages. It used to be a cross Spartans quarterback Todd Schultz used to be simply seeking to fritter upcoming being confused, however Woodson had alternative concepts with a jumping pick out at the sideline, one in all two interceptions at the presen. If he wasn’t already a official Heisman contender, he used to be upcoming that gem.
Upcoming-Michigan Circumstance tutor Nick Saban: I’ve been training for an extended future in the entire leagues — NFL, Obese Ten and SEC — and he jumped up and made an interception that you just by no means put out of your mind. It used to be a type of performs the place you are saying, “How did he do that?” He used to be a fantastic participant. They worn him on offense, and he used to be out of the ordinary. There are just a handful of avid gamers that you just play games towards that actually assemble a extra in a recreation, or even fewer on protection, however he did. It’s tougher to do on protection since you don’t have the ball to your fingers, however that man did it in a bundle of various tactics.
Michigan tutor Lloyd Carr: From that time on, he used to be on everyone’s radar, if he already wasn’t. It used to be a presen recreation, and that interception used to be far and wide the highlights. All afternoon and all night time, they had been replaying that play games. From that time on, he simply picked up momentum.
Woodson: I had began to realize some momentum so far as crowd pronouncing I used to be within the working and there used to be some buzz round me, however I believe the one-handed catch towards Michigan Circumstance used to be the time when crowd in any case made up our minds I used to be a significant candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
ABC broadcaster Keith Jackson: It looked like each and every recreation Woodson used to be doing one thing other to backup Michigan win, and it used to be generally in impressive type, similar to that interception. The sport used to be converting, and I believe crowd learned his brilliance and weren’t afraid to do one thing out of the norm — and that’s balloting for a defensive participant. However he used to be greater than only a defensive participant. He used to be essentially the most impactful participant in school soccer, and that’s why I voted for him.
Woodson makes his ultimate argument
Manning bounced again upcoming the Florida loss, because the Vols ripped off 9 directly wins, together with a 30-29 comeback victory over Auburn within the SEC name recreation. Manning used to be named MVP of the sport upcoming throwing 4 landing passes.
However successful the Heisman Trophy is ready huge performances on huge levels, and there used to be none larger than when Deny. 4 Ohio Circumstance traveled to Deny. 1 Michigan on Nov. 22 to proceed their epic contention. Woodson used to be impressive within the Wolverines’ 20-14 win, putting in place their simplest offensive landing with a 37-yard catch in the second one quarter. He scored their moment landing on a 78-yard punt go back in the second one quarter. And within the 3rd quarter, Woodson intercepted an Ohio Circumstance cross finally zone. Keith Jackson mentioned he may no longer recall a larger recreation being performed.
Carr: The ones are performs crowd don’t put out of your mind. And for us, that put us able the place we had a anticipation to play games for the nationwide championship. He began the season robust, however completed it even more potent. I will’t believe anyone doing extra or which means extra to his staff, and doing it persistently on the largest moments the way in which Charles did. And I believe that’s why he received the Heisman Trophy that while, and clearly a bundle of crowd trust me.
Tennessee tutor Phillip Fulmer: I believed it had perhaps long gone from a lock to a better race as a result of Woodson had a huge recreation towards Ohio Circumstance and returned a kick and stuck a landing cross. I knew it may well be similar, however didn’t wish to assume so. However what do I learn about that global?
Brian Griese: Then that recreation, I didn’t have any dubiousness that he used to be the most efficient participant within the nation. Peyton had the larger title, however Charles used to be the simpler participant while you take a look at what he supposed to that nationwide championship staff and all he did in each and every section of the sport.
The Heisman finalists
Era it used to be cloudless the trophy used to be going to return right down to Woodson and Manning, the alternative finalists had been impressive in their very own proper. Moss, in his simplest season towards FBS pageant, i’m ready an FBS file with 26 landing catches in 1997 and stuck a minimum of one landing cross in each and every recreation. His landing catches averaged a staggering 35.3 yards. Leaf, in the meantime, threw for three,968 yards and 34 touchdowns generation important Washington Circumstance to the Rose Bowl. However neither Moss nor Leaf ever severely regarded as the Heisman Trophy real looking.
Pennington: We’d simply chortle as a result of we knew how excellent he used to be and how much participant he used to be and would snigger on the alternative groups that may no longer consider what they had been vision on movie. Each and every date he used to be doing one thing to end up them flawed. I simply assume crowd couldn’t wrap their minds round the truth that he used to be lofty. He used to be rapid. He had cushy fingers. He ran excellent routes. They couldn’t wrap their mind round the truth that there actually wasn’t a condition. However when they were given into the sport, they had been confirmed flawed each and every future.
Moss: I by no means actually put the Heisman Trophy and successful it in my head as a result of I remembered a working again through the title of [Iowa State’s] Troy Davis, who had back-to-back 2,000 backyard seasons, and he didn’t win it and he must have received it through a landslide. Realizing that I got here from a smaller faculty and understanding that larger colleges similar to Tennessee and similar to Michigan submit extra money for the ones guys to be [promoted] is what I needed to perceive, and it didn’t pull me lengthy to grasp.
Ryan Leaf: For no matter reason why, enjoying at Washington Circumstance, you simply didn’t essentially see the ones guys as your friends. It used to be extra that you just regarded as much as them, so it used to be lovely wonderful to be in a room with Randy Moss, Charles Woodson and Peyton Manning. I believed that used to be lovely cool. Hell, that entire while I used to be strolling round campus rocking a Danny Wuerffel jersey, and he’d received it the while prior to. I knew I wasn’t moving to win and used to be there to experience myself and be a excellent consultant of Washington Circumstance, which used to be insane.
Manning’s time, Moss’ sun shades and Michigan’s amaze
In spite of Woodson’s efficiency towards Ohio Circumstance, everybody — together with Woodson and his teammates — concept Manning used to be moving to win the award.
Michigan S Marcus Ray: [Charles] didn’t assume he used to be moving to win. He actually didn’t. I be mindful Ryan Leaf used to be speaking all insane and pronouncing that Peyton had all of it sewed up. Upcoming Randy walks in and mentioned, “None of us is going to win, so we might as well get through this ceremony, hang out tonight and tear it up in New York City.” … It used to be virtually just like the losers had been getting in combination prior to the rite to console one any other prior to Peyton walked in.
Leaf: To this presen, it’s the most efficient factor I ever were given to do with the soccer famous person section, to pull my dad to the Heisman Trophy rite, and he met all his used heroes. We confirmed again up on the Downtown Athletic Membership at 2 or 3 within the morning, and the entire former winners had been across the piano making a song songs, and he used to be proper in the course of them. John Leaf used to be taking all of it in. That used to be most likely the fondest reminiscence I ever had related to soccer.
Moss: A bundle of crowd, their first preliminary reaction [to my sunglasses], roughly rubbed me flawed. I believe a bundle of crowd noticed the ones glasses as though I used to be top on marijuana or top on some form of drug. It used to be in reality the overall reverse. I’d by no means been on a degree like that, by no means been in entrance of crowd, by no means been on nationwide tv with out a helmet or shoulder pads on. That used to be my first future being in entrance of top-notch athletes, guys in professional leagues and guys who’ve Corridor of Reputation jackets. Me having the ones glasses on used to be a little of anxiety, a little of humility. I will be mindful my mother asking me as we were given off the elevator, “Randy, are you going to take those glasses off?” I informed her, “No, mom. I’m scared.” She in reality grabbed my hand and shook it and gave me a hug. However I used to be nonetheless worried, guy. I assumption it comes with being from a tiny the city and no longer actually going a bundle of parks and assembly a bundle of crowd, and there I used to be in Unutilized York Town on the Heisman Trophy presentation.
Woodson: It’s one of the vital biggest moments of my time. As a person, you need to get up out. Even if it’s a staff recreation, you need to be so excellent at what you do this you get up out a few of the extra, whether or not it’s your staff, your convention or the rustic. You need to be identified as one of the vital very best. So for me to win the Heisman, particularly with quarterbacks and vast receivers the numbers they submit, it’s unquestionably particular. It ranks up there lovely top. I may by no means put it over a championship as a result of championships are team-oriented. As a certified athlete or school athlete, the latter function is to win all of it, and I used to be in a position to try this on the school degree and within the NFL. The ones are my summit moments, however proper up below that will be the Heisman Trophy.
Teague: We had been well-stocked, food- and drink-wise [back at Tennessee]. It by no means crossed my thoughts, no longer for one moment, that he wasn’t moving to win. We had been simply there to observe him get it. It used to be a birthday celebration. When it went ailing, it used to be only a surprised quiet. A couple of guys stood up and threw one thing. However, actually, it used to be simply roughly calm.
Ray: Peyton stayed round and congratulated Charles and didn’t proceed away like a sore loser. You need to inform his emotions had been harm and may inform how a lot he sought after to win for the Tennessee enthusiasts. I believe he felt like he allow them to ailing. He wasn’t insane at Charles. He simply sought after in order it house to Tennessee.
Manning: My sadness used to be for the College of Tennessee. That’s who I harm for, the entire superb enthusiasts and the entire superb crowd there. Tennessee hasn’t ever had a Heisman winner, however 4 second-place finishers– Hank Lauricella, Johnny Majors, Heath Shuler and myself. I actually sought after to win it for my faculty, so I used to be disenchanted for that.
The ‘Heistman’ and an issue that received’t die
Tennessee enthusiasts nonetheless the following the Heisman because the “Heistman.” Excellent good fortune convincing them that the fitting man received the award in 1997. Upcoming once more, don’t inform that to Michigan enthusiasts or any of Woodson’s teammates, who say he used to be simply the most efficient participant within the nation that while.
Teague: The principle factor I pay attention from crowd at Tennessee is they by no means cared for the Heisman from that time ahead as a result of they really feel love it misplaced a few of its luster. However Peyton hasn’t ever been one to whinge or assemble an mercy or discuss one thing like that.
Griese: I don’t know how Tennessee enthusiasts get insane. For those who supervise Charles’ occupation within the NFL, there’s disagree method you’ll be able to abandon his skill and what he’s long gone directly to do — and he had a greater while that while. I believe a bundle of crowd concept Peyton must get the award for the lot of his years, however it doesn’t paintings that method.
Teague: Brian nonetheless can’t see during the maize and blue and be purpose on that matter. [Teague and Griese were teammates on the Broncos.] Brian’s a superb man, however he’s blinded through that unpleasant helmet.
Manning: I don’t have any regrets, nor do I consider it a lot. I perceive the importance of it being two decades next and what the avid gamers in that elegance went directly to do. I used to be disenchanted for my faculty. I will’t discuss for a way the entire enthusiasts really feel. Clearly, Tennessee has superb enthusiasts, and so they’ve all the time supported me. I admire them for that and all the time will. That’s one thing I’ve all the time felt, their aid.
Carr: I will’t run into anyone from Tennessee that some time it doesn’t arise. That’s what makes school soccer so superb. So I am getting the truth that Tennessee enthusiasts are nonetheless disenchanted. Crowd far and wide the rustic recognize Peyton Manning, and as that ’97 season went on, you needed to actually be anyone particular as a participant to also be within the Heisman dialog. However Charles used to be no longer just a superb participant, however a superb chief. It used to be a superb privilege to tutor him. What he did as a defensive participant in successful the Heisman Trophy took one thing particular, particularly to win it over a participant the caliber of Peyton.
Spurrier: I used to be up there that night time all of it transpired, and naturally, I voted for Peyton. Everyone knows he must have received it. It used to be a trauma to all folks within the South. Heck, I don’t blame Tennessee crowd for being insane.
Ray: Perhaps Peyton did deserve it simply up to Charles did, however it’s an award you’ll be able to’t percentage. They gave Nebraska a part of our nationwide name that while. Blame Phillip Fulmer and blame the staff for no longer being undefeated and shedding to Florida all the ones years in a row. Don’t blame Charles. In the event that they beat Florida that while, Peyton Manning wins the Heisman. I don’t help what Charles Woodson does.
Teague: A bundle of instances, in case you step again from one thing and provides it at some time, you’ll be able to higher review it than you’ll be able to on the future while you’re so emotional. However I think precisely the similar method two decades next about that entire trade in as I did in ’97. There used to be a landslide towards Peyton. Some issues took place. A storyline used to be created, and it simply roughly took off. The concept procedure at the back of anyone successful it from out of doors the field and it being other than what had took place within the while wasn’t flawed. It’s simply that that specific while Peyton used to be the most efficient participant within the nation through an extended shot.
Fulmer: I believe everyone that felt like Peyton must have received it appears to be like on the Heisman otherwise, however that occurs someplace each and every while. That simply took place to be a while that we had one of the vital very best quarterbacks to ever play games the sport. I nonetheless assume he used to be the most efficient participant and all the time will, and that’s what I must assume.
Griese: Indisputably maximum crowd across the school soccer global concept the Heisman used to be Peyton’s to lose, however I don’t assume Peyton misplaced it, to be fair with you. He had a superb while. Now, they were given blown out through Nebraska [in the Orange Bowl], which used to be of disagree backup to our nationwide championship reason. I remind him of that each and every future I see him. However I actually don’t assume Peyton misplaced it. Charles took it from him.
