The BYU football team experienced a bittersweet end to its regular season Dec. 1, with quarterback Ty Detmer winning the Heisman Trophy, followed by the Cougars falling to the University of Hawaii, 59-28.
The loss ended the Cougars' season at 10-2, 7-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. Going into the Hawaii game, BYU had already clinched the WAC championship and a berth in the Holiday Bowl Dec. 29 against Texas A&M. The loss knocked No. 4-ranked nationally BYU to ninth in the UPI and 13th in the AP polls.But for many, even the disappointing defeat didn't tarnish the luster of Detmer being the first BYU player - and first from the Rocky Mountain region - to win the Heisman, presented annually by the New York Downtown Athletic Club to the person tabbed the top college football player in the country.
In the Heisman voting, conducted by sportswriters and former Heisman Trophy recipients, Detmer received 1,482 points. He was followed by Notre Dame's all-purpose phenomenon Raghib "Rocket" Ismail with 1,177, and running back Eric Bieniemy of the University of Colorado with 798.
The Heisman ballot requires voters to select three choices, with three points awarded the No. 1 selection, two to No. 2 and one to No. 3.
Detmer, his teammates and BYU coaches watched the Heisman ceremony via satellite from a Honolulu hotel. A cheer went up as the winner was announced, and Detmer received an emotional hug from the typically stoic coach LaVell Edwards.
"I don't know of anyone in the country that's more deserving," praised Edwards. "He not only put up the numbers and had a great year that way, but he's won a conference championship, and he's got his team ranked very high nationally."
Detmer said he was honored to receive the award on behalf of BYU, his coaches and teammates, and the entire state of Utah. He also paid tribute to the great quarterbacks who have preceded him at BYU, and noted that their recognition and the respect they brought to the Cougar program paved the way for his Heisman.
The unassuming 6-foot, 175-pound Methodist quarterback from Mission, Texas, is only a junior. He is the third junior in a row to win the Heisman, and the 10th underclassman to win it since the trophy was first presented in 1935.
Detmer said he will definitely return to Provo for his senior season. He has already set or tied 25 NCAA passing and total offense records. He is second on the NCAA career yardage list with 11,000 - only 425 yards behind all-time leader Todd Santos of San Diego State - and has thrown for more than 300 yards in 24 consecutive games.
This year, he set the NCAA single-season passing yardage record, throwing for 5,188 yards.
(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
BYU quarterbacks in Heisman Top 10
1990 - Ty Detmer, 1st (1,482 points)
1989 - Ty Detmer, 9th (49)
1985 - Robbie Bosco, 3rd (459)
1984 - Robbie Bosco, 3rd (443)
1983 - Steve Young, 2nd (1,172)
1981 - Jim McMahon, 3rd (706)
1980 - Jim McMahon, 5th (189)
1979 - Marc Wilson, 3rd (589)
1976 - Gifford Nielsen, 6th (45)
1974 - Gary Sheide, 8th (90)
Tribute from First Presidency
The First Presidency issued a statement congratulating Ty Detmer on receiving the Heisman Trophy:
"We are pleased that this signal honor has come to Ty Detmer. He is an outstanding player and a humble young man who always gives credit to others. This is a great honor to BYU and its entire football team."
