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The Heisman Trophy Web site goes into the history of the venerable football honor, established in 1935 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Manhattan. The site explains that “while the task of designating the most outstanding college football player was daunting, a crucial decision was the group of individuals chosen to select him. It was determined that a logical choice was sports journalists from all across the country who, as informed, competent and impartial, would comprise the group of electors.”
The coverage leading up to the announcement was no different. In a December 8 piece Russo recalled that O.J. Simpson in 1968 won the most lopsided victory ever, “receiving 1,750 points more than the runner-up, Purdue running back Leroy Keyes. Then there were 1,200 Heisman voters. The number of voters decreased to 923 in 1988, so simple mathematics makes it difficult for anyone to touch that mark.” Somewhere in there Russo could have said who those voters were — but he didn’t. The next day the Web offered a derisive column by Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News. Despite Lincicome’s disrespect, he honored the code of silence. “With minimal competition, and an undefeated team around him,” Lincicome wrote carefully, “Smith tied the hands of every Heisman voter by being the most prominent player on the most prominent team, though there is nothing in the voting instructions that mentions being prominent. In fact, the trouble with the Heisman is there are no real rules, no bylaws, no specific qualifications other than, and I am quoting from instructions on the ballot, (1) sign it (2) mail it (3) let the Downtown Athletic Club know if you have not received the first two instructions.“
