The Daily Universe celebrates 50 years

By April Lowry

SALT LAKE CITY – Many have come close, but none of the six BYU quarterbacks who were candidates to win the top honor in college football brought the trophy to Provo – until TY.

Saturday just before 5 p.m. MST the announcement came form the Downtown Athletic club in New York City, naming Cougar quarterback Ty Detmer as the 1990 recipient of the Heisman Trophy. The trophy no western Athletic player has ever owned.

Detmer and the Cougars watched the news live via satellite in Honolulu while awaiting the season finale against the University of Hawaii. Detmer said that just seconds before the announcement, "not much was going through my mind, but a lot was going through my stomach. There was a lot of tension, a lot of suspense – it's good to get it over with.

"The tough loss (against Hawaii later that evening) and long flight home take away from the excitement some, but next week we'll have some time off, and I'm sure it'll start sinking in," Detmer said.

At the time of the announcement, Detmer exclaimed, "We got it!" His reference to the honor being captured by "we" not "me" is a sign of what Coach LaVell Edwards said is, "very typical for this young man. Ty is an unselfish, great performer and leader."

Detmer said, "I can't do anything without protection from the line, I don't gain the yardage after I get rid of the ball, and the defense gets us the ball – it's been a team effort."

Both Detmer and Edwards said the former quarterbacks laid the ground work for Detmer receiving the honor. Detmer's father and high school football coach, Sonny, also reacted to the award with an unselfish attitude, "It's really a 'fan, school, team and the-other-great-quarterbacks-who-were-there' trophy. We don't look at Ty as the greatest thing that's hit football. But when Ty came around, it (the Heisman) was ready to come to BYU."

Detmer's family was in Kingsville, Texas for the state quarter-finals of Coach Detmer's high school team. A live television hookup exhibited the family's display of emotion following the announcement.

What was billed as one of the closest races in Heisman history came out to be a 305 point triumph for the junior from San Antonio. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Notre Dame's running back finished second to Detmer's 1,782 points with his 1,1777.

Detmer said, "I was a little bit surprised because we've heard all week about how close it was. There was a wider margin than most people thought."

Detmer broke 29 NCAA records and tied five during the season, statistics which could have contributed to all the six regions voting Detmer as the No. 1 college football player of the year. The Cougar quarterback was chosen by 47 former winners of the trophy and 870 sports journalists, who submitted their ballots for their choices first through third.

Byu players played in the top 10 in the voting nine times in the last 17 years. The tenth time brought the honor to the team, the program and the school. Steve Young, currently with the San Francisco '49ers, came the closest to capturing the trophy in 1983 when he gained 1,172 points in the polling placing second to Mike Rozier.

Robbie Bosco, currently an offensive assistant for the Cougars, placed only third in the Heisman voting when he quarterbacked BYU to a national championship his junior year. He said, "There is no question Ty deserved it, he was the best player this year."

Bosco said Detmer's accomplishment shows that the award can be won by any player – even a player from the West.

Detmer is not expecting his life to be much different since the announcement. "it will keep me a lot busier this week, but I don't think it will change a while lot," Detmer said.

The trophy winner appeared on the ABC show "Good Morning America" early today and will be honored at a ceremony at 4 p.m. in the parking lot south of Cougar Stadium. BYUSA is sponsoring a bonfire dance and pep rally immediately after the ceremony.



Copyright Brigham Young University 8 Dec 2005