Oklahoma's Bradford captures 74th Heisman Trophy

Dec 14, 2008 - 4:47 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Sam Bradford has taken two out of three from Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. Now, that he has the Heisman Trophy, the Slingin' Sooner looks to go two-for-two against Tim Tebow and Florida.

Bradford, the redshirt sophomore quarterback, won the 74th annual Heisman Trophy on Saturday.

The redshirt sophomore claimed 1,726 votes to beat out McCoy (1,604), who finished second, and defending Heisman winner Tebow (1,575), who finished third.

"It's an individual award, but I feel I am accepting it on behalf of my teammates," Bradford said. "I wish my teammates were here to accept the award with me."

Tebow had the most first- and third-place votes, while Bradford had the most second-place ballots. Tebow's finish marks just the second year when the third-place finisher garnered the most first-place votes. Oklahoma's Tom McDonald had the most first-place votes in 1956 and finished third behind the winner Notre Dame's Paul Hornung and Tennessee's Johnny Majors.

Tebow's 309 first-place votes were the most by a third-place finisher.

Bradford became the second sophomore in a row to win the Heisman. Tebow became the first sophomore to earn the honor last year.

The Oklahoma quarterback captured the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Far West regions. McCoy won the Midwest and Tebow claimed the South. The only closer margin between first and third place came in 2001 when Nebraska's Eric Crouch topped Rex Grossman of Florida and Ken Dorsey of Miami.

While Tebow has become accustomed to the hype surrounding the Heisman, the staggering media attention is somewhat new to Bradford, who assaulted Oklahoma's record book by quarterbacking the most prolific offense in major college football history.

In fact, Bradford led the FBS with 48 touchdown passes while throwing for more than 4,464 yards - both single-season school records.

Bradford strengthened his Heisman candidacy last Saturday when, despite playing with torn ligaments in his non-throwing hand, he completed 34-of-49 passes for 384 yards and two touchdowns in a 62-21 rout of Missouri in the Big 12 title game.

It marked an NCAA-record fifth straight game that Oklahoma (12-1) scored at least 60 points. The Sooners also set a Football Bowl Subdivision record by finishing this season with a whopping 702 total points.

"I was definitely surprised," said Bradford, who joins Billy Vessels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978) and Jason White (2003) as Sooner winners of the Heisman. "I think it will take a couple weeks for it to sink in."

Coincidentally, Bradford had a cast on his left hand after having surgery earlier this week. When Tebow accepted his honor in 2007 he, too, had a hand in a cast.

"I can't wait to get this off," Bradford said about the cast. "I wish they'd cut it off tonight."

Bradford acknowledged how fast he had come in a short time.

"If you would have told me this two years ago," he said. "I would have told you there was no chance this would happen."

Next up for Bradford and Oklahoma is a January 8 date with Tebow and Florida in the BCS Championship.

"As a team we didn't set out to win the Heisman," he said, "we set out to win the national championship. I don't see how we can overlook that."

The overall statistics for McCoy, who recently announced that he would return to Texas (11-1) for his senior season in 2009, were not quite as eye-popping as the numbers produced by Bradford.

McCoy threw for 3,445 yards and 32 touchdowns. However, he completed 77.6 percent of his passes and also was the Longhorns' leading rusher with 576 yards and 10 TDs.

"Now I know what it's like for those people on 'American Idol,' " McCoy said. "My heart was pounding. What a great experience."

Texas was beaten out by Oklahoma for a spot in the Big 12 title game despite handing the Sooners their only loss, a 45-35 defeat in the annual Red River Rivalry game.

"I can say this without question, (McCoy) has done more for our team running and throwing than any other quarterback has done for their team this year," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "I don't think there's any doubt we would not be in this position today if it wasn't for him. He means to this team what Vince Young meant to the one in 2005."

Tebow, Florida's all-everything quarterback, was looking to join Ohio State running back Archie Griffin as a two-time winner of the award. Griffin won the Heisman in consecutive years in 1974 and 1975.

"It's a great honor to (be named as a Heisman finalist) again," Tebow said. "Winning it changed people's perspective of me. All your life, you're known as a Heisman winner."

Since the inaugural Heisman was presented to Chicago quarterback Jay Berwanger in 1935, the first 71 winners of the famed trophy were either seniors or juniors.

But Tebow broke that trend last year after becoming the first player in major college history to pass for 20 touchdowns (29) and rush for 20 scores (22) in the same season.

Although his statistics have been slightly less impressive this season, Tebow quarterbacked the Gators (12-1) to the SEC title and a berth in the BCS championship game in what will be a showdown against Bradford and the top-ranked Sooners.

"It's a tremendous honor for Tim to be invited back to the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City," Florida head coach Urban Meyer said. "This is a great achievement and a reward for the fantastic season he has had in leading his teammates to the Southeastern Conference title and a berth in the BCS national championship game."

Tebow passed for 2,515 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 564 yards and 12 scores this season.

"You lose, you lose," Tebow said of his third-place finish.