Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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December 3,1980 USC's George Rogers college football's best by Richard Meyers The Gamecock USC’s George Rogers received college football’s highest individual honor when he was named the 46th Heisman Trophy recipient Monday at New York’s Downtown Athletic Club. Rogers, a 6-foot 2-inch, 220 pound senior tailback from Duluth, Ga., and the nation’s leading rusher, won the award by a wide margin over Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green and Georgia freshman tail back Herschel Walker. “I’m kind of surprised I won it,” Rogers said. “I thought I had a real good season, but we lost three games, and I thought that might be my downfall. Usually the Heisman Trophy goes to a team with a better record.” Rogers, the fourth-leading rush er in NCAA history, received 216 first-place vote* for 1,128 points. Green received 861 points, including 179 first-place votes. Walker received 683 points and 107 first-place votes. Rogers got njore votes than any other candidate in four of the six voting regions: the Mid-Atlantic, South, Southwest, a'nd Far West. Green took the Northeast, and fourth place Mark Herrmann won the Midwest. Kogers is me iourm piayer irom a Southeastern university to win the Heisman. The last was Pat Sullivan of Auburn, who won the award in 1971. “The main thing on my mind all season was winning (games),” Rogers said. “I wasn’t thinking aoout tne Heisman tropny. i just tried to play as hard as I could. There was a lot of pressure, and I’m glad it’s over.” USC head football coach Jim Carlen said Rogers’ consistency helped him win the award. 1 think it was his ability to gain over 100 yards for 21 straight weeks,” Carlen said. “He’s been very consistent, and he deserves it. It’s just that sim ple.” As a freshman fullback for the Gamecocks in 1977, Rogers gained 623 yards. In 1978 he rushed for 1,006 yards. That year Rogers teamed with tailback Johnnie Wright, who rushed for 903 yards, to give Carolina one of the most productive backfields in the coun try. Carlen moved Rogers- to tail back in 1979 after a knee injury sidelined Wright for the year. Rogers rushed for 1,681 yards his junior year, second in the country, and placed seventh in the Heisman voting. Rogers has rushed for more than 100 yards in 26 games at USC. The first USC player to have his jersey number retired while he was still on the team, he gained 1,781 yards for a 6-yard per-carry average this year. He scored 14 touchdowns to lead USC to its second consecutive 8-3 season. A crowd of about 10,000 greet ed Rogers about 9 p.m. Monday at Columbia Metropolitan Airport as he returned from New York. “This is one of the most emo tional moments in my life,”, he said. “I’ve been so happy being around so many good people in Columbia and fans.” The Heisman Trophy was named in honor of Jo'hn William Heisman, who coached at 10 schools during his 35-year career and was the first athletic director of the Downtown Athletic Club. The 24-inch bronze trophy is on permanent display in the athletic club’s lobby. Two smaller replicas will go to Rogers and to USC Rogers will receive the trophy Dec. 11 at the New York Hilton. John Parnell The Gamecock Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers speaks to a crowd of Gamecock fans at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport after winning the Heisman Trophy.