About the Heisman and Cam Newton

ABOUT THE HEISMAN TROPHY

First awarded: In 1935 to Chicago running back Jay Berwanger, who also was the first player drafted by the NFL. He never played professional football, becoming instead a sportswriter and car part manufacturer.

Name: Originally it was called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy. It was renamed the Heisman following the death of legendary coach John Heisman in 1936. Heisman, known for his offensive innovation, coached at eight schools, most notably at Georgia Tech (1904-1919), where he won a national championship and went unbeaten four times.

Heisman's view of the award: Serving as the Downtown Athletic Club's director of athletics before his death, Heisman objected to the idea of anointing one player as the best in the country. Wrote his biographer, Wiley Lee Umphlett, explaining Heisman's view: "How could one player be singled out as better than his peers? How could an offensive specialist be looked upon as more valuable than a defensive man? How could a halfback be more essential than a lineman who made it possible for the back to gain yardage?"

Dimensions of the trophy: 14 inches long, 13 1/2 inches high, 6 1/2 inches wide. Weighs 25 pounds.

Distribution: One trophy is given to the winner and one to the winner's university.

Schools with most Heisman winners: Notre Dame and Ohio State each have seven. Next best is Southern Cal with six.

Only two-time winner: Archie Griffin, Ohio State (1974-75).

Previous Auburn Heisman winners: Quarterback Pat Sullivan (1971) and running back Bo Jackson (1985).

CAM NEWTON’S HEISMAN SEASON

• Led Auburn (13-0) to SEC championship and its first BCS championship game. The Tigers play Oregon Jan. 10, seeking Auburn's first national championship since 1957.

• Has thrown for 28 touchdowns, ran for 20 more. Became only the second player in FBS (formerly Division 1-A) to have at least 20 TDs passing and rushing in a single season. The other was Florida's Tim Tebow in 2007 (32 and 23).