THE HEISMAN TROPHY : Invisible Ware Gets Hardware

Houston quarterback Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy Saturday, voted college football’s outstanding player on the merit of numerous NCAA passing records and a staunch refusal to be ignored.

Ware, a junior whose school is on probation and was not seen on television this season, was awarded the 55th trophy with the fourth-smallest margin of victory ever.

In a poll of 917 voters, made up of media representatives and former winners, Ware received 1,073 points to 1,003 for Indiana running back Anthony Thompson, who set the NCAA career record for touchdowns. Ware got 242 first-place votes to 185 for Thompson.

Ware learned of the announcement via television shortly after he led Houston to a 64-0 victory over Rice. Ware completed 36 of 51 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns, increasing his season total to an NCAA-record 4,699 yards. His 46 touchdown passes were one shy of the record set by Brigham Young’s Jim McMahon.

“Anything’s possible,” Ware said by satellite hookup. “I certainly wouldn’t have believed I could be in this position today.”

As Ware heard his name announced, he thrust his fists in the air and was mobbed by his teammates and Coach Jack Pardee. Ware had said a Heisman would make up for the fact the Cougars (10-2) cannot play in a bowl game. Ware is the first player from a school on probation and first black quarterback to win the award.

The announcement at the Downtown Athletic Club ended one of the most competitive Heisman Trophy races in memory. Eight players were invited to the ceremony, so inconclusive was the season-long chase. Quarterback Major Harris of West Virginia finished a distant third with 709 points, and Notre Dame quarterback Tony Rice was fourth (523). A candidate received three points for a first-place vote, two for second and one for third.

“Andre had a sensational year and the statistics to show for it,” Thompson said. “I’m not disappointed at all.”

Ware’s concluding performance gave him virtually every NCAA passing record, except for touchdown passes. Operating out of Houston’s prolific run-and-shoot offense, he amassed his statistics in 12 games, but sat out eight quarters because the Cougars were often so far ahead.

He broke McMahon’s marks for completions, yards passing and total offense in a season. He begged comparison with last year’s Heisman winner, Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State, the relatively obscure running back who also shattered NCAA records and has gone on to be one of the NFL’s top rushers.

Ware called his award proof that coaches and teams were wrong in discouraging him from playing quarterback when he was recruited out of Dickinson, Tex. Ware was most heavily courted by Texas, but the Longhorns wanted to make him a defensive back.

“This is the only way to prove it,” he said. “A lot of kids get stereotyped. It just shows that there are a lot who are overlooked.”

Ware’s mother, Joyce, a postal worker in Dickinson, accepted the award for her son. His father died of pneumonia when Ware was 11.

The other invitees were Dee Dowis of Air Force, Darian Hagan of Colorado, and running backs Emmitt Smith of Florida and Blair Thomas of Penn State. Smith also did not attend the ceremony, playing a game against Florida State.

Ware overcame several obstacles to win the trophy. Not appearing on national television, usually a prerequisite for a Heisman winner, was probably the largest. Some voters were hesitant to support an athlete at a school under NCAA sanctions, even though Houston’s violations did not involve Ware. Of the 743 ballots returned to the club, 246 did not mention Ware. “I want to thank my teammates for playing their hearts out and not giving up,” Ware said. “We overcame a lot. I accept this award for my teammates and the University of Houston.”

Ware, the ninth junior to win the award, has said winning the Heisman will not dissuade him from returning to Houston for his senior season and a degree in business.

HEISMAN FACTS: Page 18

VOTING

PLAYER TEAM 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL Andre Ware Houston 242 132 83 1,073 Anthony Thompson Indiana 185 170 108 1,003 Major Harris West Virginia 115 115 134 709 Tony Rice Notre Dame 72 101 105 523 Darian Hagan Colorado 52 42 52 292 Dee Dowis Air Force 15 31 38 145 Emmitt Smith Florida 13 29 43 140 Perry Snow Michigan St. 7 15 19 70 Ty Detmer BYU 3 13 14 49 Raghib Ismail Notre Dame 3 11 17 48 Blair Thomas Penn State 4 12 12 48

VOTING BY REGION

REGION 1 2 3 4 5 NORTHEAST Ware Thompson Harris Rice Hagan MID-ATLANTIC Harris Ware Thompson Rice Hagan SOUTH Ware Thompson Harris Rice Hagan SOUTHWEST Ware Thompson Hagan Harris Rice MIDWEST Thompson Ware Rice Harris Hagan FAR WEST Thompson Ware Rice Harris Hagan