Palmer Coasts to Trophy

Carson Palmer gazed upon the stage at the Yale Club on Saturday night and saw a gathering of former Heisman Trophy winners that included Mike Garrett, the first of four USC players to win the award.

Just as this year’s announcement ceremony was about to begin, Palmer received a good-luck phone call from Marcus Allen, the last Trojan winner.

Not long after, history came to pass.

Palmer straight-armed tradition and won the 68th Heisman Trophy, the first Trojan quarterback to be recognized as college football’s most outstanding player.

“You never think it can happen to you,” he said.

Palmer, who passed for 3,639 yards and 32 touchdowns this season, outdistanced Iowa quarterback Brad Banks, Penn State running back Larry Johnson, Miami running back Willis McGahee and Hurricane quarterback Ken Dorsey to become the first Heisman winner from a West Coast school since Allen in 1981.

“It’s about time we got a quarterback,” said a giddy Garrett, USC’s athletic director.

USC Coach Pete Carroll nervously watched the announcement on television from his home after overseeing practice earlier in the day.

Carroll, who guided the Trojans to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Orange Bowl against Iowa on Jan. 2, said Palmer achieved the pinnacle this season with help from offensive coordinator Norm Chow, quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian and his teammates.

“It’s a great reward for a great season for everyone who was involved,” said Carroll, who will arrive in New York today and attend Monday’s formal presentation dinner.

Palmer, who has passed for 11,515 yards in his career, said Carroll and Chow helped him learn “how to be a man. How to be a leader.” He also thanked his teammates, who helped him put together USC’s best season since 1988.

“I couldn’t be more honored to take this trophy back to share with my teammates in Los Angeles,” he said. “This award is every bit theirs as mine.”

Palmer’s performance against the toughest schedule in the nation and his showcase effort in the regular-season finale against Notre Dame were enough to sway Heisman voters in six regions across the country.

It was supposed to be one of the closest votes in Heisman history, but like many of the victories that Palmer engineered during a season-ending seven game winning streak, it turned into a rout.

Palmer’s name appeared on 620 of a potential 921 ballots. He received the most first, second and third-place votes to total 1,328 points. Banks, who will play against Palmer in the Orange Bowl, totaled 1,095. The 233 differential was not even close to the 10 tightest races in Heisman history.

Palmer won five of the six regions, losing only the Midwest region to Banks.

“A lot of people have talked about the East Coast bias,” Palmer said. “I think this kind of answers that.”

Palmer said he benefited from a lack of preseason Heisman hype that seemed to hurt Dorsey, who finished fifth in Heisman voting this year after placing third last year. Dorsey is 38-1 as a starter and has the Hurricanes on the verge of their second consecutive national title.

“I made lots of mistakes early,” Palmer said. “Luckily they weren’t all on national TV.”

Palmer, however, was at his best when the national spotlight was on the Trojans. And he owes a debt of gratitude to Notre Dame.

Without the Fighting Irish, and his nationally televised, prime-time torching of their vaunted secondary, Palmer might not have overcome Banks or Johnson, who became only the ninth Division I-A player to rush for more than 2,000 yards.

Palmer finished a brilliant regular season by passing for 425 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-13 rout of Notre Dame, which was ranked second in the nation in pass-efficiency defense. It was the most passing yards and most touchdowns ever against the Fighting Irish.

“We were fortunate to be in that game and have the national attention we did around that game,” Palmer said. “I think that might have been what put [me] over the top.”

Palmer’s road to the top was hardly smooth.

He played for two head coaches and three offensive coordinators after he arrived at USC from Santa Margarita High in 1998.

Under first-year coach Paul Hackett, Palmer shared time with Mike Van Raaphorst during the first eight games of his freshman season, then became only the second player in school history to start as a true freshman. He finished the season with 1,755 passing yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions and appeared primed for a big sophomore season.

Palmer, however, suffered a broken collarbone in the third game against Oregon and was sidelined the rest of the 1999 season.

In 2000, Palmer passed for 2,914 yards, but he had more interceptions (18) than touchdown passes (16). The Trojans completed the season with a loss to Notre Dame, and Hackett was replaced by Carroll, who promptly hired Chow.

Last season, Palmer passed for 2,717 yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions as the Trojans overcame a 1-4 start to finish 6-6.

When he appeared on the cover of several regional publications before this season, he dismissed the publicity as unwarranted.

“A lot of that stuff about me is false -- the Golden Boy, Golden Arm ... I haven’t done anything yet. I haven’t won any big games,” he said.

Palmer was instrumental in the Trojans’ season-opening victory over Auburn and also played well against Colorado.

Winning the Heisman in Manhattan on Saturday was a bit ironic because his splendid season could have been derailed Sept. 21 in Manhattan, Kan., when USC lost to Kansas State, 27-20.

Palmer completed only 18 of 47 passes for 186 yards that day as Trojan receivers dropped eight passes.

Two games later, Palmer took a critical sack in overtime against Washington State and the Trojans lost, 30-27.

But that was the last time Palmer and the Trojans struggled.

Palmer passed for 2,006 yards and 23 touchdowns in the final six games.

Chow, who coached 1990 Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer at Brigham Young, said there was no secret to Palmer’s success this season.

“Just hard work,” said Chow, who also will fly in for Monday’s dinner. “He realized what it was going to take. He was always a young man that wanted to do well. The guys gave him confidence, they voted him captain and they started playing well.

“It steamrolled into a pretty good thing.”

Palmer joins a Heisman club that includes 67 previous winners and an even more exclusive fraternity of USC players who won the award.

Garrett said USC officials would be clearing space in Heritage Hall to make way for Palmer’s Heisman Trophy and No. 3 jersey. They will be displayed with those of 1965 winner Garrett, 1968 winner O.J. Simpson, 1979 winner Charles White and 1981 winner Allen.

“It’s Tailback U, it will always be Tailback U,” Palmer said.

But a pretty good quarterback passed through.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

THIS YEAR’S WINNER CARSON PALMER

Quarterback, USC

Height: 6-6. Weight: 230. Age: 22.

Born: Dec. 27, 1979 in Fresno.

Hometown: Laguna Niguel.

High School: (Santa Margarita)

* 1996-97: Led Santa Margarita to consecutive Southern Section Division V titles and set 23 school records. Completed 261 of 435 passes (60%) for 4,692 yards, 55 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Cal-Hi Sports junior all-state selection. Division V offensive co-MVP and Cal-Hi Sports first-team selection as a senior.

College:

* 1998: Only second true freshman to start at quarterback for Trojans. Completed 130 of 235 passes for 1,755 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Appeared in all 13 games.

* 1999: Started first three games and completed 14 of 16 passes against Hawaii before breaking his right collarbone two plays before halftime against Oregon and ending his season. Completed 39 of 53 passes for 490 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

* 2000: After getting a redshirt season in 1999, had one of the best sophomore seasons for a Trojan quarterback. Completed 228 of 415 passes for 2,914 yards, 16 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Passed for 350 yards in 38-35 victory over UCLA.

* 2001: Started all 12 games and led Pacific 10 Conference in completion percentage (58.6%). Completed 221 of 377 passes for 2,717 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Passed for 411 yards in 24-22 loss to Oregon.

2002: Became Pac-10’s all-time leading passer (11,515 yards) and set school record with 448 yards passing against Oregon. Holds school record for career touchdowns (71). Has completed 288 of 458 passes for 3,639 yards, 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s best senior quarterback. Was named Pac-10’s offensive co-player of the year (along with Washington State’s Jason Gesser ).

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BREAKDOWN

*--* Universities with more than one Heisman Trophy winner: School No Recent winner Notre Dame 7 Tim Brown, 1987 Ohio State 6 Eddie George, 1995 USC 5 Carson Palmer, 2002 Nebraska 3 Eric Crouch, 2001 Army 3 Pete Dawkins, 1958 Michigan 3 Charles Woodson, 1997 Oklahoma 3 Billy Sims, 1978 Auburn 2 Bo Jackson, 1985 Florida 2 Danny Wuerffel, 1996 Florida State 2 Chris Weinke, 2000 Georgia 2 Herschel Walker, 1982 Miami 2 Gino Torretta, 1992 Navy 2 Roger Staubach, 1963 Texas 2 Ricky Williams, 1998 Wisconsin 2 Ron Dayne, 1999 Yale 2 Clint Frank, 1937

*--*

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PREVIOUS WINNERS

*--* Year Player School Pos 2001 Eric Crouch Nebraska QB 2000 Chris Weinke Florida St QB 1999 Ron Dayne Wisconsin RB 1998 Ricky Williams Texas RB 1997 Charles Woodson Michigan CB 1996 Danny Wuerffel Florida QB 1995 Eddie George Ohio St TB 1994 Rashaan Salaam Colorado RB 1993 Charlie Ward Florida State QB 1992 Gino Torretta Miami QB 1991 Desmond Howard Michigan WR 1990 Ty Detmer Brigham Young QB 1989 Andre Ware Houston QB 1988 Barry Sanders Oklahoma State RB 1987 Tim Brown Notre Dame WR 1986 Vinny Testaverde Miami QB 1985 Bo Jackson Auburn TB 1984 Doug Flutie Boston College QB 1983 Mike Rozier Nebraska TB 1982 Herschel Walker Georgia HB 1981 Marcus Allen USC TB 1980 George Rogers South Carolina HB 1979 Charles White USC TB 1978 Billy Sims Oklahoma HB 1977 Earl Campbell Texas FB 1976 Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh HB 1975 Archie Griffin Ohio State HB 1974 Archie Griffin Ohio State HB 1973 John Cappelletti Penn State HB 1972 Johnny Rodgers Nebraska FL 1971 Pat Sullivan Auburn QB 1970 Jim Plunkett Stanford QB 1969 Steve Owens Oklahoma HB 1968 O.J. Simpson USC TB 1967 Gary Beban UCLA QB 1966 Steve Spurrier Florida QB 1965 Mike Garrett USC TB 1964 John Huarte Notre Dame QB 1963 Roger Staubach Navy QB 1962 Terry Baker Oregon State QB 1961 Ernie Davis Syracuse HB 1960 Joe Bellino Navy HB 1959 Billy Cannon LSU HB 1958 Pete Dawkins Army HB 1957 John David Crow Texas A&M; HB 1956 Paul Hornung Notre Dame QB 1955 Howard Cassady Ohio State HB 1954 Alan Ameche Wisconsin FB 1953 John Lattner Notre Dame HB 1952 Billy Vessels Oklahoma HB 1951 Dick Kazmaier Princeton HB 1950 Vic Janowicz Ohio State HB 1949 Leon Hart Notre Dame E 1948 Doak Walker SMU HB 1947 John Lujack Notre Dame QB 1946 Glenn Davis Army HB 1945 Doc Blanchard Army HB 1944 Les Horvath Ohio State QB 1943 Angelo Bertelli Notre Dame QB 1942 Frank Sinkwich Georgia HB 1941 Bruce Smith Minnesota HB 1940 Tom Harmon Michigan HB 1939 Nile Kinnick Iowa HB 1938 Davey O’Brien Texas Christian QB 1937 Clint Frank Yale HB 1936 Larry Kelley Yale E 1935 Jay Berwanger Chicago HB

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The Voting

Top-five voting for the Heisman Trophy, with first-, second- and third-place votes and total points (on 3-2-1 basis):

*--* Player 1st 2nd 3rd Tot Carson Palmer USC 242 224 154 1,328 Brad Banks Iowa 199 173 152 1,095 Larry Johnson Penn St 108 130 142 726 Willis McGahee Miami 101 118 121 660 Ken Dorsey Miami 122 89 99 643

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Regional Breakdown

Regional points breakdown of the five finalists in balloting for the 2002 Heisman Trophy:

NORTHEAST

1. Palmer...225

2. Johnson...161

3. Dorsey...149

4. Banks...122

5. McGahee...120

SOUTHWEST

1. Palmer...215

2. Banks...192

3. Johnson...112

4. Dorsey...92

5. McGahee...90

MID-ATLANTIC

1. Palmer...203

2. Johnson...164

3. Banks...151

4. Dorsey...113

5. McGahee...110

MIDWEST

1. Banks...289

2. Palmer...189

3. McGahee...106

4. Johnson...102

5. Dorsey...82

SOUTH

1. Palmer...200

2. Banks...178

3. McGahee...155

4. Dorsey...100

5. Johnson...97

FAR WEST

1. Palmer...296

2. Banks...163

3. Dorsey...107

4. Johnson...90

5. McGahee...79

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USC

1965

MIKE GARRETT

Running back

*

USC

1968

O.J. SIMPSON

Running back

*

USC

1979

CHARLES WHITE

Running back

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USC

1981

MARCUS ALLEN

Running back

*

USC

2002

CARSON PALMER

Quarterback