Have you heard of the Heisman Trophy?
Everyone knows that the Heisman Trophy is associated with football. However, the story behind this wonderful commemorative trophy is gradually fading with the passage of time. Very few of today’s young champions would be able to speak eloquently about the origin of this trophy or the man who inspired it, John W. Heisman. Born October 23, 1869, John spent his childhood in Titusville.
His love for soccer began early, when at the age of 17 he joined the Brown University soccer club. Two years later, in 1889, he left for Penn where he studied law. He continued to play football for the next three years in various capacities, including center, guard, winger and tackle.
John W. Heisman earned his law degree in 1892 with great difficulty. A lightning accident had nearly blinded him and he had to give all of his tests orally. His love of football led him to accept a coaching position at Oberlin College in 1892.
He led his team to success in all seven games that season, and this formidable performance was the first step in establishing his fame as a manager. While continuing his coaching career, he never stopped developing and researching football, which is why his team was always the top trophy winner.
His career took him to Auburn, Washington, Pennsylvania, Rice and Jefferson among others and his fame grew steadily with each passing year, along with the awards and trophies his teams won. His best and most applauded training period was with Georgia Tech in 1904-19, where he led his football team, the Golden Tornado, to an unprecedented 33-game winning streak. In 1919, he joined the University of Pennsylvania as head coach. He spent a few years between Washington and Texas before retiring from his golden career in 1927, at the age of 62.
Heisman continued to be active in football even after his retirement, albeit in a different capacity. He wrote a number of articles and also persuaded the rules committee to legalize the forward pass, which was done in 1906. In 1935, he launched the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) and instituted a cup that celebrated not the winning team but the best. college football player of the season. Jay Berwanger was the first to receive this award. In 1936, Heisman succumbed to pneumonia. The DAC trophy was renamed the Heisman trophy, as a tribute to this legend.
Heisman’s life is an example of total dedication and unwavering commitment to something he loved to do. His life revolved around soccer and the contributions he made are seen through his passion for the game. Whether he was playing the game, coaching his team to trophies and glory, or suggesting rulebook amendments, John W. Heisman was always at his best. There can be no better memorial for him than the Heisman Trophy.