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Johnny R. wins Heisman 'character' contes'
Continued from page 1
Trophy early in the season. It was only a longshot
hope. His of f-the-f ield exploits still were holding hirrt
back.
But as the season progressed, Rodgers' chances for
the Heisman brightened. Oklahoma's Greg Pruitt, the
leading candidate before the season opened, was not
enjoying a record-smashing season as he had the year
before.
It became apparent that Rodgers, statistically
speaking, was the only candidate. The Heisman
Trophy then .developed into a character contest
instead of an award for the nation's outstanding
college football player.
Rodgers received his first big boost from Dan
Jenkins of Sports Illustrated.
"For his size, which is no more than 5-9 and 173
pounds, Rodgers has to be the most devastating
player who ever suited up . . .," Jenkins wrote. "If
Johnny Rodgers is not this season's leading Heisman
Trophy candidate, then most of the voters must be
planning on writing in the name of their cousins. But
there happens to be one writer me who intends to
vote for the best football player in the country, in or
out of the courtroom, or in our out of a crowd of
tacklers, and that player happens to be Johnny
Rodgers."
But there were critics, especially on the East Coast.
Gene Ward, New York Daily News columnist who
had written that Rodgers should not be considered
because of his off-the-f ield record, wrote:
"The rule of candidacy for the Heisman Award is
limited to one word-'outstanding.' I take
'outstanding' to encompass actions on and off the
field..."
Rodgers himself became obsessed with winning the
Heisman Trophy. He couldn't understand why his
character should be questioned. He was downright
bitter at times.
"If they want to make the Heisman Trophy a
character contest then they can keep the damn
thing," Rodgers said after the Oklahoma game
Thanksgiving Day. "I don't know how people in New
York or California can say Johnny Rodgers is a bad
person.
"If they give somebody else the Heisman Trophy
and say he's a better player, then they're fibbing.
Nobody can compare with my statistics over the last
three years. But if it's got to be a character contest
and people don't think Johnny Rodgers has a good
character, then to hell with 'em."
Johnny Rodgers has changed, all right. His fight to
gain public acceptance has been a trying experience.
"I've learned just how cold-blooded life really is," he
said.
But, perhaps now he thinks it was worth it. He was
named the 1972 Heisman Trophy winner in New
York City Tuesday. ' .
"A lot of things went through my mind when I
found out I won," Rodgers said. "I really have a lot
of people to thank."
1 T
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IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON
REQUESTING ASUN FUNDING
FOR ANY PORTION OF YOUR
BUDGET, YOUR REQUEST MUST
BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER
18, 1972 TO THE ASUN
SECRETARY. FOR DETAILS ON
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS,
CONTACT THE ASUN OFFICE.
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Rodgers ... I want people to understand me.
Students interested in
officiating intramural
basketball second semester are
asked to attend an official's
clinic Saturday at 10 a.m. in
the men's physical education
building.
The Recreation and
Intramurals Office is now
accepting entries for jntramural
basketball next semester.
Entries are due Dec. 14.
Southern California was a
unanimous selection as
national collegiate football
champions by the United Press
International poll of coaches.
Oklahoma finished second and
Nebraska was ninth. The
Associated Press poll, which
conducts its final balloting
after the bowl games, also had
Nebraska ninth this week.
Iowa State football coach
Johnny Majors and Oklahoma
assistant coach Barry Switzer
will be interviewed Friday for
the head coaching post at
Michigan State.
Cimintimitite (CItaaiiinnmim souna
AssSsttsaimti; (CBnaii0iM(Biiii
o
o
TOURS
COLLEGE DAYS
REDCOATS
UNIVERSITY PROJECTION
CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY
STUDENT-FACULTY RELATIONS
AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Pick tip an application
form in Suite 345 f the Union.
The pocket
instamatic cameras
Iff fir I1 ' ? I f 1 1 i t
Ml
Cameras ihnt go xvlicrevcr
you go... to get the
pictures you want
to take!
I Kr 1
SEE OUR COMPLETE SELECTION OF NEW KODAK
INSTAMATIC CAMERAS PLUS DEPENDABLE KODAK
FILM. . . IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
DinscEt
Phot:oGraphic Inc.
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Page 12
daily nebraskan
Wednesday, december 6, 1972