In the office of Ray Priore, head coach of the football team, rests the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college sports.
The Heisman Trophy in the office of football coach Ray Priore.
This is …
The Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college sports and one of the most recognized awards in sports, in general. On Saturday, Dec. 14, the Heisman Trophy was presented to third-year cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter of the University of Colorado.
In honor of 1892 alumnus John Heisman’s illustrious career as a student-athlete and coach at Penn, the Heisman Trophy Trust presented the University with the Heisman Trophy over Homecoming Weekend in 2010, during the dedication of the new George A. Weiss Pavilion at Franklin Field. George A. Weiss, a 1965 alumnus, approached the Trust with the idea of housing a trophy at Penn.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 23, 1869, Heisman enrolled at Penn Law School in 1889 and was a member of the 1890 and 1891 varsity football teams. The 1890 team went 11-3 with wins over Penn State, Virginia, and Rutgers. The 1891 team finished 11-2. Although Heisman was only 5’8” and weighed 158 pounds, he was a letterwinner and played tackle, guard, and center.
After earning his law degree, Heisman began his coaching career. He coached at Oberlin College, Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as Auburn University), Clemson, and Georgia Tech before returning to his alma mater in 1920. He coached the Quakers until 1922 and compiled a 16-10-2 record.
On Sept. 24, 1921, Heisman led the Red & Blue to an 89-0 defeat of Delaware, the second-most points in school history (the Quakers defeated Vineland 96-0 on Nov. 15, 1886).
Following Penn, Heisman coached at Washington and Jefferson College and Rice University before retiring in 1926. He served as director of athletics at New York City’s Downtown Athletic Club until his death in 1936 at age 66.
His 1902 Clemson team finished 11-0 and won the Southern Intercollegiate Athlete Association title. At Georgia Tech from 1904-1919, he had a 102-29-7 record, including four unbeaten seasons. His .764 winning percentage is still tops in school history.
Priore says Penn’s Heisman Trophy is a great reminder of how special a place the University and its football program are, and how much they have been a part of the history of college football for more than a century.
In addition to the Heisman Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, named for 1949 alumnus Chuck Bednarik, is presented annually to college football’s top defensive player, and the Outland Trophy, named for 1900 alumnus John Outland, is awarded each year to the nation’s best collegiate interior lineman.
“When you have that history wrapped around former Penn greats, it’s pretty special,” Priore says.
For certain functions, Priore says they bring out the Heisman Trophy for people to take see, hold, and photograph.
Indubitably, someone will do the often-imitated Heisman pose.
“We’ve all done it at one point in time,” Priore says. “It’s great when folks come in, our own players and/or recruits, and they can touch a piece of football history.”
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