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Auburn junior quarterback Cam Newton collected the 76th Heisman Trophy on Saturday night at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square.
And he expects to keep it.
Newton, who was ineligible for a day this year because of his father’s actions, was asked if he had any concern that he would have to return his Heisman, like 2005 winner Reggie Bush.
“Two letters for you, my friend,” Newton replied. “No.”
Newton won the 2010 Heisman in a landslide — earning 729 of the 926 first-place votes, the third-highest percentage in history. His percentage likely would have been much higher but he was omitted from 105 ballots, almost certainly in protest over his eligibility issue.
Boise State junior quarterback Kellen Moore finished fourth, a school record. Stanford sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck was second and Oregon sophomore running back LaMichael James was third.
“Certainly there was a favorite we saw coming,” Moore said.
Newton has dominated college football for weeks — on and off the field.
His dad, Cecil, was implicated by the NCAA in an attempted pay-for-play scheme that would have sent his son to Mississippi State. He didn’t attend the ceremony.
Newton overcame that black mark with mesmerizing play on the field. He has accounted for 49 touchdowns to carry the Tigers to the BCS National Championship Game.
“I feel like I’m in a dream and I haven’t woke up yet,” he said. “It’s a great award, a prestigious award.”
Newton scored 2,263 points, more than double Luck’s 1,079. James had 916 and Moore 635.
Moore earned 40 first-place votes — quadruple the number he received last year, when he finished seventh with 100 points. He was named on 44 percent of the ballots — voters ranked players first, second and third — and received the sixth-most points ever for a fourth-place finisher.
Not surprisingly, Moore received his most support in the West (135 points) and his least in Southeastern Conference country (81).
For Newton, it was just the opposite. He garnered more points in the South than the other three finalists combined.
The win was an emotional moment for Newton, who has stayed focused despite the swirling controversy. He choked up before delivering an ironic acceptance speech.
“My parents,” he said, “do a lot of things behind the scenes that go unnoticed.”
The Heisman vote
Finalist voting for the 2010 Heisman Trophy, with first-, second- and third-place votes and total points (voting on 3-2-1 basis):
Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Cam Newton, Auburn 729 24 28 2,263
Andrew Luck, Stanford 78 309 227 1,079
LaMichael James, Oregon 22 313 224 916
Kellen Moore, Boise St. 40 165 185 635
Source: Idaho Statesmen
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