2009 Heisman Trophy Winner
2009 Heisman Trophy Winner, Mark Ingram of the University of Alabama was selected as the 75th winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding College Football Player in the United States for 2009. Ingram won the award over Toby Gerhart of Stanford by only 28 points in the closest finish in the 75 year history of the Heisman. Previously, the closest race was in 1985 when Bo Jackson defeated Chuck Long by just 45 points.
Michael Comerford, of the Heisman Trophy Trust, which annually presents the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award, announced the selection of Ingram on Saturday evening, December 12th, on a nationally televised ESPN sports special live from the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. The victory for the 5’10”, 215-pound Ingram marks the first time a member of the Crimson Tide has won the Heisman Trophy.
Ingram, of Flint, MI, has rushed 249 times for 1,542 yards (6.2 yards per carry) with 15 touchdowns while catching 30 passes for 322 yards and an additional 3 touchdowns. His rushing total established a single season record at Alabama. While leading the Crimson Tide to an undefeated (13-0) regular season and a No.1 National ranking, Ingram was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Ingram led Alabama to a berth in the BCS Championship Game on January 7th against Texas where he will face off against fellow Heisman finalist, Colt McCoy.
Ballots were mailed to 870 media personnel across the nation plus 55 Heisman winners and one fan ballot, for a total of 926 electors. The ballots are received and tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Ingram polled 1,304 points to capture the award over Toby Gerhart of Stanford (1,276 points), Colt McCoy of Texas (1,145 points), Ndamukong Suh (815 points) and the 2007 Heisman winner, Tim Tebow of Florida (390 points). The point total is reached by a system of three points for a first place vote, two for a second and one for a third.
Mark Ingram will officially be honored at the 75th annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Award Dinner on Monday evening, December 14th at the Marriot Marquis in New York. For more information, contact Tim Henning at 212-425-7000.
