Heisman -.....,...d • fi, \ ll, t : . :,* t . , kill ~ '.t ' The price of By RAY MCALLISTER Collegian Sports Editor He sat there, listening to the questions he had heard a hundred times before, offering the answers he had given a hundred times before, accepting the congratulations, smiling the smiles, shaking the hands. It goes with the territory, in other words. Winning the Heisman Trophy has its price. The past two days have been hectic, all right. Reporters, photographers. celebrities, well-wishers well-wishers by the roomsful. So for the time being, John Cappelletti intends to stay holed up until he takes off for a Kodak All-America weekend in San Francisco tomorrow. But Cappelletti, who motors through and around opposing defenders as a man bicycling through a traffic jam, is nearly as smooth off the field. The pressures are there, but he handles them. "Nothing's really any different," he says. "I'm not going to tr \ to adjust; I don't feel that much different." But it has to make a difference, of course. er since Sports Illustrated came out a few weeks back and said that Cappelletti had to be the favorite, there's been a difference. Cappy fit the criteria he was a senior, a back, from a well-known school with a well-known coach the 38 previous years of voting had laid down. And the magazine's survey indicated voters weren't about to change their habits. And a strong Cappelletti performance in each of his last four games were pretty impressive credentials. So now he's brought the first Heisman ever to Penn State v.hich isn't the type of thing that will hurt the school in recruiting and the national polls. Additionally, he's brought a \ 1 ' , -I' 4 t a^ pr , • • • - - -.11.1# Ak-r4-• "'r 111. - r Photo by Randy-riNoodtrury the trophy little more respect to Eastern football and to this year's Orange Bowl, which lost a whole bunch of glamour when LSU was upset last weekend by Tulane. Tuesday he exchanged quips with Bob Hope quips good enough to have Hope say: "Hey, save the one-liners for our show." Hope's show featured a teamful of All-Americas, and Cappy also found his way onto the Today show yesterday morning. ` "But I still haven't seen the people I'd like to share this with," he said yesterday, "my family, the people up here." Cappy - does indeed intend to share the Heisman Trophy almost literally. With trophy replicas for his teammates, for instance. And with words of praise for everyone who was connected with his winning, Even for Hope, who wasn't connected with his winning: "He's a pretty nice guy. I was just holding my own against him." Across the nation, Cappelletti more than held his own in the balloting, winning three of the five regions in which the 819 sports writers and broadcasters voted. He finished third in the Midwest and fifth in the Southwest. Cappy's victory margin no doubt was boosted by Ohio State's threesome of John Hicks, Archie Griffin and Randy Gradishar which finished second, fifth and sixth and likely split the votes which might have gone against Cappelletti. Collectively, the three, pulled 1132 points, 75 more than Cappelletti. "It was a little bit of a surprise to win," Cappy says, "but I really was surprised to win by this much. It's funny but I wasn't real excited until Tuesday morning about the whole thing." Now that he's got it, the Heisman could mean a lot, particularly when it comes to signing up with the pros. "I'm sure it'll make a difference," Cappy says, "but I'll leave that to whoever is working on my contract. I'm sure he'll be able to get something for it." Officially, Cappelletti won't receive the Heisman until a Dec. 13 banquet at the New York Hilton. By then he'll very likely be a consensus All-America Monday his selection to the Associated Press team made it four for four on those teams and on that day the Football News named him college football's player of the year. He also stands as the favorite for the Maxwell Award. All that is a long way from the Italian Ice stand-he has operated in Upper Darby for the past two summers, the stand which prompted the "Ice Man for Heisman" line circulating in past weeks, as well as such atrocities as "the Heismin cometh to the Ice Man" when the award was presented. Cappelletti just smiles as he thinks back. "I don't think I'll have time to go back," he said, "what with pro ball and all. There are too many other things to do now." Game-by-game to the Heisman Tennessee (21-28, L) 22 74 3.4 74.0 0 Navy (21-10, W) 17 65 3.8 69.5 2 lowa (14-10, W) 22 96 4.4 78.3 1 Illinois (35-17, W) 21 124 5.9 89.8 1 Army (45-00) 16 61 3.8 84.0 2 Syracuse ,W) 24 162 6.8 97.0 1 West Virg is (28-19, W) 34 154 4.5 105.1 0 Maryland (46-16, W) 22 68 3.1 100.5 3 N.C. State (37-22, W) 22 129 5.9 103.7 0 Boston College (45-26, W) 22 107 4.9 104.0 2 Pittsburgh (49-27, W) 11 77 7.0 101.5 0 Oklahoma (0-14, L) Did not play because of illness Totals (11 games) 233 1117 4.8 101.5 12 1973 A Yds. Avg. Avg. Game TD Stanford (20-f), W) 26 76 2.9 76.0 1 Navy (39-0, W) 23 104 4.5 90.0 1 loWa (27-8, W) 22 87 3.9 89.0 1 Air Force 119-9, W) 34 187 5.5 ' 113.5 2 Army (54-3, W) 17 151 8.9 121.0 0 Syracuse (49-6, W) Appeared for 3 plays, did not carry West Virginia (62-14, W) 24 130 5.4 105.0 4 Maryland (42-22, W) 37 202 5.5 117.1 0 N.C. State (35-29, W) 41 220 5.4 128.6 3 Ohio U. (49-10, W) 25 204 8.2 136.1 4 Pittsburgh (35-13, W) -37 161 4.4 138.4 1 Totals (11 games) 286 1522 5.3 138.4 17 Career Totals (22 games)sl9 2639 5.1 120.0 29 honors Cappy 39th* trophy is Penn State's Ist. By RAY McALLISTER Collegian Sports Editor The right man at the right time. John Cappelletti Tuesday became the first Penn State football player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's outstanding collegiate player. In a year with no one player standing clearly above the others. Cappelletti won the 39th trophy by a surprisingly wide margin. The senior tailback's 229 first place votes and 1057 total points more than doubled those of runnerup John Hicks (114 and 524). Hicks. the Ohio State offensive tackle. thus fell far short in his bid to become the first lineman to win the prestigious trophy. Texas running back Roosevelt Leaks was third, Kansas quarterback David Jaynes fourth and a pair of Hicks' teammates, running back N inners of the Ileisman Trophy 1915 Jay Hera anger, Chicago 1936 - Larry Kellm Yale • 1937 - Clinton Frank. Yale 19341 1 Brien Texas Christian 1919 • Nile Kinnick Irma 1940 - Tom Harmon Michigan 1941 Bruce Smith Minnesota 1942 -- Frank Sinkvoch Georgia 1941 - Angelo Bertelli Notre Dame 1944 - Leslie Horvath Ohio State 1945 - Felix 'Doc Blanchard Arms 1946 -- Glenn Davis Arrni. 1947 - Jnhnns Lurck. Notre Dame 1941 - E Doak Walker SAW 1949 - Leon Hart Notre Dame 1950 - 5 whir Janos, Riz Ohm State 1951 Richard Kazmaier Princeton 1912. - Hills Vessels. oklahoma 1951 - John littner *Sotre Dame 1954 - Alan Ameehe It isconsm 1955 Howard Cassadv Ohio State 19% - Paul Hornung. Notre Dame 1957 - John David Cron.; Texas A & \1 1951! Pete Dan kms. Arms 1959 - Bills Cannon. LS(' /9x,0 - Joe lielhno. v 1961 Ernie Davis Ss racuse 1962 Terry Baker Oregon Stile 1961 Roger Staubach. Nas 144,1 John Huarte. Notre Dame 1465 -- Mike Gai•rett. t'SC 1966 -- Ste, e Spuzner Florida 1967 -- Our Behan. 1 ('LA NM.. 11 J Simpson (S(' .1969 Sts e l Js, ens. Uklahoma 1970 - Jim Plunkett Stanford 1971 Pat Sulk an Auburn 1972 - Johnns Rodgers Nebraska 1973 - Johnrappelletti Penn `,tate A Yds. Avg. Avg. Game TD Archie Griffin and linebacker Randy Gradishar, were fifth and sixth. Arizona State and Southern Cal were the only other schools having more than one representative in the Downtotvn Athletic Club balloting. The Sun Devils placed running back Woody Green and quarterback Danny White eighth and ninth while the Trojans had flanker Lynn Swann and tailback Anthony Davis 12th and 13th. Pitt tailback Tony Dorsett made a strong showing for a freshman, placing 11th, but undeniably was hurt by Cappelletti's strong support in the East. Dorsett's finish was the highest by a freshman since 1944 when Army's Doc Blanchard Was third. Cappelletti's 2-I margin over Hicks likely could be attributed to the Ohio State threesome drawing votes from each other. It was only the second time a school had placed three in the top six of a Heisman balloting, the other being Army's effort of 1944 when it placed Glenn Davis, Blanchard and Arnold Tucker. Penn State coach Joe Paterno previously had done his share for Cappelletti, particularly after the Pitt game. Trailing 13-3 at halftime. Penn State used Cappelletti's ground game to power to a 35-13 win. Cappelletti, who outgained Dorsett 161 yards to 77, again was labeled by Paterno as "unequivocably the best football player I have ever been around. "He showed his value to this football team," Paterno continued after that game. "John Hicks could not have won this football game for us. Cappelletti did." Cappelletti also took the Heisman in what had been considered a relatively weak year. But his statistics alone would seem to refute that contention. The 215-pound defensive-back-turned-tail back glided over and fre quently through opponents for 1522 yards and 17 touchdowns on 286 carries. He set several durability marks, including carries per game (41), season and career (519 Cappelletti's travels By RICK STARR Assistant Sports Editor It hasn't always been ice bags for John Cappelletti. It used to be hot water bottles taped to his knee after "getting a helmet." And he used to say things like "one fumble I just ran by and on the other one I just wasn't concentrating." The whole experience must seem like a thousand-mile journey that began against Air Force more than two years ago in the Lion secondary. Then last year it was to the offensive backfield after the Mitchell-Harris act left town and a series of fumbles that brought boos and groans by his mere presence on the field. Even Paterno, who knew he bad one of his best athletes ever at tailback, must have wondered. Cappelletti did so much so that he almost decided to quit the team at that point. The Penn State student body called him "Fumbleletti" —s and he may be close to the record for fumbles by a Heisman winner but now they've shortened it to Cappy and more than a few went to the Ohio game three weeks ago solely to see his tough, smooth style of running. Tuesday morning he won the Heisman award which is given to the player spOrts writers vote the best in the country. in only two seasons). He became the only Penn State back to twice rush for over 1000 yards in a season, was second only to Lydell Mitchell on the career rushing list with 2639 yards and established a career yards-per-game mark of 120, nearly 25 more than Mitchell's old record. In a year of exciting .underclassmen and heralded lineman. Cappelletti came from far back among the early-season Heisman Candidates. Finishing the year with four strong games, Cappelletti thus captured the 17-inch hunk of bronze which had eluded such Penn State candidates as John Hufnagel, Mitchell, - Mike Reid and Ted Kwalick in recent years Quarterback Richie Lucas, who had been runnerup to LSU QB Billy Cannon in 1959. had come closest for the Nittany Lions. "Any of the 14 who received votes were good enough athletes to win the trophy." said Cappelletti who was in New York for the filming of Bob Hope's show with the Associated Press All- America team. The program will be telecast at 9 p m Sunday on NBC-TV. "I don't want to make too big a deal of it," Cappelletti added. "It's an honor, like each All-America team is an honor. But this probably is the biggest honor. Obviously I'm glad I won but this is really for the team." "I wouldn't have been disappointed if some other good player had won it. I've spent the last two days with the other guys and there -wasn't much difference between myself and them." spor s The Daily Collegian Thursda y . December 6. 1973-13 The change, from hot water bottles to ice, from Fumbleletti to Heisman winner will be total with a victory New Year's Day in Miami. Then the varsity journey, which started in George Welsh's backfield in spring practice in 1971, will yield to the prospect of an even longer and more rewarding pro career. Welsh, now head coach at Navy, knew he had a good one in the 6-2, 205 freshman even though he realized that with Harris and Mitchell in business Cappy would be on the bench every time Penn State was this side of 50 points. Just before the '7l Blue-White game Welsh said his future tailbacks "all have size and speed and tremendous athletic ability." In the Air Force game that fall, Cappy saw his first extensive action on defense. Paterno wanted some height in his secondary so he brought on two youngsters, Cappelletti and a defensive back by the name of Ed O'Neil. Cappy had the pressure job that day returning punts and he picked up 65- yards. He also took Air Force out of the game with a crucial interception late in the fourth quarter. His junior season the problems began. Gaining only mediocre success at tailback he began to have second thoughts. "After the lowa game last year I was really confused and I felt I just didn't 1. John Cappelletti, Penn State 229 142 86 1057 2. John Hicks, Ohio State 114 64 54 524 3. Roosevelt Leaks, Texas 74 80 100 482 4. David Jaynes, Kansas 65 68 63 394 5. Archie Griffin. Ohio State 45 63 65 326 6. Randy Gradishar, Ohio State 47 53 35 282 7. Lucious Selmon ; Oklahoma 39 52 29 250 8. Woody Green, Arizona State 31 55 44 247 9. Danny White. Arizona State 32 22 26 166 10. Kermit Johnson. UCLA 24 15 20 122 11. Tony Dorsett. Pittsburgh 15 20 :30 115 12. Lynn Swann, USC 16 24 12 108 13. Anthony Davis. USC 5 28 :33 104 14. Conredge Holloway, Tennessee 16 14 22 98 1. Cappelletti, 2. Hicks. 3. Leaks. 4. Dorsett 5. Griffin. 6. Gradishar. 7. Jaynes SOUTH 1. Cappelletti. 2. Leaks. 3. Jaynes. 4. Hicks 5. Holloway, 6. Griffin, 7. Gradishar 1. Hicks, 2. Jaynes, 3. Cappelletti. 4. Griffin 5. Gradishar. 6. Selmon. 7. Leaks SOUTHWEST . 1. Leaks. 2. White. 3. Green, 4. Selmon 5. Cappelletti. 6. Jaynes. 7. Davis 1. Cappelletti, 2. Johnson. 3. Swann, 4. Green 5. White, 6. Hicks. 7. Leaks Hicks' showing was the Cappelletti's victory was third second-place position another saying he would play nailed down by an interior in Honolulu's Hula Bowl -Jan lineman in Heisman 5. Additionally. Cappelletti's balloting (Minnesota guard teammate, co-captain Mark Tom Brown in 1960 and lowa Markovich, was honored as defensive tackle Alex Karras one of the National Football in 1957 were the previous Foundation's Scholar two ) Only two ends --- Vale's athletes for 1973 And former Larry Kelly in 1936 and Notre Lion coach Rip Engle and Dame's Leon Hart in 1949 Harry "Lighthorse" Wilson. a have won the trophy. past Penn State All-America. Closely following the both were inducted into the announcement o f Foundation's Hall of Fame have it any more," he said. "I felt maybe tailback wasn't my position. It was the loVvest Dome I ever had in college. I had thoughts about going and seeing coach Paterno." But the followinng week against Illinois Cappy ran over the defense for 124 yards and was refreshed. "That game turned me around." he said. "I learned a lesson that if you stick with something longer than you think you can. things will work out for you." The 100-yard games then began to come week after week but when the Lions needed him most, against the physically menacing Oklahoma Sooners in the Sugar Bowl, he was in bed at his New Orleans hotel tackled.by the flu. Penn State was completely smothered on the ground that night and shut out by the Sooner defense. At the start of the current season, just before the trip to Stanford, Cappelletti said he was approaching this season with a new attitude combining confidence and experience. The rest of the story is simple. More yardage, more publicity, a perfect season record, the ice packs, the national TV games, the All-America teams and now the Heisman. Soon it will be the pros. But the plot in its essence is not that he fumbled, but that he hung on. ist 2nd 3rd Pts EAST MIDWEST FAR WEST • . i s s • • • • ma" :4 4 • AP wirephoto
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