Tide's Ingram takes Heisman
Running back edges Stanford's Gerhart in closest vote ever

By Associated Press
Sunday, December 13, 2009

NEW YORK -- Mark Ingram completed the trophy case at Alabama, delivering the first Heisman to a school that boasts one of the richest histories in college football.

The tough-running sophomore tailback turned tearful after winning the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in the closest vote in the award's 75-year history. Next, he'll try to lead the most storied program in the South to a national championship.

Ingram, who finished 28 points ahead of Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, wiped away tears and took a moment to steady himself before starting his acceptance speech. His voice wavered throughout.

"I'm a little overwhelmed right now," he said. "I'm just so excited to bring Alabama their first Heisman winner."

Ingram received 227 first-place votes and 1,304 points. Gerhart received 222 first-place votes and 1,276 points, while Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, last season's runner-up, received 203 and 1,145.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was fourth and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman two years ago, was fifth.

The previous closest vote in Heisman history came in 1985, when Auburn's Bo Jackson beat Iowa quarterback Chuck Long by 45 points.

Ingram won four of the six regions. Gerhart took the far west and Suh won the southwest.

Ingram has been the backbone of Alabama's offense all season, rushing for a school-record 1,542 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and scoring 18 touchdowns. In his final chance to make a case for the Heisman, facing Florida's then-top-ranked defense in the Southeastern Conference championship, Ingram ran for 113 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Ingram is the third consecutive sophomore to win the Heisman since Tebow became the first in 2007, and he will be the sixth winner in the last seven years to go on to play in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

Few college football teams can match Alabama's history of success. With six Associated Press national championships, only Notre Dame and Oklahoma have won more. But at Alabama, it's a coach who has towered over the program more than any player.

Bear Bryant led some of college football's greatest players but never had a player even finish in the top three of the Heisman voting over his more than three decades at Alabama.

David Palmer, the shifty wide receiver and return man, was third in the Heisman voting in 1993, the best finish by a Crimson Tide player. No major college program had won more games without a Heisman winner.

"Everybody that's been in the Alabama family has been supporting me," Ingram said. "Walking to class, students flashed me the Heisman pose."

Now he can take his place among Alabama's greats and the Paul W. Bryant Museum has a new piece of a hardware to display.

Ingram came to Tuscaloosa from Flint, Mich., the son of the former Michigan State and NFL wide receiver of the same name. Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban coached the elder Ingram in college.

Mark Ingram Sr. was a Super Bowl hero for the New York Giants, but last year he was sentenced to almost eight years in prison on bank-fraud and money-laundering charges. Then he did not show up at the federal prison in Kentucky to serve his sentence, which might cost him more time.

The elder Ingram was found hiding out in a Michigan hotel the same day his son played Utah in the Sugar Bowl last season. He has been serving his time in a New York City holding facility, where he's better able to watch his son's games on TV.

"My father has been a great influence on my life and I love him to death," Ingram said on the podium.

The father has seen his son quickly blossom into a feature back. As a freshman last season, Ingram was Alabama's No. 2 back, with a nose for the goal line. He ran for 728 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns.

This season, he's been at his best against most of Alabama's best competition. He opened the season with 150 yards rushing and two touchdowns against Virginia Tech, had 172 yards rushing at Mississippi, and set a Bryant-Denny Stadium record with 246 yards against South Carolina.