On the eve of the Heisman Trophy, a look at the worst winners of all time:
1. Paul Hornung, Notre Dame: Did anyone else play football in 1956? Playing on a 2-8 team, Hornung ran for fewer than 500 yards and passed for fewer than a 1,000. The Golden Boy? Really? Remember, Dalvin Cook couldn’t win because his team lost two. Hornung’s team won two.
2. Reggie Bush, Southern Cal: Had his 2005 Heisman stripped from him because of illegal inducements. Not even O.J. Simpson’s trophy was taken away.
3. Jay Berwanger, Chicago: Berwanger, the first winner in 1935, was called the Flying Dutchman. He was German. Oops. Also, he had only 577 yards rushing and only 406 passing for a 4-4 team.
4. Gino Torretta, Miami: Torretta probably had three or four players who were better than him in his own huddle in 1992.
5. Rod Woodson, Michigan: Woodson was a fine player, and has been a fine NFL star. However, he won it over a more deserving Peyton Manning in 1997.
6. Gary Beban, UCLA: His nickname was “The Great One.” Really. For the year, Beban had eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions in 1967.
7. Pete Dawkins, Army: He had only 428 yards rushing when he won it in 1958.
8. Larry Kelley, Yale: Kelley caught only 17 passes for only 252 yards in 1936.
9. Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame: Because of the way, Bertelli played only six games and threw for only 512 yards in 1943.
10. Pat Sullivan, Auburn: Threw for 700 fewer yards than the last Heisman-winning quarterback in 1971.
