Walter Payton, the name that doesnt depend on any introduction to football, had an incredible career. He was famous by the name of “Sweetness”. Despite breaking a lot of records and earning multiple awards, he never won the Heisman Trophy in college.
Isn’t it surprising to know that a player who had a separate award named after him never had a Heisman Trophy in College? Let’s unwrapped the circumstances and discover why this happened.
Who Was Walter Payton?
Walter Payton is known as “Sweetness”. He was a small town boy born on July 25, 1953, in Columbia, United States Of America. Payton was one of three children of Peter and Alyne. His father was a factory worker who also had a passion for sports. Not only his father but his father was also involved in sports.
Payton was initially interested in music. He played drums in the marching band and jazz-rock groups, and he sang in the school choir.
Payton’s brother Eddie played on a football team. Payton never tried playing while his brother was on the team; he never wanted to compete with him. After his brother’s graduation, the school’s football coach approached Payton to give football a try, and he agreed with him, but with the condition of not stopping him from playing in the band. This is where Payton’s journey started. As a junior football player, he made his name prominent sooner than expected by running 65 yards for a touchdown. He was named on the all-conference team for straight years in a row. As well as he earned statewide honours as a member of all state team, leading it to an unexpected 8 – 2 season.
Walter Payton’s College Career
Walter Payton took part in his college football from 1971 to 1974. He played for Jackson State University. He was an incredible player, an outstanding runner back, who is recognized as one of the best in the nation.
However, his remarkable talent doesnt save him from other factors that hinder his chances of winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Before diving into those reasons, let’s go through the Heisman trophy criteria.
The Criteria Of Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy is award to the best player in college football tournaments every year. The criteria are classified into:
- Individual Player Performance
- Team Performance
- Leadership Qualities
- Character
- On The Football Field Impact
The voters evaluate the Heisman trophy holder based on these criteria, and this board includes sports journalists, past Heisman winners, and other qualified members.
Factors That Affect His Chances To Secure Heisman Trophy:
Limited National Exposure
One of the main factors that affected his chances of winning the Heisman was the less exposure. He was a part of a university that is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Jackson State University, which didn’t get as much attention as other bigger, dominant white schools.
Payton’s games were rarely air on television, and his performances receive little media coverage. This limited exposure likely hurt his chances of being consider for the Heisman.
Strong Competition and Unlucky Timing
His on-field timing was great, but it was a challenge for him as he faced tough competition. In his time, there were other great football players like Archie Griffin and Tony Dorsett, both of whom won the Trophy in their respective years. His time collided with exceptionally talented running backs, which made it harder for him to shine and win the Heisman.
Team Performance
Individual player’s stats are important for Heisman Trophy consideration, but how well a player’s team performs also matters. Payton’s Jackson State team didn’t achieve the same level of success as bigger football programs during his college years. Even though Payton’s performance on the team was clear, the team’s lack of success might have affected the Heisman voters’ decision.
The Impact of Bias and Prejudice
It is important to note that this century was still discriminate against by white colleges. In the 1970’s, racial tensions were there in the college football leagues. Players from HBCUs often get ignore and face discrimination. While it is still difficult to conclude this as a reason to measure the reason for Payton’s not getting the trophy, it is important to acknowledge that it could have played a role.
Payton’s Legacy Beyond the Heisman
Walter Payton’s football career started after graduating from the university. The Chicago Bears drafted him as the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft, but this was just the beginning. He came into the limelight he always deserved by breaking multiple records.
He played 13 seasons with the Bears, breaking many records. He became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with more than sixteen thousand yards. He was select to the Pro Bowl many times, made the First Team All Pro five times, and there he won NFL MVP. Payton also won a championship ring by the victory of Beard in Super Bowl XX.
Walter Payton may not be able to secure the Heisman Trophy, but he has left a legacy behind him. He was involve in charitable causes, which made his legacy alive forever. After his death, the NFL named a trophy after him, the “Walter Payton Man of the Year Award,” which is present to a player along with an amount for charity.
This trophy is present to those players who participate in charitable work and good causes. Walter Payton’s life remains an inspiring example for athletes, proving that even without a Heisman Trophy, he remains one of the greatest football players of all time.