Perhaps the best part of Joe Burrow’s Heisman Trophy acceptance speech was the spotlight he cast on the food insecurity issues that exist in poor parts of his hometown of Athens, Oh. and the surrounding county
“Coming from Southeast Ohio, it’s a very, very impoverished area,’’ LSU’s fifth year senior quarterback said. “The poverty rate is almost two times the national average. There are so many people who don’t have a lot, and I’m up here for all those kids in Athens and Athens Country who come home after school hungry and there’s not a lot of food on the table.
“You guys can be up here too.’’
Burrow’s speech has since prompted more than $100,000 donations to the Athens County Food Pantry. It’s always nice to see a Heisman winner used his platform to speak for the greater good.
It was a feel- good moment for a college star who had a record setting season, leading AP top-ranked LSU to a 13-0 season and the SEC championship. The Tigers aren’t done yet either. They play Oklahoma Dec. 28 in the national playoff semi-finals in Atlanta.
By that time, Burrow should have come down from the high of winning college football’s most prestigious award in a landslide.
The Ohio State transfer became the first LSU player to bring college football’s most prestigious award back to Baton Rouge in 60 years. Burrow received 2,608 points and 841 first place votes, a record 90.7 percent of all the first- place votes available. Burrow also set a record for percentage of points available received with 93.8, breaking the mark of 91.6 set by Troy Smith of Ohio State in 2006. Burrow was named on 95.5 percent of the ballots, breaking the record of 95.2 set by Marcus Mariotta of Oregon.
Burrow’s margin of victory of 1,846 points broke the record of 1,750 set by O.J. Simpson of Southern California in 1968.
Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts was second with 762 points. Quarterback Justin Fields of Ohio State was third and defensive end Chase Young of Ohio State was fourth.
Burrow’s victory was a foregone conclusion, but the official announcement was still overwhelming. “That’s the most I’ve cried in 23 years of living,’’ he said.
After hugging his parents and coaches, Burrow made his way to the stage at the PlayStation Theatre on Broadway. After he started his speech, he stopped, and it took 23 seconds to compose himself battling rattling off the names of LSU’s other offensive players.
“What a special moment,’’ LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “I thought Joe handled everything first class. It’s the first time I’ve seen him get that emotional.’’
Burrow blended perfectly with first year LSU offensive coordinator Joe Brady and produced the most prolific offense in school history. Playing in a version of the offense Drew Brees runs for the NFL New Orleans Saints, Burrow emulated his childhood idol, passing for 4,715 yards and 48 touchdowns while completing 78 percent of his passing attempts, an NCAA record.
The kid who grew up thinking he might play college basketball has blossomed in the possible No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.
Burrow is LSU’s second Heisman winner, following in the footsteps of halfback Billy Cannon, who won the award in 1959, 60 years ago.
Burrow’s dad, Jimmy, was a longtime college football coach who played at Nebraska. He spent the last 14 years as defensive coordinator at Ohio State in Athens before retiring to spend weekends watching his son play. “It’s been a dream season for him, too,’’ Burrow said.
Joe Burrow grew up in Plains, Ohio. His older brothers both played at Nebraska. His father’s old boos, Ohio U coach Frank Solich, was hoping Joe Burrow would play for the Bobcats. But Burrow was Mr. Football in Ohio and signed with Ohio State.
Burrow redshirted as a freshman and played little in 2016. In 2017 he was competing with Dwayne Haskins to be J.T. Barrett’s backup, but broke his hand in preseason practice, opening the door for Haskins to position himself to become the starter. After spring practice in 2018, having already graduated from Ohio State, Burrow decided to transfer. He wanted Nebraska, but they weren’t interested. He also considered Cincinnati before deciding on LSU, because Orgeron recruited him so hard.
“He gave me an opportunity when not a lot of people thought I was going to do anything,’’ Burrow said. “He trusted me with the program.’’
Wise choice.
