USC tailback Reggie Bush thought he would win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, but actually winning college football's most prestigious award shattered his tranquil demeanor.
"I wasn't nervous until they called my name and then all hell broke loose," Bush said. "I prepared and prepared and prepared a speech and I didn't remember half of it when I got up there."
Bush beat Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC quarterback Matt Leinart in a landslide. He received 91.8 percent of the points, the most in a Heisman race, which easily surpassed Texas tailback Ricky Williams' record of 85.2 percent in 1998.
PHOTO: AFP
Overall, Bush finished with 2,541 total points while Young received 1,608 and Leinart 797. Bush won every region handily as the voting showed little provincial bias. He even won in Young's backyard, the Southwest, by more than 100 points.
"To think, I've been in college for three years and this is the first time I've been invited to a fraternity," Bush said. "I was shocked by the landslide. I'm humbled by it.
"I don't know if I was more excited to win the award or be up there on the stage with all those former Heisman winners."
Bush's victory gave USC an unprecedented third Heisman in four years and tied the Trojans with Notre Dame for most Heismans won (seven) since the award's inception in 1935.
Bush and Leinart became the third teammates to win in consecutive seasons and USC became the fourth school to win back-to-back Heismans.
"It does mean everything," Bush said. "It means everything to me."
Bush and Leinart also become the first pair of Heisman winners who will play together after winning the award, when the No. 1-ranked Trojans play No. 2-ranked Texas in the Rose Bowl for the BCS' national championship.
"Matt and I just made history," Bush said.
The tension for that game increased a notch when Young delivered some of the most surprising post-Heisman comments in recent memory. Instead of being conciliatory, Young expressed frustration.
"I'm just disappointed for my fans, especially my teammates and family. I'm just emotionally upset about that," Young said. "This will give me a little more edge. A little motivation to show how good our team is.
"I feel I didn't represent my team and fans and family. I put a lot of pressure on myself. All I know is the University of Texas will be there Jan. 4 ready to play. Right now, I feel like I let my guys down, my family down and the city of Austin [Texas] down."
With that, Young departed through a back entrance of the Hard Rock Caf, where the news conference was held.
Bush was unfazed by Young's comments.
"I wasn't paying attention. If he was [disappointed], that's really his problem," Bush said. "Everyone's different. It's freedom of speech. It's not my problem."
Leinart, who began speaking to Young and became friends during the season, was more charitable.
"That's him. I know he's a great guy and competitor and it meant a lot to him," Leinart said. "Everyone takes it differently. I can see where he's coming from."
But Leinart made it clear Texas would not gain extra motivation from the Heisman results.
"With all due respect, we'll be pretty motivated," he said.
Leinart said Bush told him he was in "game mode" before the ceremony, "focused but not nervous." At least until his name was announced. He briefly got choked up when he thanked his stepfather, LaMar Griffin, who agreed to take care of Bush when he was 2.
"He almost had me in tears when he got teary-eyed," Leinart said.
Leinart, who won last year's Heisman Trophy, was the most-relaxed person in the room.
"I was telling everyone I planned on finishing third," he said. "Last year in the TV interview I had a ball in my throat and couldn't speak. I got a lot of attention when I came to New York. This year, I came out and saw Reggie and Vince get the attention. I really wanted to sit with all the former winners."
Leinart admitted he voted for Bush and Young. In an unorthodox move, he did not list a player for third place.
"I wasn't going to vote for myself," he said. "I could have just voted for first place."
USC coach Pete Carroll watched the ceremony from his home and said the victory was a combination of Bush's performance and the Trojans' overall success.
"He did everything for a couple of years to prepare for this moment of recognition and did everything for the voters to decide," Carroll said. "It's so clear it goes along with the winning. There's a lot of Heismans at USC now."
Bush said winning the Heisman will not affect his decision whether to skip his senior season and apply for the NFL draft.
"It's not about a trophy," he said. "I don't know. I still haven't thought about it but I will wait until after this game."
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