The announcement of the 80th Heisman Trophy winner was historic in more ways than one. Marcus Mariota is the first winner from the University of Oregon and the first to come from the state of Hawaii. But there is one more item of great historical significance, something the world has not seen from Mariota.

Marcus Mariota was flustered.

He was nervous.

He shook and looked downright uncomfortable and at that moment in time, and probably the last, Mariota was flappable.

Through 38 games, 1094 passes, 64 sacks, and only 4 career loses, Mariota was calm, collected, and composed. But when his name was called as the winner of the Heisman Trophy and he stood up, hugged his family, and approached the microphone on the stage, he was full of pure emotion and humility. When he started to give his speech, those who knew him, fans, friends, coaches, and family alike, were unsurprised by what he said.

The first thing he said was “Thank you” and he said it again and again to his coaches, fans, friends, and teammates.

When it came time to thank his family, Mariota turned around to the dozens of past Heisman Trophy winners and said, “This is the hardest part.” Along with his next words came tears of joy and gratitude as he praised his loved ones.

Not once did he mention his own record-breaking accomplishments on the gridiron. He didn’t mention the fact that he is the best quarterback to ever play at the University of Oregon. He didn’t mention his 101 career touchdown passes against only 12 interceptions, the best touchdown to interception ratio in the history of college football. By the way his 8.25 touchdowns to interceptions is better than the ratios of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers combined.

Instead, Mariota pointed to the guidance and support from his family, coaches, friends, and teammates.

As his speech continued and the camera showed us the audience, his family, and his coaches, none of them looked surprised that he was at the top of college football prestige.

Mariota deserved this award, plain and simple. When all the ballots were in and counted, the result wasn’t even close. Mariota received 90.9% of the first place votes in a landslide, the second highest percentage in the last 50 years behind Troy Smith in 2006. He was named the winner on 95.16% of the ballots.

All over the states of Oregon and Hawaii, people are going to be saying his name and it won’t be just Marcus Mariota anymore, from now on it will be Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. That is something anyone in those states and all over the nation will be proud to say.

The first and last winner from the state of Oregon was Terry Baker from Oregon State who won the Trophy back in 1962. That makes Mariota the second winner from Oregon and the first to come from the University of Oregon, something that Duck fans everywhere can be proud of.

On January 1st, Mariota and the Ducks of Oregon have a date with the defending national champion Florida State and last year’s Heisman Trophy winner: Jameis Winston. If Oregon is victorious, they will move on to the National Championship at AT&T Stadium in Texas to face the winner of the Sugar Bowl.

After that, his college career will presumably be over and he will enter the 2015 NFL Draft as an early first round pick. He will never play for the University of Oregon again. Duck fans, coaches, former and current teammates, and the nation will remember Marcus Mariota not only as the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, but also as the greatest quarterback to ever play at Oregon, and the greatest quarterback in the history of college football.

Photo Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/70895129@N05/15940182582/

Copyright: Eric Evans Photography

Photo used with permission