NEW YORK, New York(25 June 2002) - Peter Wells, President of the Yale Club of New York City and Jim Corcoran, President of the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC), jointly announced on Tuesday that the presentation of the 2002 Heisman Trophy will be held at the Yale Club of New York City in midtown Manhattan.

Wells and Corcoran made their announcement at a news conference in the Yale Club's Main Lounge, the same room where ESPN's nationally televised Heisman Trophy presentation is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 14.

"Yale University has a rich football history going back to the early 1880s when Yale's Walter Camp developed the football rules that lead to the modern game; in fact, in 1889 he picked the first All-American Football team. The term football heritage and Yale are virtually synonymous. By hosting the 2002 Heisman Trophy ceremony we are adding another milestone to that rich history," said Wells.

"With the DAC still closed due to the effects of September 11, we wanted to find a location that is suited to the prestige of the Heisman Trophy," said Corcoran. "We've returned to our roots, so to speak, as Yale produced two of the first three Heisman Trophy winners. The Yale Club is a tremendous facility and its members have graciously opened their doors to insure another excellent event for the Heisman Trophy."

The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the "Outstanding College Football Player of the United States." As one of the most recognized trophies in the world of sport, with its unique pose and bronze finish, the Heisman has come to represent excellence and achievement on the football field. First awarded in 1935 to Jay Berwanger of Chicago University, 65 other players have been honored as the best. Notables have included Paul Hornung (1956 Notre Dame), Roger Staubach (1963 Navy), 2-time winner Archie Griffith (1974/75 Ohio State) and most recently Eric Crouch (2001 Nebraska).

The Yale Club of New York City was founded in 1897. After residing at two other smaller buildings, the Club moved into its present location at 50 Vanderbilt, across from Grand Central Station in with Dartmouth College, the University of Virginia, and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Among its 22 floors, the Club offers 140 guestrooms, squash and state-ofthe- art athletic facilities, three dining rooms, and much more.

For further information, contact: Rudy Riska, Executive Director of The Heisman Trophy at 212-425-7000.