The Other Heismans
The rich and storied tradition of the Heisman Trophy has enabled it to make an impact beyond the world of college football. Besides the hundreds of charities the Heisman supports and the cultural fame it confers upon its winners, the name of the trophy itself has become synonomous with excellence over the years.
And so it is quite common for other sports to use the Heisman as a model when recognizing individual athletic achievement. We thought it would be fun to list the “other Heismans” of the sports world; those honors considered to be the equivalent of college football’s most prestigious award.
Baseball
The Dick Howser Trophy
This award is presented annually to college baseball’s top player. Created in 1987, its winners were selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association until 1998. In 1999 the National College Baseball Writers Association took over the selection process and since then it has been referred to as the “Heisman Trophy of College Baseball.”
“This is probably the biggest one I could win,” said the 2010 recipient. “They’re all big, of course, but they consider this the Heisman Trophy of college baseball, and this would be the biggest achievement of my career — other than winning a national championship.”
Hockey
Hobey Baker Memorial Award
The award given to the most outstanding college hockey player was directly influenced by the Heisman Trophy. Its founder, Charles R. Bard, gathered information relating to the Heisman from Rudy Riska, the late athletic director of New York’s Downtown Athletic Club. He also attended two Heisman Award banquets to get get an up-close view of how the event was run. The Hobey has since been dubbed the Heisman of hockey and some media have gone so far as to compare the merits of the two awards.
Basketball
The John R. Wooden Award
While both the Naismith and the Wooden Award honor college basketball’s top player, it is the Wooden that draws the most comparisons with the Heisman. “The Wooden Award is the Heisman Trophy of college basketball, and we have certainly lived up to the standard set by the Heisman discussion in college football by making every game a referendum on whether a Wooden Award candidate can play,” said Jay Bilas of ESPN in 2013. “It’s gaining note as the Heisman of cagers,” said the Associated Press in 1999.
Golf
The Ben Hogan Award, presented by the Friends of Golf
The Friends of Golf’s (FOG) compares its support of collegiate golf to the New York Athletic Club’s role in college football and the Heisman Trophy. “I think that Colonial joining FOG and the Golf Coaches Association in The Ben Hogan Award has been very positive,” said FOG Executive Director Eddie Merrins. “The award is now truly the Heisman of college golf.”
Lacrosse
Tewaaraton Trophy
From the Tewaaraton Trophy’s own Twitter page comes this bio: Lacrosse’s Heisman Trophy, the Tewaaraton Award is presented annually to the best NCAA men’s and women’s lacrosse players of the season.
Wrestling
Dan Hodge Trophy
Says Wrestling Insider Magazine: The WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy, presented by ASICS, is considered the Heisman Trophy for amateur wrestling and has been presented to the nation’s best wrestler since 1995.
Soccer
The Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann trophy
The “Heisman award” of Division I soccer, the Hermann trophy recognizes the nation’s most valuable player.
Gymnastics
Nissen-Emery Award
Since 1966, college gymnastics’ highest honor, the Nissen Award, has been presented annually to that year’s outstanding senior collegiate gymnast. The “Heisman Trophy” of gymnastics, the award is inscribed with the following motto: “The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally.”
Division II Football
Harlon Hill Trophy
The Hill is given to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II. The award is named for former University of North Alabama and National Football League player Harlon Hill. It is often considered to be the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
FCS Football
The Walter Payton Award
The Heisman of the FCS goes to the most outstanding player in that college football division.
