Hectic tour winds down for three finalists

Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel could become the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy today in New York.
Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel could become the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy today in New York.

— Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o was looking forward to a break after a tour of five cities in five days during which he has become this year’s most decorated player in college football.

“I’m just trying to get a workout in and get some sleep,” he said Friday of his plans for the night.

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel seemed to have more energy when he arrived at a midtown Manhattan hotel with his fellow Heisman Trophy finalist. In fairness, Manziel’s week hasn’t been nearly as hectic, though this trip to New York is different from the first time he visited it with his family when he was young.

“It’s just taking it up a whole another level, but happy to be here,” he said.

Manziel and Te’o spent about 30 minutes getting grilled by dozens of reporters in a cramped conference room, posed for some pictures with the big bronze statue they are hoping to win and were quickly whisked away for more interviews and photo opportunities.

Manziel, Te’o or Collin Klein, the other finalists who couldn’t make it to town Friday, each has a chance to be a Heisman first tonight.

Manziel is trying to be the first freshman to win the award. Te’o would be the first winner to play only defense. Klein would be Kansas State’s first Heisman winner.

Manziel and Te’o were on the same flight from Orlando,Fla., where several college football awards were handed out Friday night. The 6-1, 200-pound quarterback was just happy the 255-pound linebacker didn’t try to record another sack when they met.

“He’s a big guy,” Manziel said, flashing a big smile from under his white Texas A&M baseball cap. “I thought he might stuff me in locker and beat me up a little bit.”

The two hadn’t had much time for sightseeing yet, but they walked around Times Square some. They probably weren’t too difficult to spot in their team issued warm-up gear.

“We’ve just been talking about goofy stuff - playing video games, playing Galaga, just some things from back in the day,” Manziel said. “Messing around with each other. Kind of seeing who is going to take more pictures.

He’sdefinitely taking that award right now.”

Te’o is already going to need a huge trophy case to house his haul from this week. He has won six major awards, including the Maxwell as national player of the year. He’ll try to become Notre Dame’s eighth Heisman winner and first since Tim Brown in 1987.

“I can only imagine how I would feel if I win the Heisman,” he said.

Charles Woodson of Michigan in 1997 is the closest thing to a true defensive player winning the Heisman. Woodson was a dominant cornerback, but he also returned punts and played a little receiver. That helped burnish his Heisman credentials.

Te’o is all linebacker. He leads the top-ranked Fighting Irish with 103 tackles and seven interceptions.

Klein was the front-runner for the Heisman for a good chunk of the season, but he played his worst game late in the season - in a loss at Baylor - and the momentum Manziel gained by leading Texas A&M to victory at Alabama has been tough to stop.

Manziel’s numbers are hard to deny. He set an SEC record with 4,600 total yards,throwing for more than 3,000 and rushing for more than 1,000.

Klein, by comparison, averages about 100 fewer total yards per game (383-281) than Manziel.

A freshman has never won the Heisman. Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson came closest in 2004, finishing second by Southern California’s Matt Leinart.

Manziel is a redshirt freshman, meaning he attended Texas A&M and practiced with the team but did not play last year. Still, he’d be the most inexperienced college player to win the sport’s most prestigious award.

Heisman Trophy

WHEN 7 p.m. Central today FINALISTS Manti Te’o, Notre Dame; Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, Collin Klein, Kansas State TV ESPN

Sports, Pages 21 on 12/08/2012

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