Cam Newton Wins Heisman Award

Auburn Quarterback Cam Newton on Saturday became the 76th college football player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Newton is also the third Auburn Tiger to be awarded the honor.

Newton thanked God, his mother, and his dad before choking up.

"I also want to thank my coaches, my players, Coach Chizik," Newton added.  "Thank you to the Auburn family.  Thank you for all the support that you've given me during these trying times."

Earlier, Newton spoke at a news conference with fellow Heisman contenders LaMichael James of the University of Oregon, Andrew Luck of Stanford University, and Kellen Moore of Boise State University.

The list of awards and honors read as Newton was introduced at the news conference was noticeably longer than those of the other players.  It was clear Newton knew he would likely be joining the list of those who have won the Heisman.

"It's a close-knit fraternity," Newton said.  "And it's something very prestigious, and it has a lot of tradition in it.  Being able to call any one of these guys at any given moment, and they're here for you, and it's just something special just to know that you have the capability of being a part of that."

Newton has spoken not only with Auburn's Bo Jackson and Pat Sullivan, but also Alabama's Mark Ingram, who won the Heisman last year.

"It's always something you keep in the back of your mind," Newton said.  "But I put up my defensive mechanism due to that fact because, you know, it's something that is in the past, and I'm trying to live my life for the future and for the present right now."