Black Quarterback Wins Heisman Trophy

By: Claudio E. Cabrera | Posted: December 11, 2011 at 11:28 AM

Before the 2012 college football season started, the thought of someone not named Andrew Luck winning the Heisman Trophy was highly unlikely.

While many had the name Robert Griffin III on their ballot, they had candidates from the University of Alabama, Oregon and LSU as favorites ahead of the Baylor University quarterback.

But Saturday night, the quarterback from the small university in Waco, Texas, brought home the school's first Heisman Trophy.

"This is unbelievably believable," he said. "It's unbelievable because in the moment we're all amazed when great things happen. But it's believable because great things don't happen without hard work."

Griffin received 405 first-place votes and 1,687 points. Luck received 247 first-place votes and 1,407 points. His win makes him the second straight black quarterback to win the Heisman after Cam Newton won it last year.

While black quarterbacks have always been stereotyped as athletic quarterbacks and not pure pocket passers, Griffin shattered those myths this year, setting a new NCAA record for passing efficiency of 192.31. He also averaged 387 yards per game, threw for 36 touchdowns and almost passed for 4,000 yards this year.

But while many look at the quarterback as a sure lock for the NFL playing fields, he is an intelligent young man off the field who is an aspiring lawyer pursuing a master's degree in communications.

Griffin could easily leave school for the NFL, but many Baylor Bears fans are hoping he comes back to help them pursue the national championship.

Read more at ESPN.

Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.