Today in College Football History: Bo Knows Heisman

The legacy of Bo Jackson: Dual Professional Sport and Advertising Super Star had to begin somewhere. Unfortunately for the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana, it began against them. Now that isn’t entirely the case; Jackson was an All-American in 1983 and actually averaged more yards per carry that season than his Heisman winning campaign of ’85. Injuries limited his 1984 production, but he ended his college career with the kind of force Brian Bosworth knows Bo is capable of bringing.

Auburn opened the campaign ranked at No. 2, and jumped to the top spot after steamrolling the former Southwest Louisiana State. Jackson set the tone for his entire 1786-yard, 17-touchdown season with a ridiculous 230 yards rushing on 23 carries. For those as bad at math as I, that’s 10 yards per carry, a first down every time Jackson touched the ball.

Bo would get to know Mr. Heisman Trophy that December, narrowly edging out Iowa’s Chuck Long in a 1509-1464 vote.