LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Don't hand the 2000 Heisman Trophy to Chris Weinke or Josh Heupel just yet.
Purdue quarterback Drew Brees, one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman, shocked many Thursday night when he won the Maxwell Award given to the nation's top player. Brees won the award by just 23 points, the closest margin in the award's 64-year history.
|  | | Purdue's Drew Brees threw for 3,393 yards and 24 TDs this season. |
Brees, who had 263 first place votes, finished with 1,498 points while Heupel, who received 251 first place votes, finished with 1,466 points. Weinke placed third.
The Maxwell Award, given at the 2000 Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards show, held inside Disney's Atlantic Dance Hall, was billed as Round 1 of Weinke vs. Heupel. The two quarterbacks will face off again in Saturday's Heisman announcement, as well as the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3.
But Thursday night, it was Brees who played the role of spoiler.
"I had told myself that it was no big deal if I didn't win, that is was an honor just to be here," Brees said. "So I'm shocked. It definitely gets me more worked up about the Heisman. I mean, let's face it, I'm still a long shot. But crazier things have happened. This shows that people are recognizing what I've done."
It's only fitting that in a college season where the system designed to create one national champion could give us two that such an air of uncertainty surrounds Saturday's Heisman announcement.
Adding to the mystery is that earlier Thursday, Heupel was named the AP's College Football Player of the Year while Weinke won the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback.
"It makes no sense," Brees said. "I guess you could say Saturday is the tie breaker."
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2000 HOME DEPOT FOOTBALL AWARDS
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Maxwell (All Around):
Drew Brees, Purdue
Davey O'Brien (QB):
Chris Weinke, Florida St.
Doak Walker (RB):
LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU
Biletnikoff (WR):
Antonio Bryant, Pittsburgh
Outland (Lineman):
John Henderson, Tennessee
Chuck Bednarik (Defense):
Dan Morgan, Miami
Jim Thorpe (DB):
Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin
Ray Guy (Punter):
Kevin Stemke, Wisconsin
Lou Groza (Kicker):
Jonathan Ruffin, Cincinnati
Coach of the Year:
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
Spirit:
Hameen Ali, William & Mary
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In other awards, Tennessee defensive tackle John Henderson became the first defensive player in seven years to win the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top interior lineman. Afterwards, he announced his intentions to return to Tennessee for his senior year. The announcement brought a big smile from Vols coach Phillip Fulmer, who was in attendance.
"It's just something I wanted to get off my chest," Henderson said. "Everyone has been asking me, so I thought I'd go ahead and announce it. It was real important to my mom that I stay and get my degree, so I'm going to make mom happy."
Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Bryant won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top wide receiver. Bryant, just a sophomore, beat out high school teammate Marvin "Snoop" Minnis of Florida State.
"I don't feel too bad, but I feel a little bit bad because Snoop is the guy," Bryant said. "This is quite a shock."
Wisconsin won two awards, with cornerback Jamar Fletcher winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back and punter Kevin Stemke winning the inaugural Ray Guy Award given to the country's best punter. It was a feel good moment for the Badgers, who will play in the Sun Bowl after being picked in the preseason Top 5.
"We've still got that game to play, but yeah, to get these awards are a great honor for our school," Fletcher said. "It makes everything a little easier to deal with."
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was named Home Depot Coach of the Year, and in the 2000 tradition of the Sooners, deflected the individual attention on his assistant coaches and players.
"It means more to them than it does to me," Stoops said. "It's more a reflection of the work they put in the entire season."
TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson won the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation's best running back. Tomlinson, who beat out Northwestern's Damien Anderson and Michigan's Anthony Thomas, led the country in rushing with 2,158 yards. He is also just the second player ever to rush for 2,000 in a season and over 5,000 in a career (Texas' Ricky Williams is the other).
Miami linebacker Dan Morgan won the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player. Cincinnati place kicker Jonathan Ruffin won the Lou Groza award and William & Mary running back Hameen Ali won the Disney Wide World of Sports Spirit Award.
Wayne Drehs is a staff writer at ESPN.com.
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VIDEO
  Drew Brees wins the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's outstanding player. RealVideo: 28.8 Chris Weinke wins the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's best quarterback. RealVideo: 28.8 LaDainian Tomlinson wins the Doak Walker Award, given to the outstanding non-freshman running back. RealVideo: 28.8 Dan Morgan wins the Bednarik Award for top defensive player. RealVideo: 28.8 Bob Stoops wins the Coach of the Year Award. RealVideo: 28.8 Antonio Bryant wins the Biletnikoff award given to the nation's top receiver. RealVideo: 28.8 Jamar Fletcher wins the Jim Thorpe Award for top defensive back. RealVideo: 28.8 John Henderson wins the Outland Trophy for the top interior lineman. RealVideo: 28.8 Purdue quarterback Drew Brees talks about winning the Maxwell Trophy at the Home Depot College Football Awards show. wav: 1062 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops talks about the leadership of his quarterback, Josh Heupel. wav: 1223 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Miami linebacker Dan Morgan is happy that head coach Butch Davis is staying in Miami. wav: 666 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson says Dennis Franchione was important to him and to the whole team. wav: 883 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Bryant can not wait to play in the Insight.com Bowl. wavRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 |
