Chris Weinke 2000 Heisman Trophy Winner
Weinke’s Championship Encore is a Heisman Trophy
his baseball cleats to
guide gain Heisman
Trophy fame at FSU.
After winning one of the closest votes in Heisman history, FSU’s Chris
Weinke narrowly passed Oklahoma QB Josh Heupel for college football’s
top award. The 6-5, 230 pound Weinke entered the 2000 season with
great momentum after having led the Seminoles to the national
championship season the year before when he out dueled Virginia Tech’s
Michael Vick in the Sugar Bowl.
With Weinke’s 2000 Heisman season, he became the second Florida
State player to win the award. FSU QB Charlie Ward won the award in
1993.
Weinke was the first three year starter for the legendary Bobby Bowden who
had been at the FSU coaching helm for more than 20 years. Weinke’s
4,167 passing yards placed him at the top of the Florida State and ACC
career marks for passing yardage. Just a few weeks after Weinke’s
Heisman Trophy ceremony, he was once again attempting to pass FSU to
another national title. However, the Seminoles fell short to to Oklahoma 13-
2 in the Orange Bowl.
The Florida State Heisman winner took a much different route than most
players on their way to the bronze trophy. Before joining the Seminoles,
Weinke spent six seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league system
and advanced all the way to AAA. When Weinke won the Heisman trophy at
the age of 28, he became the oldest player to win the award.
Following his Heisman Trophy winning season, Weinke was drafted in the
fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Weinke has been
with the Panthers for multiple seasons and has spent the majority of the
time backing up Jake Delhomme.