The game of football is physical, rapid and exciting and as players or coaches we tend not to understand the value or impact of those people who gave us what the game today is.

John Heisman was an athlete and an innovator in the game of football. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio where he played high school football. In 1887 Heisman went on to Brown University and played four years of collegiate football. At twenty six years old he became the fifth head coach at Auburn University. There have always been young coaches succeed in the game of football! An outstanding career in coaching that lasted sixteen seasons (multiple schools) and compiled a 185-68-18 record.

Heisman’s contribution to the game of football is like few others. His innovation gave the game the first legal shifts, pulling of guards, shotgun snap, division of games into quarters (as compared to halves) and more importantly the advocate for the forward PASS in 1906! Man if he could only see the Air Raid at Work!

Without a doubt he is a legend and is important that everyone understands his contribution. Hence the Heisman Trophy was named in honor of him.