Aug. 18, 2000 Talented Payton wasn't in national spotlight at JSU By Mark Alexander Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer It's hard to imagine the National Football League's all-time career rushing leader finishing 14th in any Heisman Trophy race. But that's precisely where Jackson State's Walter Payton finished in 1974, 13 spots behind winner Archie Griffin of Ohio State. The Heisman might be college football's ultimate individual award, but it's certainly no indicator of how a player will fare in the NFL. "You never heard much about Archie Griffin after his college years," JSU sports information director Sam Jefferson said. "He was history. And Walter's (NFL career) was history." Payton, a Columbia native, graduated in 1974 as college football's all-time scoring champ. And even though he was named to five different All-America teams after a splendid junior season, Payton knew his chances of winning the Heisman at then-Division II JSU were slim. So did Jefferson. But like any good publicist, Jefferson didn't let that deter him. "Why Not Payton?" and "Payton's Place" bumper stickers quickly circulated. "We worked hard on getting him that exposure," Jefferson said. "We mailed out to the voters once a week hoping somebody would notice. We thought he was a real special football player, and he proved that." One writer, Dick Young, took notice. In the July 6, 1974 edition of The Sporting News, Young stepped out on a limb, picking Payton to win the Heisman. He wrote: "Long range, long-shot prediction. . . . Walter Payton will be the first man from a black college to win the Heisman Trophy." Payton's response? "I'm surprised he would come out for me." Payton, far removed from the national media spotlight and future days of Heisman contenders having their own Web sites, didn't win the Heisman that year. But he sure looked good trying.     The 1981 Vote   1. Archie Griffin, Ohio State 2. Anthony Davis, USC 3. Joe Washington, Oklahoma 4. Walter Payton, JSU 1920 819 661 35   With an aggressive, elusive style that later became all too familiar to defensive backs in the NFL, Payton ran for 1,029 yards and 19 touchdowns in 1974. He also kicked one field goal and six PATs. The year before Payton led the nation in scoring with 160 points. He finished his career with 3,563 yards and 66 touchdowns. The rest, as Jefferson said, was history.   1999 Inductee WALTER PAYTON, Jackson State (1971-74)   COLLEGE: Payton was a two-time first team All-American in 1973 and 1974 at Jackson State University. He ran for 3,563 yards and scored 66 total touchdowns and set the NCAA scoring record with 464 points. He set a Southwestern Athletic Conference record for most points in a game. He led the nation in 1973 in scoring with 160 points. He was a four year starter at Jackson State, setting nine school records and receiving votes for the Heisman Trophy in 1974.   CAREER COLLEGE STATS: 37 games, 584 carries for 3,563 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, caught 474 yards passing for a total of 4,037 career yards; scored 66 TDs, kicked 5 FGs, and 53 PATs for 464 total points. In 1987, the Most Valuable Player Trophy for Division I-AA was named after him. In 1993, he was named to the Black College All-Time team. In 1997, Payton was named to the Division II Football Team of the Quarter Century.   PRO: Payton was a a first round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1975. He played 13 seasons and was named to the pro Bowl nine times. By the end of his professional career, Payton was the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Payton was also named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time team in 1994 and has been inducted into the JSU Sports Hall of Fame and SWAC Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the Chicago Bears Board of Directors.

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