On December 12 at the Nokia Theatre in New York City, someone finally managed to stop Toby Gerhart short of the goal. In the closest vote in the 75-year history of the award, Alabama running back Mark Ingram edged Gerhart by 28 points to win the Heisman Trophy.
Not since another No. 7, John Elway, '83, lit up scoreboards almost 30 years ago has a Stanford football player captured fans' imaginations the way Gerhart did in 2009. Touchdown Toby, no last name needed, spent the season outrunning defenders —and crumpling them. He was the aw-shucks, gee-whiz hero of an 8-4 Stanford team that vaulted into the national consciousness with a muscular display of offensive prowess.
Gerhart rushed for 1,736 yards and 26 touchdowns and hit his peak during the Cardinal's stretch run that included wins over nationally ranked Oregon and Southern Cal. In the regular season finale, a nationally televised contest against Notre Dame, Gerhart ran through, over and around the Irish defense for 205 yards and three touchdowns and threw a halfback pass for another score.
Kids and adults alike mobbed him on the field after home games; classmates applauded when he entered a room. The Stanford Daily quoted a smitten undergrad: "I think everyone in Red Zone has a crush on Toby Gerhart."
On December 10, he won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. The senior also was lauded for his exploits in the classroom. Gerhart took 21 units fall quarter rather than a typical 15, intending to graduate early, and was named to the Pac-10's All-Academic first team.
Although disappointed by the Heisman result, Gerhart acknowledged that finishing a close second in the race was a pretty good outcome for a guy with zero pre-season hype. "I take pride in the fact that, where I finished, it was earned," he told the San Jose Mercury News.
