It felt right. It felt good.
Sitting Saturday night at home, watching the Heisman Trophy presentation and hearing Marcus Mariota thank half of Oregon and all of Hawaii, seeing him choke up when he thanked his parents, it was really nice to see someone who knew he hadn't received college football's highest award all on his own.
I was glad I voted him No. 1 on my ballot.
All Heisman voters agree to not disclose their vote until after the presentation, and with that embargo long gone, yours truly voted the Oregon quarterback first, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper second and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon third. Cooper finished third behind Gordon.
Yet, it was a landslide victory for Mariota, who garnered more than 90 percent of the first-place votes.
Forgotten, momentarily, during those minutes he was on ESPN looking like a true role model for every youngster in the country was that last year's winner didn't get enough votes to be invited to the ceremony.
Jameis Winston has had a good year for the still undefeated Florida State Seminoles, but since last year -- when he amassed 2,205 points, three times as many points as runner-up A.J. McCarron, and 668 first-place votes -- Winston has crabbed out.
In the race for the 2014 Heisman, he got four first-place votes and a total of 51 points.
That wasn't because he passed for only 3,559 yards this season or even that he threw 17 interceptions with 27 touchdown passes.
In the minds of the voters, it had to be a character issue, one that began after the Seminoles beat Auburn for the BCS championship and Winston proclaimed he had put his team on his back and carried them to victory.
Nothing about his offensive line, the coaches, defense or anyone but him.
There had already been an accusation of sexual assault, but then he got caught stealing crab legs from a grocery store during the spring and earned a one-game suspension when he stood on a table on campus and yelled a vulgarity.
That's why he was not a contender for the Heisman this season.
When I voted for Mariota, it was because of his on-the-field accomplishments. This season, he has passed for 3,783 yards, rushed for 669 yards, accounted for 53 touchdowns and threw only 2 interceptions.
The only thing known about his character was he hadn't been in trouble, which these days is a good start.
Now we know he helped tutor his high school teammates at St. Louis High School in Honolulu.
That he was a three-star recruit who pursued Oregon before it recruited him. That the only other scholarship offer he had was from Memphis.
That he loves his mother and father, and that he wouldn't say spit with a mouthful of it.
It has been written it is a toss-up as to where he spends most of his free time: the library or the film rooms.
His teammates respect him 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
His acceptance speech was not glamorous or exciting, but it was from the heart and it was a message that every young athlete needs to hear.
Winning is about teamwork. It is about being selfless, not selfish.
"I'm humbled to be standing here today," he said moments after the announcement he was the winner.
"I had to give thanks to so many people because where I am today, it's all due to all those people," he said later.
In hopes of winning, Mariota wrote his acceptance speech out because he didn't want to forget anyone, even crediting his teachers. It was refreshing in a world that needs a refresh.
Now, it is on to the Rose Bowl, where he will go head to head with Winston and regardless of the outcome of that game, I feel good about my Heisman vote.
Sports on 12/16/2014