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Jameis Winston's Heisman win dogged by fallout from sexual assault case Jameis Winston's Heisman win dogged by fallout from sexual assault case
(35 minutes later)
In a televised ceremony in New York, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston became the youngest winner of the Heisman Trophy, the annual award for the leading player in college football. His win on Saturday was clouded, however, by continuing fallout from the conclusion of an investigation into sexual-assault allegations made against him.In a televised ceremony in New York, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston became the youngest winner of the Heisman Trophy, the annual award for the leading player in college football. His win on Saturday was clouded, however, by continuing fallout from the conclusion of an investigation into sexual-assault allegations made against him.
The investigation, into claims made by a fellow student who said the Tallahassee police department had advised her not to bring the case "in a big football town", was dropped without charges being brought, four days before the close of voting for the Heisman – a year after the original allegations. On Friday Patricia Carroll, the lawyer for Winston's unnamed accuser, said she would ask the Florida attorney general to begin an independent investigation.The investigation, into claims made by a fellow student who said the Tallahassee police department had advised her not to bring the case "in a big football town", was dropped without charges being brought, four days before the close of voting for the Heisman – a year after the original allegations. On Friday Patricia Carroll, the lawyer for Winston's unnamed accuser, said she would ask the Florida attorney general to begin an independent investigation.
Press reaction before and after the Heisman ceremony suggested that the case will dog Winston's preparations for the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena on 6 January, in which the undefeated and No1-rated Seminoles will face Auburn.Press reaction before and after the Heisman ceremony suggested that the case will dog Winston's preparations for the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena on 6 January, in which the undefeated and No1-rated Seminoles will face Auburn.
On Friday, at a pre-ceremony press conference which he attended with his lawyers, Winston answered one of many questions about the allegations, saying: "I knew I did nothing wrong. That's why I knew that I could respect the process and I'd eventually be vindicated."On Friday, at a pre-ceremony press conference which he attended with his lawyers, Winston answered one of many questions about the allegations, saying: "I knew I did nothing wrong. That's why I knew that I could respect the process and I'd eventually be vindicated."
On Saturday, after winning the Heisman, he said: "I knew I did nothing wrong, so I just had to be myself. My innocence was proven. God is always going to challenge you … People got to know I just love life."On Saturday, after winning the Heisman, he said: "I knew I did nothing wrong, so I just had to be myself. My innocence was proven. God is always going to challenge you … People got to know I just love life."
On Sunday, in the New York Times,Greg Bishop wrote: On Sunday, in the New York Times, Greg Bishop wrote:
"Winston spent the past week on college football's postseason awards circuit, cycling through banquets and red carpets and trophy presentations. That culminated Saturday in Manhattan, where Winston won the Heisman Trophy, his sport's pre-eminent honor."Winston spent the past week on college football's postseason awards circuit, cycling through banquets and red carpets and trophy presentations. That culminated Saturday in Manhattan, where Winston won the Heisman Trophy, his sport's pre-eminent honor.
Wherever Winston traveled, an accusation of rape clouded the celebration.Wherever Winston traveled, an accusation of rape clouded the celebration.
Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News wrote that Winston "was both the right and wrong choice to embrace the Heisman Trophy". He added: "The stats said this was a no-brainer."Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News wrote that Winston "was both the right and wrong choice to embrace the Heisman Trophy". He added: "The stats said this was a no-brainer."
Winston won the Heisman by a distance, polling 668 first-place votes for 2,205 points, 1,501 more than AJ McCarron, the Alabama quarterback who placed second. Of the 928 voters, however, 115 – 13% – left Winston off their ballots.Winston won the Heisman by a distance, polling 668 first-place votes for 2,205 points, 1,501 more than AJ McCarron, the Alabama quarterback who placed second. Of the 928 voters, however, 115 – 13% – left Winston off their ballots.
Bondy continued: "Electors didn't just vote for Winston. They also voted against another college student, formerly at Florida State, who still claims she was sexually assaulted by Winston. They were voting for one student against another, essentially taking sides with their ballot, the way that Florida State threw its weight behind the quarterback.Bondy continued: "Electors didn't just vote for Winston. They also voted against another college student, formerly at Florida State, who still claims she was sexually assaulted by Winston. They were voting for one student against another, essentially taking sides with their ballot, the way that Florida State threw its weight behind the quarterback.
He added:He added:
"What of the woman? We've seen this before, with Johan Santana and Kobe Bryant, where the women involved were quickly dismissed as irrelevant once criminal charges were dropped. They became inconvenient parenthetical phrases, in career-long odes.""What of the woman? We've seen this before, with Johan Santana and Kobe Bryant, where the women involved were quickly dismissed as irrelevant once criminal charges were dropped. They became inconvenient parenthetical phrases, in career-long odes."
"Meanwhile, Winston comes out just fine.""Meanwhile, Winston comes out just fine."
On Slate.com, writing before the award of the Heisman Trophy, Emily Bazelon also considered the prospects of Winston's accuser.On Slate.com, writing before the award of the Heisman Trophy, Emily Bazelon also considered the prospects of Winston's accuser.
"Carroll [the lawyer] is right that the police botched the investigation from the start," Bazelon wrote. "And I'm impressed with the tenacity of her client, who is a student at FSU."Carroll [the lawyer] is right that the police botched the investigation from the start," Bazelon wrote. "And I'm impressed with the tenacity of her client, who is a student at FSU.
"The allegations she made have already cost her – she has had to withdraw from classes amid a torrent of criticism … The problem is that the mistakes the police made at the outset, plus what looks like some fumbling by the state attorney's office, will be hard for the attorney general to fix now.""The allegations she made have already cost her – she has had to withdraw from classes amid a torrent of criticism … The problem is that the mistakes the police made at the outset, plus what looks like some fumbling by the state attorney's office, will be hard for the attorney general to fix now."

Winston, who on Saturday was 23 days short of his 20th birthday, is the youngest winner of the Heisman Trophy. Last year's winner, the Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, is now the third-youngest to have taken the prize. (Mark Ingram of Alabama was two weeks older than Winston when he won, in 2009.) Manziel was a finalist again this year, after 12 months in which he was the subject of intense press attention over alcohol-related incidents, police charges and the vexed issue of whether college athletes should be able to make money from their success.
Winston, who on Saturday was 23 days short of his 20th birthday, is the youngest winner of the Heisman Trophy. Last year's winner, the Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, is now the third-youngest to have taken the prize. (Mark Ingram of Alabama was two weeks older than Winston when he won, in 2009.) Manziel was a finalist again this year, after 12 months in which he was the subject of intense press attention over alcohol-related incidents, police charges and the vexed issue of whether college athletes should be able to make money from their success.
Manziel's difficulties have been part of a tumultuous year for the college game, starting in January when the Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2012, became embroiled in a media feeding frenzy over an imaginary girlfriend. Te'o, who eventually appeared on daytime TV to put his side of that extraordinary story, was then drafted by the San Diego Chargers.Manziel's difficulties have been part of a tumultuous year for the college game, starting in January when the Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2012, became embroiled in a media feeding frenzy over an imaginary girlfriend. Te'o, who eventually appeared on daytime TV to put his side of that extraordinary story, was then drafted by the San Diego Chargers.
In February, at an NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis dominated by press attention to Te'o, the Colorado tight end Nick Kasa reported inappropriate questioning about his sexuality by team representatives.In February, at an NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis dominated by press attention to Te'o, the Colorado tight end Nick Kasa reported inappropriate questioning about his sexuality by team representatives.
In September, the Florida A&M marching band returned to the team's stadium after a two-year absence caused by the hazing death of a drum major; the same month, the NCAA announced that football scholarships that were taken away from Penn State over the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal would start to be restored.In September, the Florida A&M marching band returned to the team's stadium after a two-year absence caused by the hazing death of a drum major; the same month, the NCAA announced that football scholarships that were taken away from Penn State over the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal would start to be restored.
After the 2013 Heisman ceremony, Winston sought – in a rather unlikely fashion – to focus on the future. At the end of a week in which the Texas Rangers selected the Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the Triple AAA draft, he said: "I don't feel I can play football without baseball."After the 2013 Heisman ceremony, Winston sought – in a rather unlikely fashion – to focus on the future. At the end of a week in which the Texas Rangers selected the Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the Triple AAA draft, he said: "I don't feel I can play football without baseball."
Winston, who has played outfield and as a designated hitter and relief pitcher for FSU, said he would play baseball in the spring of 2014, and that he hoped to forge careers in the NFL and MLB at the same time.Winston, who has played outfield and as a designated hitter and relief pitcher for FSU, said he would play baseball in the spring of 2014, and that he hoped to forge careers in the NFL and MLB at the same time.
"I believe you can do anything you put your mind to," he said. "Especially with my hard work and determination. I can do anything that I want to do.""I believe you can do anything you put your mind to," he said. "Especially with my hard work and determination. I can do anything that I want to do."
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