Nebraska senior quarterback Eric Crouch was used to a lot of blow-outs on the football team, but by a slim margin, he was crowned the nation's most outstanding player Saturday night when he claimed the Heisman Trophy.

By a margin of 62 votes, Crouch out-distanced Florida quarterback Rex Grossman. Crouch grabbed 770 total vote points to Grossman's 708. Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey was third with 638 points.

"I am so excited to be a member of this elite group of players," Crouch said.

Crouch's stats revealed the reason for the honor.

He is one of only three Division I-A quarterbacks to rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 4,000 in a career. He produced a school-record 7,915 yards at Nebraska, and his 59 rushing TDs are the most by a I-A quarterback. In leading the Huskers to an 11-1 record this year, he ran for 1,115 yards and passed for 1,510.

Crouch won Nebraska's first Davey O'Brien Award, presented to the nation's top college quarterback. He also claims the title of Big 12 offensive player of the year and also won the Walter Camp Award as the nation's top college player. He was named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America Team.

Crouch becomes the 67th winner of the Heisman Trophy award and the third from Nebraska, joining Johnny Rodgers (1972) and Mike Rozier (1983).

Only Notre Dame (with seven), Ohio State (six, including Archie Griffin twice) and Southern Cal (four) have more Heisman winners. Three other schools (Army, Michigan and Oklahoma) have three.

The balloting was a result of 924 ballots cast, each asked to select their choice for "Outstanding College Football Player of the United States.". There were 870 media electors and the 53 past Heisman Trophy Recipients. A collective fan vote is also included.

Crouch earned a total of 162 first place votes, each vote worth three points in the final tally. He placed second on 98 ballots and third on 88 ballots.

Crouch had the most first place votes. Grossman claimed 137 first place nods (105 second, 87 third). Other first place votes went to Dorsey (109) Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington (54 first place, 364 total points) Fresno State QB David Carr (34 first place, 280 total points) and Indiana quarterback Atwaan Randle-El (46 first place, 267 total points).

Geographically Crouch pulled his greatest edge in the Southwest part of the nation. That was the only region where Crouch dominated the final balloting. Grossman claimed the Mid-Atlantic and South, Dorsey grabbed the Northeast vote, while Randle-El was the top vote-getter in the Midwest and Harrington was likewise in the Far West.