It had been a whirlwind few days for Marcus Mariota, hopscotching from Orlando to Baltimore and New York to accept a bevy of college football awards.

Upon arriving in New York by morning train he had been whisked to a series of media appointments in advance of the evening’s Heisman Trophy announcement, where he would be the heavy favorite.

"Just had time to throw my bag in my (hotel) room and say ‘hi’ to my parents," Mariota said.

Asked if he had time to write an acceptance speech in case he won, Mariota said, "I’ll probably just go up there and read the (notes)."

Known for his accurate passing on the field and an "aw, shucks" economy of words off of it, the expectation among some was that it would be among the briefest and, possibly, dryest acceptances in Heisman history.

Instead, the moving nearly three-minute speech, tearful and choked with emotion, will be remembered as one of the most poignant and heartfelt addresses in 80 years of the Heisman.

The reaction was as overwhelming as the landslide vote that won him the award.

"A speech we will never forget," ESPN host Chris Fowler said at the close of the hour-long national telecast.

Mariota received 90.92 percent of the total possible votes, second highest all time behind Troy Smith (2006), according to the Heisman Trust.

Mariota had more points than the second- and third-place finishers, record-setting Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and Alabama receiver and Amari Cooper, combined.

For all Mariota’s records, his speech said as much about him as his statistics.

In the days following the announcement, previous Heisman Trophy winners who had flanked him on stage during the speech would declare him a most worthy addition to their elite fraternity.

Afterward his parents, who were among those wiping away tears during the speech, were asked if the address had surprised them. "No," his mother Alana, said. "He’s usually well prepared."

In this case he was prepared to pay tribute to those who had brought him to the most iconic award in college sports, thanking his family, coaches, teammates, fans… Mariota noted their contributions and in his road to New York, saying, "This isn’t just one-person deal."

Mariota sat stoically through most of the televised Heisman Trophy program that night.

Not until he was called up to the stage for the presentation of the award, symbolizing the top college football player in the nation, and began to unfold the notes did the torrent of emotions emerge from Hawaii’s first Heisman Trophy winner.

Once revealed, the depth of the feelings "matched Marcus," said Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich. "That’s just who he is. He cares so much about the people around him."

Mindful that some previous Heisman winners had become less than positive role models, Helfrich said, "if I was a boy watching the Heisman Trophy presentation and needed someone to look up to, it would be (Mariota) for how this guy works, and his humility, his excellence and his competitiveness. That’s a great thing for these young people."