Former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke beat the odds, and Father Time, to win a national title at age 27 and the Heisman Trophy at age 28. Weinke was the oldest player ever to win the prestigious award.
To some, age is just a number. To a 28-year-old college quarterback, it was motivation.
Not many elite athletes get a second chance to play the sport they love, or even a third chance. But that is exactly what happened to former Florida State signal-caller Chris Weinke.
Recruited out of the Land of 10,000 Lakes by legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden, Weinke was a superstar athlete in the State of Minnesota. A three-sport star in high school, Weinke played football, baseball and hockey. After being named a Parade and USA Today All-American, Weinke packed his bags and headed south to sunny Florida. It was 1990.
Weinke also had a lucrative offer in his back pocket from the Toronto Blue Jays, after being selected in the second round of the Major League Draft. He acted on that offer after a less than prepared session of film study in the quarterback room where he gave the wrong answer not once, but twice, when describing the coverage depicted on the screen.
As a minor leaguer in the Blue Jays organization, Weinke traveled the highways and byways of the bus leagues for six years, rising in the ranks as high as Triple-A ball. But as talented as he was on the baseball diamond, he kept thinking about a promise Bowden made to him, keeping a spot on the Florida State football team open for him if he ever returned to football.
Weinke returned to the Seminoles in time for the 1997 season, at the age of 25. Bowden had kept his promise. Due to Weinke’s return, offensive coordinator Mark Richt lost his prize quarterback recruit, Drew Henson, who later signed with Michigan. Weinke was confident he would be the best quarterback on the team.
But there was a problem. Weinke had not thrown a football in six years. He would have to hone his throwing mechanics all over again. To accomplish that, he organized practices with his receivers outside the normal practice schedule. Weinke worked hard and completed lots of reps until he could anticipate his receivers’ movements, throwing the football to spots on the field before his receivers made their breaks to the ball.
That hard work and determination paid off, with Weinke earning the starting job for the 1998 season, and becoming a three-year starter for coach Bowden. No stranger to adversity, Weinke was humbled in only his second career start. The NC State Wolfpack rained on his coming-out party, intercepting Weinke six times. After the game, Weinke just shrugged off the onslaught of criticism as a teaching moment. Weinke responded by leading the Seminoles to eight consecutive victories.
In the Virginia game, Weinke suffered a neck injury, almost paralyzing him. The injury would require corrective surgery involving a titanium plate. Seven months of rehab followed, when once again, he would have to learn to throw a football.
At age 27, beating the odds and Father Time, Weinke was in the huddle for the 1999 season opener against Louisiana Tech. In that game, Weinke completed 63 percent of his passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. The legend of Chris Weinke was born.
Weinke led the No. 1-ranked Seminoles to an undefeated season and a BCS National title. For the year, Weinke passed for 3,432 yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Weinke announced he would return for his senior season.
The 2000 season was the best of Weinke’s collegiate career, statistically. Weinke threw for 4,167 yards and 33 touchdowns, and cemented his legend status against rival Florida. Sick with the flu and taking fluids via IV’s, Weinke promptly led the Seminoles to a 30-7 victory. Weinke passed for 353 yards and three touchdowns, skinning the Gators defense.
Weinke led the Seminoles to another national championship game appearance, their third in as many years. His play earned him an invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
In one of the closest votes ever recorded for the most prestigious award in college sports, Weinke stood at the podium and hoisted the bronze trophy. The margin of victory was just 76 points over runner-up and Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel.
The “old man” who got a second and third chance at gridiron glory had his jersey retired by Florida State and was inducted into the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. With the recent controversy involving athletes signing professional contracts, then somehow trying to come back to finish their college careers, it is unlikely we will see a situation like this again in college sports.
