This was my second year covering the Heisman trophy ceremony, and this year’s weekend with Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel proved every bit as magical as 2023. 

This time, however, I knew the route, I knew what time exactly I wanted to arrive at Grand Central Terminal and I knew how to carry myself. 

I guess that comes with the territory. 

A little about myself here, I was born and raised within 30 miles of Manhattan. The combination of Metro-North, the 42nd st Shuttle and a couple blocks of walking only took about an hour in total — it could have been shorter if not for SantaCon, but that discussion is not for here. 

Hiding amongst the glaring billboards in Times Square, and after about a block of walking, I could finally make out the only sign that there may be something happening in sports today. Nestled into the corner of 7th ave and 45th st, I could finally make out the massive Marriott Marquis hotel, with its incredible video board running highlights for all four finalists. 

If you’ve ever seen a hotel lobby, double it, throw almost 20 elevators right in the middle and place four of the most giant escalators ever created on each side — that’s the hotel where the Heisman Trophy Ceremony is held every year. 

In the heart of Times Square no less, which, on a Saturday, required a great deal of fighting through crowds and jaywalking — an NYC classic. 

Once I arrived, however, I finally felt like I was a part of the historic moment that is the Heisman Trophy every year. The entire seventh floor was decked out in Heisman gear and filled with some of College Football’s most renowned journalists. 

It was incredibly surprising to find out, however, that I was the only Eugene-based media member in attendance, and, in a sense, I now had to represent the city on a grander stage. Not as much as Gabriel though.  

“I understand that I represent much more than myself, and I see it as a huge responsibility. The experience that I’ve had at UO has been a fun one, it hasn’t been a long one, but the people and experience you have had, at least for me thus far, has been amazing,” Gabriel said. 

Gabriel fields countless comparisons to Oregon’s only Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, and even though he placed third in voting, that’s not the mantle Gabriel’s chasing. He wants to do something Mariota never did — win the National Championship. 

Gabriel’s work so far, a 3,558 yard, 28 touchdown season where the sixth year senior completed over 73% of his passes, has been enough to rocket his Ducks to an undefeated 12-0 record, a Big Ten title and the top seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff. 

I had the opportunity to cover one of the best quarterbacks on the best team in the country in my home city. Furthermore, this wasn’t even my first time doing it. 

But the thing that instilled the most pride in me as a journalist covering the Ducks was not this success, it was what everyone had to say about Oregon’s star. There was a complete consensus around everyone that spoke to him: that he has an elite personability about him that makes him so easy to talk to as a media member. 

Upon my asking of his favorite moment this season as a Duck, before answering, he asked about mine — a testament to his noted ability to “make anyone in a room feel special” as Oregon head coach Dan Lanning put it in a video package made by ESPN. 

Covering the best team in the land has its perks, for sure, but the opportunity to cover Gabriel this season has been one of the easier tasks I’ve taken on as a journalist. Gabriel enjoys the spotlight and shows clear pride in how he’s gotten to this point in his career. 

“I’m happy to be a Duck, and that’s something that’s super special. When you look at what we’ve done so far, it puts a smile on my face,” Gabriel said. “There’s connections and relationships to last a lifetime. I love Eugene and everything the University of Oregon stands for.”

After his performance last week that gave the Ducks their first Big Ten title in as many seasons in the conference, the University of Oregon stands for winning, and I am tremendously grateful to be a part of it. 

And after the last two years, Oregon can now put its name in the upper echelon of talent producers, evidenced by the fact that they’ve sent me to the Marriott Marquis to talk to two different quarterbacks for this award. Thank you Ducks. 

Gabriel shares a similar sentiment. 

“Thank you, thank you for the trust and belief. Thank you for the patience, most importantly, you’re gonna love what the finish looks like,” Gabriel said in his message to Ducks’ fans everywhere.