NEW YORK -- When Charles Woodson's name was called, Peyton Manning was relieved more than anything. The Heisman Trophy race was finally over.

"In the past three years it's been with me," the Tennessee quarterback said Saturday night. "Never a day went by without being asked about the Heisman Trophy. Hopefully now, those questions will stop."

In perhaps the biggest surprise in the 63-year history of the Heisman, Manning finished a distant second to Michigan cornerback Woodson in the balloting for college football's most prestigious award. Manning had become the favorite last spring when he returned to school instead of jumping to the NFL.

After Woodson became the first primarily defensive player to win the award, Manning said he was especially disappointed for the Volunteers fans.

"I'd be less then honest if I said I didn't want to win this award for the people back home in Tennessee," Manning said.

Manning arrived at the Downtown Athletic Club with his father, former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, his mother, Olivia, and two brothers, Cooper and Eli.

"I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT," said Manning, who led the Vols (11-1) to a No. 3 ranking, the Southeastern Conference title and a game against No. 2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2. "I was excited just to be here as a candidate.

"I really had a lot of fun this year. I have one game left and I'm going to cherish it and cherish the days leading up to it."

Manning, who threw for 3,819 yards and 36 TDs, took nearly every other honor, including the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player and the Davey O'Brien and Johnny Unitas quarterback awards. But once again, he was unable to win the Heisman.

Last season, he finished eighth behind Florida's Danny Wuerffel, who probably won the award when he outdueled Manning in the Gators' 35-29 win at Knoxville, Tenn.

THIS YEAR, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE GATORS again who knocked him out of Heisman contention. On Sept. 20, Florida beat Manning and the Vols 33-20 as Tony George's 89-yard interception return put the Gators in control.

Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, who finished third, said he never expected to win.

"I was just here in New York having fun," said Leaf, who leads his Cougars (10-1) against Woodson's Wolverines in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. "It's an honor to be up for this prestigious award."

Then he looked around, smiled, and said "Maybe I can steal one from around here and take it back with me."

Moss, Marshall's All-American wide receiver who set a Division I-A record with 25 TD catches in a season, said he would have won if he played for a bigger program.

"I seriously think that if I was at another school, with a lot more publicity, there's no doubt in my mind that I would have won the Heisman," he said.