Heisman trust sets deadline, threatens voters who don't hide ballots

Many media members showed their Heisman ballots in voting Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel as the Heisman winner. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

The Heisman Trophy Trust says it has give an April 8 deadline for those voters who violated a “non-disclosure requirement” to commit to hiding their ballots in the future, reports CBSSports.com.

Many pundits and voters publicly discuss their ballots every year and the Trust says if the practice doesn't stop some media members will have their vote taken away.  The report says Stiffarmtrophy.com obtained at least portions of 180 ballots in projecting Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel as the winner in 2012.

In a letter dated March 4, Heisman president William Dockery wrote: “We are distressed to have been made aware that your 2012 vote was revealed publicly prior to the December 8th announcement.” Dockery said it “against our policy” to release ballot selections prior to the official announcement on ESPN.

“In the event you are unable to assure non-disclosure of your vote in the future, we will be required to reassign your vote to another member of the college football media,” Dockery wrote.