A bill to help Penn State tailback Larry Johnson receive Heisman Trophy candidacy attention failed in a close vote in the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate Tuesday night.

Eleven senators voted in favor of the legislation, 12 voted against and one abstained.

As college football bowl games approach, the Heisman Memorial Trophy winner will be announced. This honorary award is given to one college football player who has shown excellence and outstanding talent on the field throughout the season.

It has been nearly 30 years since Heisman glory has come to Happy Valley.

Though Johnson is first in the nation in all purpose yards and 158 yards away from a Penn State single-season rushing record, he is not in the national limelight as a Heisman candidate.

Because football is a major part of many Penn State students' college experience, some USG senators wanted to help Johnson's chances of Heisman glory.

Town Sen. Mike Gallo wrote legislation proposing that USG create a temporary committee to promote Johnson as a viable candidate for the award and make a petition of student signatures to send to relevant media and Heisman voters.

Town Sen. John Krohn opposed the idea. He said it was not the job of USG to promote the accomplishments of a single individual. Krohn added that one person does not affect students as a whole and that the legislation did not advance student life.

"We need to serve the needs and interests of all 40,000 students as a whole," he said. "It doesn't make the Penn State experience better; it wouldn't help the student body in the long run."

The duty of USG is to address long-term problems and issues at Penn State, Krohn said. The group should focus on rising tuition costs, student ID numbers and safety issues, not on supporting one football player, he said.

Many other senators agreed with Krohn.

"We don't have commitment and dedication on the issues we have now," Town Sen. Maya McGeathey said.

West Halls Sen. Kristen Kofmehl also opposed the resolution.

Some senators said the legislation would undermine the football team's philosophy of team first, individuals second.

Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley said he thought it was great that USG wanted to support a fellow student, but he did not know whether USG was the proper body to do so.

"The concept of supporting [Johnson] is great, and we are supportive of any effort for a national award," Curley said. He added that there might be other ways USG could use its energy.

Town Sens. Mike Gallo and Chris Babic led the debate in favor of the resolution to support Johnson.

Gallo said it would have been a great way for Senate to adopt an issue many students care about. Because football is such an integral part of Penn State, he said, this might have been an opportunity to get students involved in USG.

Babic said he recognizes the team's philosophy but was trying to support a student athlete.

"If anybody in the football department disagrees, we would gladly step aside," Babic said. "We are not trying to step on anybody's toes, just trying to help his chance. I don't think it will affect the team; we are trying to affect the Heisman voters."

Babic said he could not understand why the legislation did not pass or why USG would not support it.

"I don't think it was something we needed to do, but something we should do. It reaches our constituents," he said.

Babic and Gallo both said they will continue the initiative outside of USG because Johnson is not receiving the attention he deserves.

"It's not dead," Babic said.