Why did Travis Hunter Jr.'s father miss the Heisman Trophy ceremony?

Palm Beach County native Travis Hunter Jr. was crowned the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Saturday night in New York City.

Hunter Jr., a two-way superstar with the Colorado Buffaloes, gave an emotional victory speech in which he thanked the coaches, family and supporters who helped him on his path to college football’s highest individual honor.

Hunter’s comments to his father were perhaps the most emotional as he thanked Travis Hunter Sr., who was not in the audience at Saturday’s ceremony.

“I want to say something to my father. He’s not here and couldn’t make it, but I know you’re watching on TV,” Hunter said. “Dad, I love you. For all the things you’ve been through, man… Now look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man.”

“All the times you didn’t see me, or the times you came to watch my games. From probably two games in high school to you seeing me on TV every weekend and then coming to see me. That’s what it means a lot to me.

“I know you wanted to be here and you can’t, but trust me, I’ve got you. I’m bringing the trophy home. I love you.”

Here’s a look at Travis Hunter Sr.’s decision not to attend Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy ceremony and a look at his background in Palm Beach County:

More:Travis Hunter’s family is sports royalty in his hometown of Boynton Beach

More:What if Travis Hunter Jr. followed his father’s path to fame in Boynton Beach?

Where is Travis Hunter Jr.’s father?

Travis Hunter Sr., the father of the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, chose to stay in Boynton Beach for Saturday’s ceremony.

“I don’t want to go,” he said in a recent interview with the Palm Beach Post. “I want to be there when he gets married and gets drafted. I’ll watch it from home.”

Travis Sr. spoke about his son on Dec. 5, the day he was released from the Palm Beach County West Detention Center in Belle Glade. Travis Sr. was sentenced to 90 days in prison in late September in connection with a 2023 arrest. He was released about three weeks early.

For Travis Sr., watching his son lift this country’s most coveted sports trophy was always part of the plan.

“I really don’t feel any different because I always know he could win if he just focused on winning,” said Travis Sr. “He’s always had that…since he started playing football when he was 4 years old to play.”

“At the end of the day, I always told him that he’s the best player anyway, so he has to go out and play like that. Every time I told him he had to go out and play like he was the best player in the world.

Travis Sr., 39, often attended his son’s games at Jackson State and Colorado, where Travis Jr. has developed into a generational talent.

While at the adult facility, he was able to watch most of his son’s games.

“Yeah, it hurt,” he said of not being able to attend Travis Jr.’s games in the second half of the season. “But it always hurts when I don’t go to a game.”

Who is Travis Hunter Sr.?

Travis Hunter Sr. was a football and track star at Boynton Beach High School in the early 2000s.

As a 15-year-old in 2001, Hunter Sr. was electronically timed at 10.82 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

In 2004, he set the Boynton Beach school record in the 4×100 meter relay (41.63 seconds) with Odiles Jeune, Jodson Noel and Cameron Rolle. The record stands to this day, despite relay teams led by future Heisman Trophy winner and unanimous NFL MVP Lamar Jackson suffering near misses in 2014 and 2015.

Travis Hunter Sr.’s football successes leveraged his impressive speed on offense, defense and special teams, even when the Tigers weren’t the most competitive team.

In 2004, Travis Hunter Sr. had an 82-yard kick return and a 46-yard pick-six against Martin County, helping Boynton Beach snap a 14-game losing streak.

Hunter Sr., a 2005 graduate of Boynton Beach High, had his own aspirations to play college football. He told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 2008 that he planned to join a JUCO squad in Kansas after graduating from high school, but was holding back because of his children.

Instead, Hunter Sr. played semi-pro football in the Florida Football Alliance and the Southern States Football League, for which he won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007.

“I’m trying to chase a dream,” said Travis Hunter, Sr., then 22. “I would be willing to go to the arena first and then I’ll move on. I’ll see who picks me up. I’ll go there, the Canadian League or the NFL, whoever wants me.

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Why did Travis Hunter Jr.’s father miss the Heisman Trophy ceremony?

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