Oct. 1, 2009
DALLAS, October 1, 2009 - Selected as the best and brightest from the college gridiron, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today the 54 FBS semifinalists for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy), endowed by HealthSouth, and the candidates for the 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.
"On the heels of our recent announcement to rename our top scholar-athlete award in honor of Bill Campbell, we are incredibly proud to select the next winner from this remarkable group of semifinalists," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning whose sons Peyton (1997 Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "As one of the nation's most influential business leaders, Bill Campbell is a powerful example of football's unique ability to build leadership qualities in our young people. The semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy have already built track records that place them squarely in his footsteps."
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Renamed this fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post- graduate scholarship.
"The Campbell Trophy semifinalists represent everything great about college football, having achieved excellence in all aspect of their lives," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "It is the NFF's duty to promote their accomplishments while encouraging future generations of gridiron standouts to aim high on and off the football field."
The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2009 NFF National Scholar- Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Campbell Trophy winner, who will have his scholarship increased to $25,000, will be announced live at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on December 8 at the prestigious Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. A total distribution of $277,000 in scholarships will be awarded that evening.
Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to award post- graduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments. The William V. Campbell Trophy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program's mystique, having previously honored two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a Heisman winner. The University of California's Alex Mack, a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, was named the 2008 Campbell Trophy recipient.
In addition to the Manning Brothers, notable NFF National Scholar-Athlete alumni include NFL standout Derrick Brooks (Florida State); actor Mark Harmon (UCLA); NASA astronaut Leland Melvin (Richmond); former Dateline NBC anchor Stone Phillips (Yale); chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament, Billy Payne (Georgia); famed NFL quarterback Steve Young (BYU); and Heisman Trophy winners Terry Baker (Oregon State), Gary Beban (UCLA); Doug Flutie (Boston College) and Danny Wuerffel (Florida).
FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION
School - Nominee Alabama - Colin Peek Arizona State - Mike Nixon Baylor - Joe Pawelek Bowling Green State - Craig Rutherford Brigham Young - Matt Bauman Central Michigan - Dan LeFevour Cincinnati - Jeff Linkenbach Colorado - Jake Behrens Colorado State - Klint Kubiak Connecticut - Bradley Kanuch Eastern Michigan - Andrew Schmitt Florida - Tim Tebow Florida International - Paul McCall Fresno State - Moses Harris Illinois - Jon Asamoah Indiana - Jammie Kirlew Kansas - Todd Reesing Kansas State - Jeron Mastrud Kentucky - Ross Bogue Louisiana-Lafayette - Scott Hayes Louisville - Joseph Tronzo LSU - Lyle Hitt Memphis - Matt Reagan Miami (Fla.) - Matt Pipho Michigan - Zoltan Mesko Middle Tennessee State - Phillip Tanner Minnesota - Eric Decker Missouri - Kurtis Gregory Navy - Ross Pospisil Nebraska - Wes Cammack Northern Illinois - Brandon Bice Northwestern - Andrew Brewer Notre Dame - Mike Anello Ohio State - Jim Cordle Oklahoma - Auston English Oregon State - Gregg Peat Penn State - Josh Hull Rutgers - Devin McCourty San Diego State - Matthew Kawulok SMU - Mitch Enright Southern California - Jeff Byers Syracuse - Andrew Robinson Tennessee - Cody Sullins Texas - Colt McCoy UCLA - Logan Paulsen UNLV - Ryan Wolfe Utah - Zane Beadles Utah State - Nnamdi Gwacham Wake Forest - Ben Wooster Washington State - Kenny Alfred West Virginia - Reed Williams Western Michigan - Tim Hiller Wisconsin - Mickey Turner Wyoming - Weston Johnson
