National Award Named for Danny Wuerffel
Thursday, June 9, 2005 | Football
The All Sports Association, Inc., announced Thursday the formation of the "Wuerffel Trophy," a national award which will be presented annually by that group in honor of 1996 Heisman Trophy recipient Danny Wuerffel, who also has received national recognition for his academic achievement and community service.
The Wuerffel Trophy, which will be presented for the first time this fall, will honor a college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
Wuerffel led Fort Walton Beach High School to a 1991 state championship before embarking on a legendary career at the University of Florida that culminated in 1996 with the Heisman Trophy award and a national championship for the Gators. That same year he was named the national Academic All-America of the Year and also received the Draddy Trophy, which is presented by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame to the nation's top football scholar-athlete. Wuerffel is the only Heisman Trophy recipient in history to also receive the Draddy Trophy. In recent years Wuerffel has received awards for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans.
John Watts, president of the All Sports Association, said, "The All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach believes that the time is right to honor a college football player who combines excellence in three areas: community service, academics and athletics. There are many awards that honor players for excellence at their particular position or for their skills and there are some academic related awards, but there is no award that honors a player for all-around excellence in these three combined areas. We feel strongly that Fort Walton Beach's own Danny Wuerffel has become the epitome of someone who best embodies the combination of all three of these important traits and that is why our organization is stepping forward to present this trophy in his honor. In 2006, the trophy will go to a player in Division I-A of the NCAA, but it is our hope in the near future that we will open this award up to honor a player who is nominated from any of the NCAA divisions or the NAIA."
Danny Wuerffel said, "The biggest thing I just really feel humbled that my name will be attached to this. Secondly, very excited that there is an award to honor those who excel at more than just sports and academics."
Rudy Riska, executive director emeritus of the Heisman Trophy Trust, said, "I think this is an award that is right for the times. We're having a lot of trouble with youngsters staying in school and getting their education and being productive. Any time you can influence young people whether it's with programs or with an outstanding award based on goodness and academics and leadership, you need those kinds of awards, especially at this time. I think it's a great award. You couldn't pick a better guy to name it after."
In addition to Riska, the selection committee includes former players Irv Cross, Bill Curry, Mike Ditka and former Heisman winner Steve Owens, television broadcasters Dick Enberg and Mike Gottfried, and Robert Casciola, past president of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. More members expect to be added to cover all the regions of the country.
Wuerffel also has won the Walter Camp Award, the O'Brien Award twice, the Maxwell Award and Unitas Award. He had a six-year NFL career with stops in New Orleans, Green Bay, Chicago and Washington.
The Wuerffel Trophy, which will be presented for the first time this fall, will honor a college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
Wuerffel led Fort Walton Beach High School to a 1991 state championship before embarking on a legendary career at the University of Florida that culminated in 1996 with the Heisman Trophy award and a national championship for the Gators. That same year he was named the national Academic All-America of the Year and also received the Draddy Trophy, which is presented by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame to the nation's top football scholar-athlete. Wuerffel is the only Heisman Trophy recipient in history to also receive the Draddy Trophy. In recent years Wuerffel has received awards for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans.
John Watts, president of the All Sports Association, said, "The All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach believes that the time is right to honor a college football player who combines excellence in three areas: community service, academics and athletics. There are many awards that honor players for excellence at their particular position or for their skills and there are some academic related awards, but there is no award that honors a player for all-around excellence in these three combined areas. We feel strongly that Fort Walton Beach's own Danny Wuerffel has become the epitome of someone who best embodies the combination of all three of these important traits and that is why our organization is stepping forward to present this trophy in his honor. In 2006, the trophy will go to a player in Division I-A of the NCAA, but it is our hope in the near future that we will open this award up to honor a player who is nominated from any of the NCAA divisions or the NAIA."
Danny Wuerffel said, "The biggest thing I just really feel humbled that my name will be attached to this. Secondly, very excited that there is an award to honor those who excel at more than just sports and academics."
Rudy Riska, executive director emeritus of the Heisman Trophy Trust, said, "I think this is an award that is right for the times. We're having a lot of trouble with youngsters staying in school and getting their education and being productive. Any time you can influence young people whether it's with programs or with an outstanding award based on goodness and academics and leadership, you need those kinds of awards, especially at this time. I think it's a great award. You couldn't pick a better guy to name it after."
In addition to Riska, the selection committee includes former players Irv Cross, Bill Curry, Mike Ditka and former Heisman winner Steve Owens, television broadcasters Dick Enberg and Mike Gottfried, and Robert Casciola, past president of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. More members expect to be added to cover all the regions of the country.
Wuerffel also has won the Walter Camp Award, the O'Brien Award twice, the Maxwell Award and Unitas Award. He had a six-year NFL career with stops in New Orleans, Green Bay, Chicago and Washington.
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