Football's Smith Nominated for College Football Rudy Award
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Football
University of Florida redshirt senior long snapper James Smith (Gainesville, Fla.) has been nominated for the 2nd Annual College Football Rudy Award, as announced Wednesday by The Rudy Foundation 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The award honors student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment as members of their collegiate football teams. These same traits were immortalized in the blockbuster film “RUDY” in 27 seconds and against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Ind., enabling Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger to carve his name into college football lore.
Smith is an invaluable part of the UF Football Program and is also an outstanding citizen in the surrounding Gainesville community, working on many service projects. Smith, who was elected by his teammates as a captain for the 2008 season, was selected by head coach Urban Meyer to be part of the team's Leadership Committee. He was honored as a Maximus Elitus Award recipient, presented to five members of the team who best exemplify a positive attitude, leadership, commitment to the team and superior on-field performance. Off the field, Smith is the ideal student-athlete. He is completing a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship this spring and throughout his undergraduate studies maintained a 3.52 cumulative GPA. A member of UF's Goodwill Gator program, Smith is heavily involved in service to the community.
Three Rudy Award finalists, which will be announced on Dec. 16, will be chosen by the Selection Committee and honored at a breakfast to be held in conjunction with the American Football Coaches Association Convention on Jan. 12, 2009, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. Rudy Ruettiger will personally present the awards.
“We established this award as a special way to honor and recognize college football players for the size of their hearts instead of the enormity of their stats,” said Ruettiger. “It is great to see such a huge increase in the number of nominations, as we continue to build the Rudy Award into one of the top collegiate honors. Our society looks to athletes as role models… and I cannot think of a better role model than one who demonstrates great character, courage, contribution and commitment.”
The recipient of the 2007 Rudy Award was Terry Clayton, then a senior linebacker at the University of Kentucky, who, despite losing his hearing at the age of five, persevered as a walk-on for the Kentucky football team for five seasons and twice was named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
The 2008 Award Selection Committee includes football coaches David Bailiff, Gary Barnett, Fisher DeBerry, Dennis Franchione, June Jones, Chuck Knox, Gary Patterson, Buddy Pough and Dick Tomey. Former Washington Redskins' quarterback and Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams and former Los Angeles Rams' running back and Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Eric Dickerson also join the committee for 2008.
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