Wuerffel Trophy's profile raised with membership into NCFAA
Thursday, December 18, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Former Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel knows the significance of winning a national award. He won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and led the Gators to their first national championship the same season.
For the past decade college football's most prominent award for community service has been the Wuerffel Trophy. LSU's Rudy Niswanger won the inaugural award in 2005.
The Wuerffel Trophy was the winner Friday when it was accepted into membership of the National College Football Awards Association at the organization's winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, joining college football's other top awards such as the Heisman Trophy, Butkus Award, Outland Trophy and Co.
“This is a big milestone in our efforts to spotlight the great community service work done by football players across the country,'' Wuerffel said in a news release.
Wuerffel was in New York last week to honor this year's winner, Ole Miss linebacker Deterrian Shackelford, the 2014 Wuerffel Trophy.
While already an established award, Friday's news adds prestige and raises the Wuerffel Trophy's profile nationally.
“It is a pleasure to welcome the Wuerffel Trophy as a new member of the National College Football Awards Association,” said association president Mark Wolpert. “For the last decade Danny and his staff have done a wonderful job building their organization and have recognized players who not only excel on the field but also in their communities. We look forward to a long relationship with the Wuerffel Trophy.”
The 2014 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to Shackelford at on Feb. 13 at an awards presentation in Fort Walton Beach.
