To Members of CoSIDA Division I, II and III Schools & Conferences:
As time nears for this season’s The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards, Disney Sports is in search of college football’s most inspirational figure, to honor with the Disney Sports Spirit Award.
Since 1996, the Spirit Award has been presented annually to college football’s most inspirational student-athlete, team or figure. It isn’t based on stats or a team’s record, but rather the impact created off the field.
The award will be presented for the 14th consecutive year Thursday, Dec. 10, during the live broadcast on ESPN of The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards at Walt Disney World Resort.
If you are aware of an inspirational figure in college football at your NCAA Division I, II or III school or within your conference, we encourage you to nominate that individual or team for this year’s Disney Sports Spirit Award as early as possible. Disney Sports and ESPN’s College GameDay regularly share story ideas to feature during their broadcasts.
Nominations for the 2009 Disney Sports Spirit Award may be submitted online at www.wdwpress.com/spirit or emailed to tony.morreale@disney.com. The deadline for the award nominations is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2009.
Prior Recipients
Because of his humanitarian efforts, University of Florida’s Tim Tebow was honored with the Disney Sports Spirit Award in 2008. During his acceptance speech, Tebow was very complimentary of the award and said, “This means a lot, especially for me it means more than winning the Heisman or those other awards, because it’s about what I do off the field, and that’s more important.”
In 2007, U.S. Naval Academy slot back Zerbin Singleton displayed an unwavering determination, overcoming a serious car wreck and a series of family tragedies to pursue his dream of one day becoming a part of the U.S. space program.
The year before, Patrick Henry Hughes was saluted with the award for his indomitable spirit as a member of the Louisville marching band despite being blind and physically challenged from birth.
Previous Disney Spirit Award Recipients
1996: Daniel Huffman, Rossville High School (Rossville, Ill.)
1997: Dwight Collins, Central Florida University (Lake Charles, La.)
1998: Matt Hartl, Northwestern University (Denver, Colo.)
1999: East Carolina University*, East Carolina University (Greenville, N.C.)
2000: Hameen Ali, College of William & Mary (Dover, Del.)
2001: U.S. Air Force Academy** (Colorado Springs, Colo.), United States Military Academy** (West Point, N.Y.) and United States Naval Academy** (Annapolis, Md.)
2002: Dewayne White, University of Louisville (Marbury, Ala.)
2003: Neil Parry, San Jose State University (Sonora, Calif.)
2004: Tim Frisby, University of South Carolina (Allentown, Pa.)
2005: Tulane University*, Tulane University (New Orleans, La.)
2006: Patrick Henry Hughes, University of Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)
2007: Zerbin Singleton, United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Md.)
2008: Tim Tebow, University of Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.)
* presented to entire football team
** presented to football teams at all three service academies