The end of every college football season means that there are a plethora of awards given to players and coaches who are judged to be outstanding by the media. The most famous of these awards is the Heisman trophy, annually presented to the nations outstanding college football player by the Downtown Athletic Club of Manhattan. The club created the award to honor John Heisman, an early great of college football as a player and coach. Heisman had served as president and general manager of the club for many years and passed away in 1936. The first winner was University of Chicago Offensive Back Jay Berwanger in 1935. Although there are many awards now, the Heisman Trophy is still the “Oscar” of college football. The 2015 winner is Alabama runningback Derrick Henry. Henry swept most of the other top honors as well including The Maxwell Trophy as the Nations outstanding Player, Walter Camp Award, and the Doak Walker Award as the Nations Outstanding College Runningback. Connor Cook of Michigan State received the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the Nations Outstanding College Passer, but Deshaun Watson won the Davy O’Brien Award as College Footballs Outstanding Quarterback. Cory Coleman of Baylor won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as College Football Best Wide Receiver. Hunter Henry of Arkansas was presented the Jon Mackey award as College Footballs Top Tight End. Stanford University Offensive Guard Joshua Garnet won the Outland Trophy presented to the Nation’s Top Interior Lineman. Penn State Senior Defensive End Carl Nassib won both the Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks award for his outstanding defensive play. Nissib was also the Lott IMPACT Trophy as a defender for both his outstanding performance and character. Temple University linebacker Tyler Matakevich was both the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Award.While Notre Dames Jaylon Smith won the Dick Butkus award as the Nations Outstanding Linebacker. Smith is from Fort Wayne. Stanford University sophomore runningback Christian McCaffrey won the Paul Hornung Award as College Footballs Most Versatile Player. Alabama’s Ryan Kelly won the Remington Trophy as the Nation’s Outstanding College Football Center. Desmond King Of Iowa University won the Jim Thorpe Award as the Top Defensive Back in College Football. UCLA’s Ka’ imi Fairbairn won the Lou Groza Award as College Footballs Best Placekicker. Utah’s Tom Hackett was the Ray Guy Award winner for the second year in a row as the nation’s best college punter.
Clemson University Head Coach Dabo Swinney won the Home Depot Coach of the Year Award for guiding the Tigers to an undefeated season and a number one ranking in all the major polls.
There are several service and character awards. Hank Goff a defensive tackle of Concordia-St Paul University in Minnesota won the Disney Spirit Award as the most Inspirational Player or the Year. Oklahoma Center Ty Darlington won the Outland Trophy as the Top Scholar-Athlete in College Football.
Awards are fun and sometimes winners go on to bigger things. Colt tight end Dwayne Allen was the Mackey Award winner in 2011. Peyton Manning won the Outland Trophy in 1997as well as the Davy O’Brien Award. Peyton and Andrew Luck are both former Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Winners. They both won the Maxwell Trophy. A players outstanding college football performance does not guarantee success in professional football, but it doesn’t mean the players award is bogus or unwarranted. Any player who is so honored should be rightly proud.
Colts and Texans This Sunday
The Colts and Texans do battle this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The winner will most likely go on to be the American Football Conference South Champions and go to the playoffs. Both teams are tied for the division lead with 6-7 records. Both are coming off smack down losses. However the Colts 51 to 16 humiliation at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars is a game that will live in infamy in the hearts of all Colts fans. The Colts played soooooo badly that it’s almost unbelievable. The fact that they are still in contention for a playoff berth is even more unbelievable. After losing to the Patriots Sunday night the Texans also lost the services of starting quarterback Brian Hoyer due to a concussion. All World defender J. J. Watt has a broken right hand. They are at a disadvantage, The Colts still have a cheese cloth offensive line and the defense has given up 96 points in the last two games. That’s right 96 POINTS. The Blue is at home and the Texans have never done well here….but! the winner of the AFC South could have a losing record. No matter what happens to the Colts before the season is over, expect some major changes for the team in the off season.
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