Press Release
Media Contact:
Burt Trembly
The Rudy Foundation
(877) 598-0406
Burt@CoachingCharities.com
Record Number Of Division I Student-Athletes Nominated For 2010 College Football Rudy Awards™
LAS VEGAS, NV (December 1, 2010) - A record 55 of the 120 Division I football programs submitted nominations for the FOURTH ANNUAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL RUDY AWARDS™, it was announced today by The Rudy Foundation 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Every Division I Conference was represented in the nominations for the Award, which 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, Indiana, enabling Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger to carve his name into college football lore.
Three RUDY AWARDS™ finalists will be chosen by the Selection Committee, as well as through fan voting, and honored at the Priority Payment Systems Awards Ceremony to be held in conjunction with the American Football Coaches Convention on January 11, 2011, at the Hilton Anatole, in Dallas, Texas. Rudy Ruettiger will personally present the awards. Fans can view nominees and cast their votes from December 1-13 for the most deserving player at www.CollegeRudyAwards.com.
Each finalist will be presented with a classic finalist award and have an academic scholarship made in his name to the general scholarship fund of his college or university, as well as have travel expenses paid to the event. An overall winner will be chosen and presented with the top scholarship and bronze RUDY AWARD trophy.
"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 Rudy Ruettiger. "I am so excited to see how this award has grown into one of the top collegiate honors for kids who weren't born with tremendous athletic talent, perhaps, but have overcome the odds and persevered because of their heart. The fact that we again had more than 40% of the Division I football programs submitting nominations, with every conference represented, speaks volumes about the importance of CHARACTER, COURAGE, CONTRIBUTION and COMMITMENT in sports and in our society."
The nominees for the 2010 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RUDY AWARDS™ are:
| Nominee | College | Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Banjo | SMU | June Jones |
| Howard Barbieri | Rutgers | Greg Schiano |
| Gary Beemer | Florida | Urban Meyer |
| Brett Brackett | Penn State | Joe Paterno |
| Dylan Breeding | Arkansas | Bobby Petrino |
| Garrett Chisolm | South Carolina | Steve Spurrier |
| Austin Contreras | UTEP | Mike Price |
| Doug Deakin | San Diego State | Brady Hoke |
| Kyle Delahooke | Navy | Ken Niumatalolo |
| Ras-I Dowling | Virginia | Mike London |
| DeQuin Evans | Kentucky | Joker Phillips |
| Kevin Fogler | Air Force | Troy Calhoun |
| Andrew Gachkar | Missouri | Gary Pinkel |
| Emmanuel Gatling | Mississippi State | Dan Mullen |
| Sean Goldstein | Miami | Randy Shannon |
| Derek Good | Colorado State University | Steve Fairchild |
| Daniel Graff | LSU | Les Miles |
| Brett Greenwood | Iowa | Kirk Ferentz |
| Adam Harris | Syracuse | Doug Marrone |
| Alex Henery | Nebraska | Bo Pellini |
| Mark Herzlich | Boston College | Frank Spaziani |
| Michael Hodges | Texas A&M | Mike Sherman |
| Steven Johnson | Kansas | Turner Gill |
| Jeremy Kellem | Middle Tennessee State | Rick Stockstill |
| Levi Koskan | Utah State | Gary Andersen |
| Mitch Krotz | Miami of Ohio | Michael Haywood |
| Michael Lemon | NC State | Tom O'Brien |
| Dustin Lineback | East Carolina | Ruffin McNeill |
| Phillip Livas | Louisiana Tech | Sonny Dykes |
| Will Lowery | Alabama | Nick Saban |
| Jamie Lukaszewski | Indiana | Bill Lynch |
| Eddie McGee | Illinois | Ron Zook |
| Matt Merletti | North Carolina | Butch Davis |
| Bryan Morgan | Duke | David Cutliffe |
| Darius Nall | Central Florida | George O'Leary |
| Ashlyn Parker | Florida International | Mario Cristobal |
| Kevin Pool | Rice | David Bailiff |
| Jerrell Powe | Ole Miss | Houston Nutt |
| William Powell | Kansas State | Bill Snyder |
| Daniel Rees | UCLA | Rick Neuheisel |
| Nick Reveiz | Tennessee | Derek Dooley |
| Andrew Rich | BYU | Bronco Mendenhall |
| Ashton Richardson | Auburn | Gene Chizik |
| James Rodgers | Oregon State | Mike Riley |
| David Ruffer | Notre Dame | Brian Kelly |
| Phil Swanson | Western Michigan | Bill Cubit |
| Bronson Tiwanak | Hawai'i | Greg McMackin |
| Michael Wade | Clemson | Dabo Swinney |
| Jeff Wardach | Virginia Tech | Frank Beamer |
| J.J. Watt | Wisconsin | Bret Bielema |
| Ricky Weina | Northwestern | Pat Fitzgerald |
| Mark Wetterer | Louisville | Charlie Strong |
| Matt Woodlief | Wake Forest | Jim Grobe |
| Victor Yates | Arizona | Mike Stoops |
| John Yurek | Connecticut | Randy Edsall |
The 2010 Award Selection Committee includes football coaches Barry Alvarez, David Bailiff, Gary Barnett, Fisher DeBerry, Dennis Franchione, June Jones, Chuck Knox, Gary Patterson, Buddy Pough, Jackie Sherrill and Dick Tomey, as well as former Washington Redskins Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams. Prominent businessman Peter Murphy, Jr., again serves as Chairman. Fan votes for the RUDY AWARDS™ also will contribute to the Selection Process. Finalists will be announced December 14 and listed on www.CollegeRudyAwards.com.
Past Rudy Award Winners
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 Southeast Conference Academic Honor Roll was the recipient of the 2007 INAUGURAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL RUDY AWARD.
Drew Combs, then a senior kickoff specialist for Texas Christian University, who, despite being born with a left arm that ends at his elbow, made the TCU football team as a walk on and became a key weapon on special teams, was the recipient of the 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RUDY AWARD.
LeVon Morefield, then a junior running back at the University of Akron, overcame several obstacles early in life just to reach college, including being born addicted to crack cocaine, being arrested for selling drugs and nearly dropping out of high school. While holding down three jobs, he decided to walk on to the Akron football team, eventually earning a scholarship. He was the recipient of the 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RUDY AWARD.
Terry Clayton
Drew Combs
LeVon Morefield
"You're five foot nothin', a hundred and nothin', and you have nearly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're getting a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself."
Fortune (as played by Charles S. Dutton) in the film "RUDY."
About The Rudy Foundation
The Rudy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the support and recognition of those who aspire to fulfill their dreams through character, courage, contribution and commitment. Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger and his wife Cheryl founded The Rudy Foundation in 1997. Members of the board of directors include Jerome Bettis, Ross Browner, Rick Mirer and Aaron Taylor.
The son of an oil refinery worker and third of 14 children, Rudy Ruettiger rose from valleys of discouragement to the pinnacles of success. Today, he is one of the most popular motivational speakers in the U.S. It took years of fierce determination, yet Rudy achieved his first dream -- to attend Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish. As fans cheered RU-DY, RU-DY, he sacked the quarterback in the only play in the only game of his college football career. Rudy Ruettiger remains the only player in the school's history ever to be carried off the field on his teammates' shoulders.
In 1993, TRISTAR Productions immortalized his life story with the blockbuster film, "RUDY." Written and produced by Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh, the critically acclaimed movie continues to inspire millions worldwide.
In addition to his motivational speaking, Rudy Ruettiger has co-authored several books, including: "Rudy's Insights for Winning in Life," "Rudy's Lessons for Young Champions," and "The Rudy In You," and has produced the Dream Power audio series. For more information visit: www.RudyAwards.com.
