Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award

Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award is presented annually to college football’s most inspirational individual or team. The award is one of 21 that are part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of major collegiate football awards

Synopsis of Winners

Daniel Huffman, a high school player in Rossville, Ill. , sacrificed a promising football career to donate a kidney to his ailing grandmother. Collins, a native of Lake Charles, La. , overcame his loss of hearing to meningitis at 11 months of age to earn a scholarship to the University of Central Florida as a running back. Hartl, from Denver, Colo. , battled Hodgkin’s disease throughout his college career as a fullback at Northwestern University before succumbing to the illness in August 1999.

The East Carolina football team finished the season in the national rankings after overcoming the floods and devastation that affected the entire eastern North Carolina community during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Ali overcame a troubled youth and poverty-stricken conditions to earn a football scholarship and a degree from William & Mary.

The U. S. Service Academy football teams from Air Force, Army and Navy collectively received the 2001 Disney Spirit Award in recognition of their academic, athletic and military commitments following the tragic events of Sept. 11th.

Dewayne White suffered the loss of his parents, two house fires and serious injury before matriculating to the University of Louisville where he earned school records for career sacks and tackles for loss, as well as the 2002 Spirit Award. Neil Parry overcame the amputation of his right leg to return to San Jose State to play in six games for the Spartans, while 39-year old Tim Frisby, winner of last year’s Spirit Award, followed a career in the Army by pursuing a life-long dream to play college football at South Carolina.

The Tulane University football team played 11 games in 11 different stadiums, including “home” games in six different cities after Hurricane Katrina devastated the team’s home city of New Orleans.

Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award Recipients

Year, Recipient School, (Hometown)
1996 Daniel Huffman, Rossville High School, (Rossville, IL)
1997 Dwight Collins, Central Florida University, (Lake Charles, LA)
1998 Matt Hartl, Northwestern University, (Denver, CO)
1999 East Carolina University, (Greenville, NC)
2000 Hameen Ali, College of William & Mary, (Dover, DL)
2001 United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO); United States Military Academy (West Point, NY); United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)
2002 Dewayne White, University of Louisville, (Marbury, AL)
2003 Neil Parry, San Jose State University, (Sonora, CA)
2004 Tim Frisby, University of South Carolina, (Allentown, PA)
2005 Tulane University, (New Orleans, LA)
2006 Patrick Henry Hughes, University of Louisville, (Louisville, KY)
2007 Zerbin Singleton, United States Naval Academy , (Decatur, GA)

College football awards:
Best player awards: Heisman Memorial Trophy Maxwell Award \| Walter Camp Award
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defenseman) Chuck Bednarik Award (Best Defenseman) Dave Rimington Trophy (Best C) Davey O'Brien Award (Best QB) Dick Butkus Award (Best LB) Doak Walker Award (Best RB) Draddy Trophy (Academic Heisman) Fred Biletnikoff Award (Best WR) Jim Thorpe Award (Best DB) John Mackey Award (Best TE) Johnny Unitas Award (Best Senior QB)	Lombardi Award (Best Lineman or LB) Lott Trophy (Defensive impact) Lou Groza Award (Best PK) Manning Award (Best QB) Mosi Tatupu Award (Best spec. Rossville is a village in Ross Township, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. Lake Charles is the fifth largest incorporated City in the US state of Louisiana. East Carolina University is a public, Coeducational, Doctoral / Research University located in Greenville, North The United States Air Force Academy ( USAFA or Air Force) is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States DeWayne White (born October 19, 1979 in Marbury Alabama) is a professional football player for the Detroit Lions of the National The University of Louisville (also known as U of L) is a public University in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Tulane University is a private, Nonsectarian, Coeducational Research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, Colleges and military academies The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by a panel of Sportscasters Sportswriters and The Walter Camp Award is given annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive collegiate football player adjudged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best The Dave Rimington Trophy is awarded to the player considered to be the best center in College football. The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, is presented annually to the The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985 is given annually to the top linebacker in College football. Named after the SMU and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker, the Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990 Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy is a trophy awarded by the National Football Foundation that is given to the American College football player with the best The Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top College football wide receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in College football since 1986. The John Mackey Award is presented annually to College football 's top Tight end. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually in the United States to the nation's outstanding senior Quarterback in The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best College football lineman or linebacker The Lott Trophy is presented annually to the College football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top College football Placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission The Manning Award has been presented annually since 2004 to the collegiate American football Quarterback adjudged by the Sugar Bowl Committee The Mosi Tatupu Award is given annually to the College Football Special Teams Player of the Year by the Maui Quarterback Club and the Hula Bowl teams) Outland Trophy (Best IOL or DL) Ray Guy Award (Best P) Randy Moss Award (Best KR/PR) Sammy Baugh Trophy (Best QB) Ted Hendricks Award (Best DE) Wuerffel Trophy (Humanitarian-Athlete)
Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year \| Home Depot Coach of the Year Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year \| Walter Camp Coach of the Year Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year \| Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year
Walter Payton Award (Best Div. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States College football Interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council The Randy Moss Return Man Award is an award named after the former Marshall Wide receiver and kick/punt returner Randy Moss. The Sammy Baugh Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top college passer The Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to College football 's top defensive end The Wuerffel Trophy is an award given annually by the All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach to the College football player "who best combines exemplary The Paul 'Bear' Bryant Award is an award that has been given annually since 1986 to NCAA College football 's national coach The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award is given annually to College football 's top head coach The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award is an annual College Football award given to the Division I-Bowl Subdivision head coach whose team excels on the field in the The Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football head coach The Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award is given annually to a College football coach by the Football Writers Association of America. The Broyles Award is an annual award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football. This article for the college football award for the professional football award see Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year. I FCS Off. ) \| Buck Buchanan Award (Best Div. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually to the nation's outstanding Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA College football defensive player I FCS Def. ) Eddie Robinson Award (Best Div. The Eddie Robinson Award is given annually to College football 's top head coach in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly I-AA I FCS Coach)
Harlon Hill Trophy (Div. The Harlon Hill Trophy has been awarded annually since 1986 to the NCAA Division II College football player of the year II) \| Gagliardi Trophy (Div. Gagliardi Trophy was first presented in 1993 to the Outstanding Division III College football player of the year by the Jostens Company and the J-Club of Saint John's University III) \| Melberger Award (Div. The Melberger Award is given annually to an outstanding US College football player in Division III III)

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College football awards:
Best player awards: Heisman Memorial Trophy Maxwell Award \| Walter Camp Award
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defenseman) Chuck Bednarik Award (Best Defenseman) Dave Rimington Trophy (Best C) Davey O'Brien Award (Best QB) Dick Butkus Award (Best LB) Doak Walker Award (Best RB) Draddy Trophy (Academic Heisman) Fred Biletnikoff Award (Best WR) Jim Thorpe Award (Best DB) John Mackey Award (Best TE) Johnny Unitas Award (Best Senior QB)	Lombardi Award (Best Lineman or LB) Lott Trophy (Defensive impact) Lou Groza Award (Best PK) Manning Award (Best QB) Mosi Tatupu Award (Best spec. Rossville is a village in Ross Township, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. Lake Charles is the fifth largest incorporated City in the US state of Louisiana. East Carolina University is a public, Coeducational, Doctoral / Research University located in Greenville, North The United States Air Force Academy ( USAFA or Air Force) is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States DeWayne White (born October 19, 1979 in Marbury Alabama) is a professional football player for the Detroit Lions of the National The University of Louisville (also known as U of L) is a public University in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Tulane University is a private, Nonsectarian, Coeducational Research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, Colleges and military academies The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by a panel of Sportscasters Sportswriters and The Walter Camp Award is given annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive collegiate football player adjudged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best The Dave Rimington Trophy is awarded to the player considered to be the best center in College football. The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, is presented annually to the The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985 is given annually to the top linebacker in College football. Named after the SMU and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker, the Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990 Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy is a trophy awarded by the National Football Foundation that is given to the American College football player with the best The Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top College football wide receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in College football since 1986. The John Mackey Award is presented annually to College football 's top Tight end. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually in the United States to the nation's outstanding senior Quarterback in The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best College football lineman or linebacker The Lott Trophy is presented annually to the College football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top College football Placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission The Manning Award has been presented annually since 2004 to the collegiate American football Quarterback adjudged by the Sugar Bowl Committee The Mosi Tatupu Award is given annually to the College Football Special Teams Player of the Year by the Maui Quarterback Club and the Hula Bowl teams) Outland Trophy (Best IOL or DL) Ray Guy Award (Best P) Randy Moss Award (Best KR/PR) Sammy Baugh Trophy (Best QB) Ted Hendricks Award (Best DE) Wuerffel Trophy (Humanitarian-Athlete)
Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year \| Home Depot Coach of the Year Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year \| Walter Camp Coach of the Year Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year \| Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year
Walter Payton Award (Best Div. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States College football Interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council The Randy Moss Return Man Award is an award named after the former Marshall Wide receiver and kick/punt returner Randy Moss. The Sammy Baugh Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top college passer The Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to College football 's top defensive end The Wuerffel Trophy is an award given annually by the All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach to the College football player "who best combines exemplary The Paul 'Bear' Bryant Award is an award that has been given annually since 1986 to NCAA College football 's national coach The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award is given annually to College football 's top head coach The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award is an annual College Football award given to the Division I-Bowl Subdivision head coach whose team excels on the field in the The Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football head coach The Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award is given annually to a College football coach by the Football Writers Association of America. The Broyles Award is an annual award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football. This article for the college football award for the professional football award see Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year. I FCS Off. ) \| Buck Buchanan Award (Best Div. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually to the nation's outstanding Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA College football defensive player I FCS Def. ) Eddie Robinson Award (Best Div. The Eddie Robinson Award is given annually to College football 's top head coach in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly I-AA I FCS Coach)
Harlon Hill Trophy (Div. The Harlon Hill Trophy has been awarded annually since 1986 to the NCAA Division II College football player of the year II) \| Gagliardi Trophy (Div. Gagliardi Trophy was first presented in 1993 to the Outstanding Division III College football player of the year by the Jostens Company and the J-Club of Saint John's University III) \| Melberger Award (Div. The Melberger Award is given annually to an outstanding US College football player in Division III III)