There’s so much to write about right now. The Albert Haynesworth suspension, the first time evidence that Peyton Manning is human, the Jets failing to walk after so much talk, and of course the Cam Newton controversy.
I don’t want to write about any of that. Nothing negative right now. I need to talk about something positive. Yesterday the William V. Campbell Trophy was awarded. Never heard of it? Me either. And that’s a shame. It’s the academic Heisman.
The winner? DE Sam Acho from Texas. Never mind his on field accomplishments. Sam is a Community Health major with a 3.55 GPA. He has made numerous medical mission trips to Nigeria.
I’m tired of hearing all the negatives in sports all the time. No more Heisman candidates being pimped out. No more Heisman winners thinking his parents living rent free in a great house is ok. No more running backs driving a new car that he claims belongs to his girlfriend. I’m tired of it all. Here’s where you assume I will tell you that while those players I just mentioned will end up in the NFL, the Campbell Trophy finalists will end up benefitting society. While for the most part that is true, guess what? It is possible to do both. Yup, Just ask the 1997 winner. Tennessee’s Peyton Manning. Or the 1999 recipient. Marshall’s Chad Pennington. Or last year’s winner. Florida’s Tim Tebow.
It’s clearly possible for great athletes to be great students and humanitarians at the same time. Shouldn’t we set that as a standard? Let’s let athletes know they are so much more.
It’s important the rest of the field get notice too. I feel like such a slacker:
*OT Anthony Castonza-Boston College: Biochemistry with a 3.45 GPA. Visits children at the Franciscan Hospital for Children and Camp Harbor View in Boston.
*QB Ben Chappell-Indiana: Accounting with a 3.70 GPA. 2010 AFCA Good Works Team. Organized team visits to Riley’s Children’s Hospital and the Boys and Girls Club.
*LB Alex Gross-Columbia: Sociology with a 3.58 GPA. Volunteered at the St. Francis Youth Center, collects for Toys for Tots, and delivers meals to the Padre Pio Homeless Shelter.
*FB-LB Owen Marecic-Stanford: Human Biology with a 3.47 GPA. Donates hair to Locks of Love to benefit cancer patients. Did a cardiothoracic surgery laboratory internship.
*QB Greg McElroy-Alabama: Business Marketing with a 3.83 GPA. Volunteers with Read Across America, Habitat for Humanity, the West Alabama Food Bank, and Hospice of West Alabama.
*LB Mike Mohamed-California: Business with a 3.43 GPA. A Sage Mentor for children in Berkeley and Oakland. Serves meals at a drug rehab center.
*LB Travis Nissley-Bucknell: Mechanical Engineering with a 3.96 GPA. Toys for Tots volunteer and youth football coach.
*RB Isaac Odim-Minnesota-Duluth: Mechanical Engineering with a 3.85 GPA. Vice President of the Tau Delta chapter of the Mortar Board National Honor Society. Corresponding secretary of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.
*QB Christian Ponder-Florida State: Finance with a 3.73 GPA. One of the ACC’s Top Six for Service Award winners. Volunteers with the United Way, American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, and the Children’s Miracle Network.
*OT Derek Sherrod-Mississippi State: Business with a 3.54 GPA. 4 year member of the student-athlete community service organization. Participated in the Sudduth Elementary School’s Kid’s Fair.
*OT Nate Solder-Colorado: Biology with a 3.51 GPA. Participated in the Read with the Buffs elementary school program. Helped rebuild homes in Italy. Spent time with children in a Guatemalan orphanage.
*OG Chris Stewart-Notre Dame: History with a 3.54 GPA. Currently in Law School. Helped with relief efforts in Haiti. Volunteers at the South Bend Youth Center. Visits local children’s hospitals.
*QB Scott Tolzien-Wisconsin: Consumer Affairs with a 3.50 GPA. 2010 AFCA Good Works Team. Visits elementary schools and has befriended a young cancer patient.
*RB Ben Wartman-St. Thomas(Minn): Finance with a 3.89 GPA. Coordinated the UST Football for Haiti initiative that raised $1500 in four days.
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