HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS : Taking center stage
Posted on Friday, December 7, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/209865/
ORLANDO, Fla. — All-America tailback Darren McFadden picked up more hardware for his trophy case, but he was not the only Arkansas angle Thursday night at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show.
McFadden collected his second consecutive Doak Walker Award, which is given to college football’s best running back. McFadden joined former Texas Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams as the only two-time winners of the award, which was handed out for the 17 th time.
“I don’t think if you did this 100 times you could get used to this,” said McFadden, who rushed for a school-record 1, 725 yards this season. “It means a whole lot to win a prestigious award like this.”
McFadden might be the best running back in college football, but there is a difference of opinion about whether McFadden or Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is the best college player, and that split was evident on Thursday night.
McFadden lost to Tebow in his pursuit of the Maxwell Award, which is given to the nation’s best all-around player, but became the first Arkansas player to be honored as player of the year by the Walter Camp Foundation.
McFadden, a junior, beat four quarterbacks for the award: Chase Daniel of Missouri, Dennis Dixon of Oregon, Matt Ryan of Boston College and Tebow in an announcement that was made in New Haven, Conn., two days before the Heisman Trophy was to be handed out in New York. McFadden is the first SEC player to win since Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel in 1996.
Losing the Maxwell Award isn’t necessarily a precursor to losing the Heisman Trophy, which will be the next battleground between McFadden and Tebow.
The last Maxwell Award winner to win the Heisman was Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne in 1999. Dayne’s sweep of the two big awards ended a streak in which eight of 10 players took both the Maxwell and the Heisman in the 1990 s.
Thirty four Maxwell winners have won the Heisman Trophy since its inception in 1937.
“I’m not going to worry about whether or not I win the Heisman,” said Tebow, who also won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. “I just want to have fun with my family up there.”
McFadden’s Doak Walker victory shared the spotlight in the Arkansas contingent. Long-time Arkansas Coach and Athletic Director Frank Broyles was presented the National Contributions to College Football Award for his 57 years of service to the game, including 50 years at Arkansas.
Broyles was introduced by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who played on Broyles ’ 1964 national championship team, and former President Bill Clinton delivered a taped message to the crowd at the Atlantic Ballroom on Disney’s Boardwalk.
Razorbacks lineman Jonathan Luigs won the Rimington Trophy which goes to the nation’s best center, while McFadden, Luigs and running back / return specialist Felix Jones were all named first-teamers on the Walter Camp All-America team.
“Three All-Americans and a running back winning a major award,” Jones said. “I think Coach Broyles is a happy man tonight.
“ I don’t think they designed this award ceremony for him, but between his recognition and the awards here tonight, it underlines this observation, to have three players representing him. This is quite a statement about Frank Broyles’ career.”
Felix Jones collected his second All-America honor by being named to the Walter Camp team. He was an All-America kick returner as a freshman in 2005.
“I’m just happy to be here,” Jones said. “I had a real good time. This was the best of the best here tonight. It’s amazing to have three [Arkansas ] offensive players on the All-America team.”