Harlon Hill Trophy
Awarded for | NCAA Division II college football player of the year |
---|---|
Location | Florence, Alabama |
Country | United States |
Presented by | National Harlon Hill Awards Committee Sports information directors |
History | |
First award | 1986 |
Most recent | Zach Zebrowski, QB, Central Missouri[1] |
The Harlon Hill Trophy is an award in American college football given to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II. The award is named for former University of North Alabama and National Football League player Harlon Hill. It was first given in 1986 to Jeff Bentrim of North Dakota State University. It is often considered to be the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Selection process
Nominations for the trophy are made by sports information directors (SIDs) from the 156 schools that participate in NCAA Division II football. All of the nominees are then presented to a four-member regional Advisory Committee, one for each competition region (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). Each committee is composed of four SIDs familiar with the process, who select up to six players who they deem worthy of the award, and give their results to the Voting Coordinator.[2]
The 24 players selected in the regional committees are referred to as "Candidates". The regional candidates are then presented to the regions' SIDs, who vote for a first, second, and third place. Each first place vote earns the player three points, while second place votes earn two, and third place votes one point. The top two players selected in each region are the "Finalists" and are placed on a national ballot.[2]
The national ballot is open to all of the SIDs, who vote for first, second, and third place amongst the eight finalists. The top three finishers are invited to the awards presentation held during the Division II Championship weekend on the North Alabama campus in Florence, Alabama. Even though the D-II title game moved to Kansas City, Kansas in 2016, the award ceremony continues to be held in Florence.[2]
Trophy
The Harlon Hill Trophy is 30 inches (76 cm) and weighs 63 pounds (29 kg). The football on top is a life-size replica of an actual game football and sits on a solid walnut base.[3] The approximate value of the trophy is $2,300. It was created by Herff Jones of Indianapolis, Indiana, which also makes such notable awards as the Heisman Trophy and the Medal of Honor. Each year's winner of the Hill Trophy is awarded a trophy to keep. The original Hill Trophy remains on display in something or somewhere called 'the Shoals' year-round and bears the names of each year's recipient. The award was first presented in 1986.
Replicas of the Harlon Hill Trophy are on display at:
- The College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
- The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Alabama.
History
The trophy is named after Harlon Hill, who played at Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama) from 1950 to 1953, where he was named an NAIA All-American in his senior year. Hill was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 15th round of the 1954 NFL Draft. He played for the Chicago Bears (1954–61), Pittsburgh Steelers (1962), and Detroit Lions (1962). Hill was the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1954 and its most valuable player in 1955, both voted by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. He was a three-time All-Pro selection between 1954 and 1956.[4]
Through 2009, only three winners have been selected in the NFL Draft. Three-time winner Johnny Bailey was selected by the Chicago Bears in the ninth round of the 1990 draft. Bailey played six seasons in the NFL and was selected to the 1993 Pro Bowl.[5] Ronald Moore was taken by the Phoenix Cardinals in the fourth round in 1993 and played six seasons.[6] Bernard Scott was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round in 2009 and debuted during his rookie season in 2010.[7]
Others were signed in the NFL as undrafted free agents. Two-time winner Danny Woodhead made his NFL debut with New York Jets in 2009.[8] Ronald McKinnon signed with the Arizona Cardinals, where he played from 1996 to 2004. He played an additional season for the New Orleans Saints for a total of ten seasons in the league, recording over 1,000 tackles.[9]
As of 2009, three winners—Johnny Bailey, Jeff Bentrim, and Ronald McKinnon—have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Four players have won the award multiple times: Johnny Bailey in 1987, 1988, and 1989, Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001, Danny Woodhead in 2006 and 2007, and Jason Vander Laan in 2014 and 2015. All but one winner (Ronald McKinnon, 1995) have been offensive positions.[10]
Winners
Trophies won by school
This is a list of the colleges and universities who have had a player win a Hill trophy: Colorado Mines, Texas A&M–Kingsville, Valdosta State, and Ferris State are tied for the most trophies at 3 each. Eight schools have had two different players claim the award—Bloomsburg, Central Missouri, Ferris State, North Alabama, North Dakota State, Pittsburg State, and Valdosta State. Texas A&M–Kingsville boasts the only three-time winner, Johnny Bailey. Mines is the only program to have three different winners. In total, players from 20 different schools have won a Harlon Hill, while ten schools have more than one trophy.
School | Trophies held |
---|---|
Colorado Mines | 3 |
Texas A&M–Kingsville† | 3 |
Ferris State | 3 |
Valdosta State | 3 |
Bloomsburg | 2 |
Central Missouri | 2 |
Chadron State | 2 |
North Alabama§ | 2 |
North Dakota State§ | 2 |
Pittsburg State | 2 |
Abilene Christian§ | 1 |
East Stroudsburg | 1 |
Emporia State | 1 |
Grand Valley State | 1 |
Mars Hill | 1 |
New Haven | 1 |
Northern Colorado§ | 1 |
Shepherd | 1 |
Shippensburg | 1 |
Truman | 1 |
Wayne State (MI) | 1 |
Colorado Mesa | 1 |
Texas A&M–Commerce§ | 1 |
Slippery Rock | 1 |
†previously known as Texas A&I
§currently an NCAA Division I FCS program
Sponsors
- City of Florence
- Herff-Jones
- Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa
- OptiNet
- Florence-Lauderdale Tourism
References
- ^ "Zach Zebrowski wins Harlon Hill Trophy".
- ^ a b c "How The Winner is Selected". National Harlon Hill Awards Committee. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- ^ "The History of the Harlon Hill Trophy". National Harlon Hill Awards Committee. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
- ^ "Who is Harlon Hill?". National Harlon Hill Awards Committee. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
- ^ "Johnny Bailey". National Football League. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
- ^ "Ronald Moore". National Football League. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
- ^ "Bernard Scott". Cincinnati Bengals. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
- ^ "Danny Woodhead". National Football League. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
- ^ McIntyre, Jeff (December 19, 2009). "The Graduate, Starring Ronald McKinnon". Times Daily. Retrieved December 28, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Previous Harlon Hill Trophy Winners". National Harlon Hill Awards Committee. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
- Heisman Trophy (winners) (Most outstanding)
- Maxwell Award (Player of the year)
- Walter Camp Award (Player of the year)
- Defunct: Archie Griffin Award (Most valuable)
- Chic Harley Award (Best player)
- AP Player of the Year (1998)
- Sporting News Player of the Year (1942)
- Defunct: UPI Player of the Year
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defensive player)
- Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive player)
- Lott Trophy (Defensive player)
- Outland Trophy (Interior lineman)
- Manning Award (Quarterback)
- Davey O'Brien Award (Quarterback)
- Doak Walker Award (Running back)
- Fred Biletnikoff Award (Receiver)
- John Mackey Award (Tight end)
- Joe Moore Award (Offensive line)
- Rimington Trophy (Center)
- Ted Hendricks Award (Defensive end)
- Butkus Award (Linebacker)
- Jim Thorpe Award (Defensive back)
- Lou Groza Award (Placekicker)
- Ray Guy Award (Punter)
- Patrick Mannelly Award (Long snapper)
- Jet Award (Return specialist)
- Peter Mortell (Holder)
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Senior quarterback)
- Paul Hornung Award (Most versatile)
- Lombardi Award (Best performance)
- Jacobs Blocking Trophy (Best blocker)
- Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award (Best player of Polynesian descent)
- Deacon Jones Trophy (HBCU's most outstanding player)
- AFCA Coach of the Year Award (1935)
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (1957)
- Sporting News Coach of the Year (1963)
- Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1967)
- Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (1976)
- Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (1986)
- George Munger Award (1989)
- Home Depot Coach of the Year (1994)
- AP Coach of the Year (1998)
Defunct: Joseph V. Paterno Award (2010)- Bobby Bowden Coach of the Year Award (2009)
- Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2006)
- Woody Hayes Trophy (1977)
- Broyles Award (Assistant Coach of the Year)
- AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year
- Walter Payton Award (Div. I FCS offensive player)
- Buck Buchanan Award (Div. I FCS defensive player)
- Jerry Rice Award (Div. I FCS freshman)
- Eddie Robinson Award (Div. I FCS coach)
Defunct: Mickey Charles Award (Div. I FCS student-athlete)- STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year (Div. I FCS offensive player)
- STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year (Div. I FCS defensive player)
- STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year (Div. I FCS freshman)
- STATS FCS Coach of the Year (Div. I FCS coach)
- Harlon Hill Trophy (Div. II)
- Gagliardi Trophy (Div. III)
- Rawlings Award (NAIA)
- Hec Crighton Trophy (U Sports)
- Fred Mitchell Award (non-Div. I FBS placekicker)
- Defunct: Melberger Award (Div. III)
and versatility awards
- Academic All-America of the Year (Student-athlete)
- Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award
- William V. Campbell Trophy (Student-athlete)
- Wuerffel Trophy (Humanitarian-athlete)
- Senior CLASS Award (Div. I FBS student-athlete)
- Burlsworth Trophy (Walk-on)
- Rudy Award (inspirational/motivational)
- Champ Pickens Cup (1923–1926; Southern Conference champion)
- Conerly Trophy (Mississippi)
- Jon Cornish Trophy (top Canadian NCAA player)
- Dudley Award (Virginia)
- Norris Cup (North Carolina, school's best athlete)
- Porter Cup (South, school's best athlete)
- Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (Texas-related offensive player)
- Kent Hull Trophy (Mississippi; offensive lineman)
- Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award (New England sportsmanship)