DALLAS, Texas – Slippery Rock University senior kicking specialist #C.J. Bahr# was recently named as a semifinalist for the 2010 William V. Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy), endowed by HealthSouth and presented by the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame.
Bahr, a native of Boalsburg and graduate of State College High School, was one of only three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference student-athletes and one of 12 NCAA Division II student-athletes included on the 121-person list of semifinalists.
Up to 15 finalists will be named during a national press confernece scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 28. Each finalist is considered part of the 2010 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class and are awarded an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.
The winner of the Campbell Trophy has his scholarship increased to $25,000 and receives a 25-pound bronze trophy during a reception at the Foundation's annual awards dinner on Dec. 7 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
In order to be considered for the Campbell Trophy, nominees must be seniors or graduate students in their final year of eligibilty who carry a minimum of a 3.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. In addition, the committee recognizes only those who are significant contributors to their team and those who demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship.
“This year's Campbell Trophy semifinalists embody the National Football Foundation's mission of building leaders through football,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning whose sons Peyton (1997 Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “They are standouts in the classroom and on the field and have become leaders in their respective communities. Each school should take great pride in being represented by such well-rounded young men who will undoubtedly go on to do great things in life.”
The trophy was renamed last fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal.
“The NFF would like to personally congratulate each Campbell Trophy semifinalist for maintaining such high standards throughout their collegiate careers,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “We are extremely proud to showcase their achievements, and there is no question that the NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from among this esteemed group.”
Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to award post-graduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments. The William V. Campbell Trophy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program's mystique, having previously honored two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and five first-round NFL draft picks.
Last year's finalists combined for a 3.77 average GPA. The class boasted 14 academic all-conference student-athletes, including seven academic All-America picks; 14 all-conference players, including six All-America picks; 16 team captains; one Heisman Trophy winner; and eight members of conference championship teams.
The past recipients of the Campbell Trophy include: Air Force's Chris Howard (1990); Florida's Brad Culpepper (1991); Colorado's Jim Hansen (1992); Virginia's Thomas Burns (1993); Nebraska's Rob Zatechka (1994); Ohio State's Bobby Hoying (1995); Florida's Danny Wuerffel (1996); Tennessee's Peyton Manning (1997); Georgia's Matt Stinchcomb (1998); Marshall's Chad Pennington (1999); Nebraska's Kyle Vanden Bosch (2000); Miami's (Fla.) Joaquin Gonzalez (2001); Washington University in St. Louis' Brandon Roberts (2002); Ohio State's Craig Krenzel (2003); Tennessee's Michael Munoz (2004); LSU's Rudy Niswanger (2005); Rutgers' Brian Leonard (2006); Texas' Dallas Griffin (2007); Cal's Alex Mack (2008); and Florida's Tim Tebow (2009).