Maxwell Award

Maxwell Award. The Maxwell Award is a major annual honor presented to the most outstanding player in college football in the United States. It is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, a renowned sportswriter and football official. The award is administered by the Maxwell Football Club and has been presented since the 1937 season, making it one of the sport's oldest and most prestigious individual accolades, often considered alongside the Heisman Trophy.

History

The award was established in 1937 by the Maxwell Football Club, which was founded in Philadelphia in 1935. It was named for Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, a former Swarthmore College football standout who later became a celebrated college football official and writer for the Philadelphia Public Ledger. The creation of the award was part of a broader effort by the club to promote and recognize excellence in the sport. The first recipient was Clint Frank, a halfback from Yale University. Over the decades, the award has been presented at various ceremonies, including galas in Atlantic City and Philadelphia, and has grown in stature alongside other major honors like the Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Award.

Selection process

The selection process for the award involves several stages and a broad electorate. The voting body is comprised of a combination of college football head coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club, sportswriters, and sportscasters from across the nation. The process begins with the compilation of a "watch list" released during the preseason, which is then narrowed to a group of semifinalists and finalists as the NCAA season progresses. The final ballot is typically distributed in late November, with voters ranking their top choices. The winner is announced during a televised ceremony, often preceding or following the presentation of the Heisman Trophy.

Winners

The list of winners includes many of the most iconic players in college football history, who have often also won the Heisman Trophy. Early winners like Doc Blanchard of the United States Military Academy and Doak Walker of Southern Methodist University set a high standard. In the modern era, recipients have frequently come from powerhouse programs such as the University of Florida, where Tim Tebow won, and the University of Oklahoma, which produced winners like Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Other notable winners include Peyton Manning of the University of Tennessee, Larry Fitzgerald of the University of Pittsburgh, and Desmond Howard of the University of Michigan. The award has recognized players from various positions, including quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers.

Multiple-time winners

Only one player in the history of the Maxwell Award has won it more than once. Tim Tebow, the dynamic quarterback for the University of Florida, captured the honor in both 2007 and 2008. During those seasons, Tebow led the Gators to tremendous success under coach Urban Meyer, including a BCS National Championship in 2008. His back-to-back wins underscore the award's criteria of recognizing sustained, season-long excellence and on-field performance. No other player, including other two-time Heisman Trophy winners like Archie Griffin of Ohio State University, has achieved this feat with the Maxwell Award.

See also

* Heisman Trophy * Walter Camp Award * Davey O'Brien Award * Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award * Fred Biletnikoff Award * Doak Walker Award * Chuck Bednarik Award * Maxwell Football Club * College Football Awards

Category:American football trophies and awards Category:College football awards Category:Maxwell Football Club