By ERIC TABER
Fresh off a career-defining victory in the Grey Cup as a Canadian Football League head coach, legendary Montana quarterback Dave Dickenson doesn’t have long to bask in the celebratory glow around Calgary before hitting the road again.
In a few short days, he and his family will board a plane and head for the Big Apple to celebrate another career defined by championships as Dickenson is officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The “Legend of the Fall” heads to New York for the National Football Foundation’s Dec. 4 Awards Banquet having just completed a rare superfecta of championships in his career, something no one else in the star-studded class of 2018 can claim.
Dickenson was a two-time state champion at C.M. Russel High School in Great Falls, Montana. At UM he led the Grizzlies to a pair of Big Sky championships and the 1995 national championship as the Walter Payton Award Winner. As a pro quarterback, he was a three-time Grey Cup champion and the game’s MVP in 2006. “Super Dave” put the cherry on top of an already stellar career this past Sunday, winning his first Grey Cup as a head coach.
Now he’s preparing to cap an unbelievable week with the honor of a lifetime.
“It’s a whirlwind up here right now,” Dickenson told GoGriz.com.
“It has certainly been a great year, 2018. I’d like to think this New York trip will be one of the things I can say that I’ll always look back on, and share with my family.
“We’re going to make it a week, basically, that will be the best memories of our lives.”
Dickenson and his family will get the chance to rub elbows with some of the greatest players and coaches to ever take the field at the Awards Banquet, an event the NFF believes to be “one of the most memorable in history” thanks to its A-list lineup.
“Some of them I remember when I was in the NFL, they were playing. I remember running into Kerry Collins and how big he was,” laughed Dickenson.
“Megatron (former Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson), to me, is as good a receiver as there has been. I mean, he and Jerry Rice are probably top two.”
But in his own Montana way, Dickenson is seeing through the bright lights of the big city and the names that have dominated football headlines for decades and is looking forward to surrounding himself with people he knows he has one thing in common with: the great game of football.
“These guys are big-time names. But I’m just going to be me. Go over there and try to fit in a little bit. If they want to chat a little ball – they may or may not know about Montana or the CFL – they might, and if they don’t, no biggie. I’ll just enjoy being with them and being part of a great class,” Dickenson said.
While it’s the main draw for the who’s-who of the football world, the Hall of Fame induction is just one part of the event, with 13 of the game’s current stars set to collect $241,000 in postgraduate scholarships as members of the 2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The 13 student-athletes will also vie as finalists for the coveted William V. Campbell Trophy, which will be awarded during the event for the 29th time to the nation’s top football scholar-athlete.
Montana alum and Rhodes Scholarship finalist Derek Crittenden was a Campbell Trophy finalist in 2015. Known as the “Academic Heisman,” the Whitefish, Montana, native traveled to New York for NFF Awards Banquet before going on to post-graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
“Many people have come together to support this year’s Annual Awards Dinner, and their efforts promise to make the event a celebration for the ages. We thank them all,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “As a bridge between the regular season and the bowl season, the NFF Dinner provides a unique setting where we briefly set aside intense rivalries to join together to celebrate our sport. If you’re passionate about college football, there will be no better place to be on Dec. 4.”
Since 1958, when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower took a break from the election trail to accept the NFF Gold Medal at the inaugural event, the NFF Annual Awards Dinner has proven to be one of our nation’s most magnetic affairs, attracting giants of industry and leaders from all walks of life to New York City. The 2018 banquet marks the 61st edition, and the event has become the one night of the year that brings together all entities of college football, even bitter rivals, to celebrate the game. This year marks the second time the event will be held at the New York Hilton Midtown.
“The National Football Foundation represents everything right about our great sport, and this night simply features the best and brightest of college football,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “The accomplishments of our 2018 honorees make us all proud while providing us the ultimate vehicle for inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps.”
Dickenson is only the third person from the state of Montana to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The others: Grizzly great William “Wild Bill” Kelly who was inducted in 1969 and former head coach Bernie Bierman, who coached Grizzly football and basketball from 1919-1921 before winning five national championships at the University of Minnesota.
Named the greatest male athlete in the history of the Big Sky Conference, only three other players from the league have been enshrined: John Friesz (Idaho), Frank Hawkins (Nevada), and Randy Trautman (Boise State).
Dickenson is also the only player from the FCS/DI-AA ranks to be inducted in 2018. Only 997 players and 217 coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.26 million who have played or coached the game during the past 149 years. Meaning fewer than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have played the game have been deemed worthy of this distinction.
In September, Dickenson returned to Montana for an on-campus salute to celebrate his induction into the Hall of Fame, with the Griz donning copper and gold uniforms to mark the occasion. Next week’s ceremony in New York will bring the celebration full circle and cap one heck of a year for the Grizzly legend.
“I had a great experience down there in Missoula in September. It will be tough to top that as well, but just to kind of lock it all in, and be around football guys,” Dickenson added.
“It should be a great event.”
The 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner – December 4
With more than 70 current collegiate head coaches and more than 40 returning members of the College Football Hall of Fame in attendance, the night will feature several well-known football luminaries. ESPN3 will stream the Annual Awards Dinner live, beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
- Master of Ceremonies: Joe Tessitore, play-by-play voice of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football”
- Introduction of returning members of the College Football Hall of Fame: Holly Rowe, ESPN broadcaster
- “National Anthem”: Keith Miller, opera singer and former Colorado fullback
- Invocation: Dr. Jack Graham, Prestonwood Baptist Church (Texas) pastor
- Bestowal of the 2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards: Kathy Murphy, NFF Vice Chairwoman and President of Personal Investing at Fidelity Investments
- Awarding of the 29th William V. Campbell Trophy: Jon F. Hanson, NFF Chairman Emeritus
- Recognition of the MEAC Players of the Year and the NFF Chapter Leadership Award recipients
- NFF Legacy Award Recipients: Karl Benson, Sun Belt Conference Commissioner; Paul Hoolahan, Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO; Jonathan Taylor, Spielman, Koenigsberg & Parker Partner; and Richard Young, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP Partner
- Introduction of the NFF Major Awards: Steve Hatchell, NFF President & CEO
- NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award Recipient: Murry Bowden, Atlanta Hall Management Chairman and 2003 Hall of Fame inductee from Dartmouth
- NFF Chris Schenkel Award Recipient: Dave South, longtime Voice of the Texas A&M Aggies
- NFF John L. Toner Award Co-Recipient: Thomas Beckett, retired Yale Athletics Director
- NFF John L. Toner Award Co-Recipient: Bob Scalise, Harvard Athletics Director
- A look at why Football Matters®: Jerry Jones, NFF Board Member, Owner, President & General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys and former Arkansas football player
- Introduction of 2018 NFF Gold Medal Recipients: Jack Ford, NFF Vice Chairman, TV personality and former Yale football player
- Introduction of the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class: Archie Griffin, NFF Board Member and 1986 Hall of Fame inductee from Ohio State
- Response on behalf of the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class: Mack Brown, former Appalachian State, Tulane, North Carolina and Texas head coach
- Official College Football Hall of Fame Ring Ceremony: Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Mississippi
- “God Bless America”: Daniel Rodriguez, America’s Beloved Tenor
2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class
The induction of the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class serves as the highlight of the evening and provides the ultimate stage for the legends of yesteryear to take their rightful place among the immortals of the game. This year’s class stands among the greatest of all-time, encompassing 10 First Team All-Americans, three coaches, one Campbell Trophy winner, six unanimous First Team All-Americans, seven winners of college football major awards, two coaches with the most wins in a school’s history, one coach with the highest winning percentage in a school’s history and coaches that combined for four national championships.
The 2018 College Football Hall of Fame class includes:
- Trevor Cobb, RB – Rice (1989-92)
- Kerry Collins, QB – Penn State (1991-94)
- Dave Dickenson, QB – Montana (1992-95)
- Dana Howard, LB – Illinois (1991-94)
- Calvin Johnson, WR – Georgia Tech (2004-06)
- Paul Palmer, RB – Temple (1983-86)
- Ed Reed, DB – Miami [Fla.] (1998-2001)
- Matt Stinchcomb, OT – Georgia (1995-98)
- Aaron Taylor, C/OG – Nebraska (1994-97)
- Charles Woodson, DB – Michigan (1995-97)
- Frank Beamer, Coach – Murray State (1981-86), Virginia Tech (1987-2015)
- Mack Brown, Coach – Appalachian State (1983), Tulane (1985-87), North Carolina (1988-97), Texas (1998-2013)
- Mel Tjeerdsma, Coach – Austin College [Texas] (1984-93), Northwest Missouri State (1994-2010)
Other events surrounding the 2018 NFF Annual Awards Banquet
2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class/William V. Campbell Trophy Finalists
The 13 members of the 2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class begin their sojourn with a trip to a New York steakhouse the night before the Annual Awards Dinner, hosted by College Football Hall of Famer Don McPherson (Syracuse). The 13 honorees, who will each vie as a finalist for The William V. Campbell Trophy as the nation’s top football scholar-athlete, boast an astounding 3.70 average GPA. Other class accolades (based on 2017 accomplishments) include eight players who have already graduated, five Academic All-Americans, 11 academic all-conference selections, seven All-Americans, 11 all-conference players and four members of national championship teams.
Each Scholar-Athlete receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship with the Campbell Trophy recipient claiming a grand total of $25,000. Fidelity Investments is a proud partner of the Campbell Trophy and the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.
The 2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class/Campbell Trophy finalists include:
- Kenneth Brinson, LB – Army West Point
- Taryn Christion, QB – South Dakota State
- De’Arius Christmas, LB – Grambling State
- D’Cota Dixon, S – Wisconsin
- Ryan Finley, QB – North Carolina State
- Piercen Harnish, LB – Saint Francis (Ind.)
- Trace McSorley, QB – Penn State
- Dalton Risner, OL – Kansas State
- Max Scharping, OL – Northern Illinois
- Eric Stevenson, LB – Wheaton (Ill.)
- Easton Stick, QB – North Dakota State
- Drue Tranquill, LB – Notre Dame
- Christian Wilkins, DL – Clemson
2018 NFF Chapter Leadership Award Recipients
The NFF will recognize the recipients of the 2018 NFF Chapter Leadership Awards during the NFF Annual Awards Dinner. The awards annually recognize five individuals, one from each region of the country, for their commitment, generosity and leadership at the local level.
- Roger Crosley – Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter, representing the Northeast Region
- Dick DeWire – Colorado Chapter, representing the West Region
- Herb Goins – Corrigan/Faircloth Chapter (N.C.), representing the South Region
- Matt Sellitto – Collier County Chapter (Fla.) and Greater Morris County Chapter (N.J.), representing the South and East Regions
- Tony Versaci – State of Michigan Chapter, representing the Midwest Region
Amos Alonzo Stagg Social
The NFF will host the inaugural Amos Alonzo Stagg Social, a private event honoring the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class. The event is named for the legendary Amos Alonzo Stagg, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 as both a player and coach.
- Master of Ceremonies: Jack Ford, NFF Vice Chairman, TV personality and former Yale football player
- Introduction of 2018 Hall of Fame Class: Don McPherson, noted speaker and 2008 Hall of Fame inductee from Syracuse
MEAC Players of the Year
For the third year, the NFF will partner with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) to reveal the league’s offensive and defensive players of the year as part of the events surrounding the NFF Annual Awards Dinner. The announcement will be made the morning of Dec. 4, and the two recipients will be recognized during the NFF Annual Awards Dinner that night.
- Announcement of the MEAC Players of the Year: Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, MEAC Commissioner
- MEAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year
Ivy League Asa S. Bushnell Cup Announcement, presented by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses – December 3
On the day before the event, the NFF will partner with the Ivy League for the ninth consecutive year to co-host the presentation of the Asa S. Bushnell Cup, which honors the Ivy League Football Players of the Year. The event will take place at the New York Hilton Midtown as part of the festivities leading up to the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, and it will be carried live on ESPN+. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses returns for a fifth consecutive year as the presenting sponsor of the event.
- Master of Ceremonies: George Pyne, NFF Board Member, former All-Ivy League offensive tackle at Brown and a charter inductee into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame
- NFF Welcome: Steve Hatchell, NFF President & CEO
- Welcome Address: Lance Tibbet, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Past President
- Comments on the Ivy League football season and announcement of the 2018 Bushnell Cup winners: Robin Harris, Ivy League Executive Director
William V. Campbell Trophy Luncheon at the New York Athletic Club – December 5
The New York Athletic Club will host a special luncheon the day after the Annual Awards Dinner in honor of the 2018 Campbell Trophy recipient. The NYAC became the official home of the Campbell Trophy in 2013, and the award is prominently displayed in the NYAC Hall of Fame.
- Emcee and NFF Welcome: Jack Ford, NFF Vice Chairman, TV personality and former Yale football player
- Welcome: James Rafferty, NYAC President
- Recognition of the recipient of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award funded by the NYAC: Drue Tranquill (Notre Dame)
- Recognition of and comments from the 2018 Campbell Trophy recipient (if different than recipient of NYAC Scholar-Athlete Award)
NFF National Scholar-Athletes at the 2018 Sports Business Journal – Learfield Intercollegiate Athletics Forum – December 5
The NFF has partnered with the Sports Business Journal in helping promote the Learfield Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, which takes place Dec. 5-6 in New York. This year, the NFF will again send two members of the 2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class to speak at the forum as part of a panel discussing their life-changing experiences as high performing student-athletes (if one of these two wins the 2018 Campbell Trophy, they will not attend the Forum). The panel will take place on Dec. 5 at 10:45 a.m. ET.
- Panel Moderator: Jack Ford, NFF Vice Chairman, TV personality and former Yale football player
- Participating NFF National Scholar-Athletes: De’Arius Christmas (Grambling State) and Dalton Risner (Kansas State)