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1993 ROB WALDROP ARIZONA

1994 1995 & 96 1997 WARREN PAT CHARLES SAPP FITZGERALD WOODSON MIAMI

NORTHWESTERN

MICHIGAN

1998 CHAMP BAILEY GEORGIA

1999 COREY MOORE

VIRGINIA TECH

2000 2001 2002 DAN ROY TERRELL MORGAN WILLIAMS SUGGS

2015 BRONKO NAGURSKI

MIAMI

OKLAHOMA

ARIZONA STATE

2003 2004 DERRICK DERRICK STRAIT JOHNSON OKLAHOMA

TEXAS

TROPHY THE NATIONAL

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS BANQUET PRESENTED BY ACN MONDAY 2005 2006 ELVIS JAMES DUMERVIL LAURINAITIS LOUISVILLE

OHIO STATE

2007 GLENN DORSEY LSU

2008 2009 BRIAN NDAMUKONG ORAKPO SUH TEXAS

NEBRASK A

DECEMBER 7, 2015

2010 DA’QUAN BOWERS CLEMSON

2011 LUKE KUECHLY

B O S T ON C OL L E GE

2012 MANTI TE’O

NOTRE DAME

2013 AARON DONALD

PIT TSBURGH

2014 SCOOBY WRIGHT III ARIZONA

2015 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY AWARDS BANQUET PRESENTED BY ACN

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

AU BU RN TIG ER S

2013 SEC CHAMPION 2013 SEC COACH OF THE YEAR

UR NT IGE RS

GUS MALZAHN

AU BU RN TIG ER S

AUBURN UNIVERSITY HEAD FOOTBALL COACH


KEYNOTE SPEAKER

GUS MALZAHN AUBURN UNIVERSITY HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

I

n two years as head coach at Auburn, Gus Malzahn has led the Tigers to a 20-7 record and two January bowl games, including a Southeastern Conference Championship and an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game in 2013. Named the 2013 National Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to a 12-2 record and one of the most memorable seasons in school history, Malzahn’s second squad finished 8-5 record after navigating the nation’s most difficult schedule. In 2014, Auburn faced 11 teams that were bowl eligible, with five road games against ranked opponents. One of the most innovative offensive minds in football, Malzahn’s highpowered offense has accounted for an average of 493.4 yards total offense and 37.6 points per game over two seasons. Malzahn, 29-10 in three seasons as a head coach,

has won or played for a conference title in six of his nine seasons as a college coach, including winning a conference crown in three of the last five seasons with Auburn in 2010 and 2013 and Arkansas State in 2012. He became just the third coach in SEC history to win an SEC title in his first year at a school, joining LSU’s Bernie Moore in 1935 and Ole Miss’ John Vaught in 1947. In 2013 Malzahn earned SEC Coach of the Year honors after guiding Auburn to the biggest turnaround in SEC history. He has produced 12 1,000-yard rushers in nine seasons as a college head coach/coordinator, at least one in each season. In 2013, Auburn led the nation in rushing at 328.3 yards per game (the first SEC team ever to do so), and the have been the SEC’s top rushing team over the last two years, averaging 293.2 yards a contest. Auburn was just

the second team in SEC history to gain more than 7,000 yards total offense in a season in 2013, finishing the year with 7,018 yards; the other was Texas A&M in 2012. Malzahn, who won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach in 2010 while helping the Tigers to the national title, returned to Auburn after serving as the head coach at Arkansas State in 2012, where he led the program to the Sun Belt Conference title. As offensive coordinator, Malzahn made an immediate impact during his tenure at Auburn, highlighted by a recordsetting offense in 2010 when the Tigers finished 14-0 and claimed the school’s first national title since 1957. Malzahn’s arrival in 2009 and style of offense marked a drastic turnaround from the 2008 season when Auburn struggled offensively. In a two-year period, the Tigers improved from a tie for

110th to seventh in the nation in scoring offense (from 17.3 to 41.2) and from 104th to seventh in total offense. The 2010 Auburn offense set nine school records, while leading the SEC and finished in the top 10 nationally in six statistical categories. He coached Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who had one of the best single-season performances at the position in college football history. Malzahn’s coaching career began in his home state of Arkansas at the high school level. In 14 seasons as a high school head coach, Malzahn led seven teams to the state championship game and won three titles. In July 2013, he was inducted into the Arkansas High School Sports Hall of Fame. Malzahn is married to the former Kristi Otwell and they are the parents of two daughters, Kylie and Kenzie.


2015 LEGENDS AWARD RECIPIENT PRESENTED BY FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY

TA TE BU CK E YE SO HIO S TA TE BU CK E OS

OHIO STATE, LB, 1971-1973

YE SO

RANDY GRADISHAR


2015 LEGENDS AWARD RECIPIENT PRESENTED BY FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY

RANDY GRADISHAR

TA TE BU CK E YE SO HIO S TA TE BU CK E

the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998 and in 1999 Gradishar received the Dick Butkus Silver Anniversary Award recognizing his achievements 25 years after his graduation from Ohio State. He was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000. The Ohio State end-of-season award for most outstanding linebacker is known as the Randy Gradishar Award. Named as the 8th best Ohio State player of all-time, Gradishar also made the list of the Top 100 college football players of all-time and in 2000 was named to ABC Sports All-Century team as an inside linebacker. Gradishar was drafted 14th overall in the 1974 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Gradishar went on to spend 10 seasons with the Denver Broncos franchise. Gradishar retired after the 1983 season, finishing his career with the NFL record for most tackles all time with 2,049, and 20 interceptions, which he returned for 335 yards and three touchdowns. Gradishar was inducted to the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1989. Inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

OS

Randy Charles Gradishar was a twotime consensus All-American for the Ohio State Buckeyes, before playing ten seasons for the NFL’s Denver Broncos, where he was the centerpiece of the “Orange Crush Defense”. Gradishar, was a three-year starter with the Ohio State University from 1971 to 1973. Former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes called Gradishar “the best linebacker I ever coached”. He made 134 tackles in his senior year, 60 of them solo, to lead the team. In Gradishar’s three years with the Buckeyes, all as a starter, the team had a 25–6–1 record, with two Big Ten Conference championships. Gradishar’s final collegiate game was a 42–21 victory over the University of Southern California in the 1974 Rose Bowl, to complete a 10–0–1 season. In his senior season the Ohio State defense allowed only 64 points and posted four shutouts. Gradishar was a consensus First-Team All-America selection in 1972 and a unanimous First-Team selection in 1973. Also in 1973 Gradishar finished sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Gradishar was inducted into

YE SO

OHIO STATE, LB, 1971-1973


MASTER OF CEREMONIES

ADAM ZUCKER HOST OF CBS SPORTS’ COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY Adam Zucker was named host of COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY, CBS Sports’ pre-game, halftime and post-game studio show, in 2014. He also serves as lead anchor for CBS Sports Network, hosting various studio shows including INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL and INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL. Zucker joined CBS Sports Network in 2003 (then CSTV), shortly after its launch. He has been an Associated Press college football voter since 2012. In addition, Zucker has worked as anchor for CBS Sports’ college basketball studio coverage and CBS Sports Desk studio show. Before joining CBS Sports Network, Zucker was a sports anchor and reporter at WBRE-TV in Wilkes Barre/Scranton for nearly four years (1999-2003),

covering Penn State football, the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Penguins and top minor league affiliates. Zucker began as a sports reporter at WTVH, the CBS-affiliate in Syracuse, where he worked upon graduating from Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Public Communications (‘98) with a degree in broadcast journalism. Zucker also served as on-site host and sideline reporter for the Syracuse Radio Network’s football broadcasts during the 1999 season. Zucker is originally from New Jersey, where he now lives with his wife Rachel and their children Max and Sophie.

TROPHY HISTORY


BRONKO NAGURSKI ALL-AMERICAN, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, CHICAGO BEARS

Bronko Nagurski was a consensus All-America Defensive Tackle in 1929, and also made All-America Teams that year as a fullback, the only player ever picked at two positions. Bronko went on to an outstanding career with the Chicago Bears (1930-1937, ’43). He led the Bears to three NFL Championships. His name became synonymous with the raw, brute force of football. Even today, people can point to the brick wall he cracked when he ran into it carrying the ball for the Bears one afternoon at Wrigley Field. Created in 1993 by the Football Writers Association of America, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The Awards Banquet not only recognizes the best college defensive player, but also helps to raise money to recognize the recipients of regional high school and college scholarships. All proceeds benefit the Charlotte Touchdown Club Scholarship Fund.

1993 Rob Waldrop, Arizona 1994 Warren Sapp, Miami 1995 Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern 1996 Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern 1997 Charles Woodson, Michigan 1998 Champ Bailey, Georgia 1999 Corey Moore, Virginia Tech 2000 Dan Morgan, Miami 2001 Roy Williams, Oklahoma 2002 Terrell Suggs, Arizona State 2003 Derrick Strait, Oklahoma

2004 Derrick Johnson, Texas 2005 Elvis Dumervil, Louisville 2006 James Laurinaitis, Ohio State 2007 Glenn Dorsey, LSU 2008 Brian Orapko, Texas 2009 Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska 2010 Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson 2011 Luke Kuechly, Boston College 2012 Manti Te’o, Notre Dame 2013 Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh 2014 Scooby Wright III, Arizona

The 2015 Bronko Nagurski finalists announced November 20th

EVENT SCHEDUL


MONDAY DECEMBER 7, 2015 Sponsors Reception 5:30 pm General Reception 5:30 pm Awards Dinner 7:00 pm Black Tie Preferred Coat and Tie Required Evening Festivities Include... Sponsors reception General Reception to include Open Bar and Hors d’oevres Awards dinner Nagurski Finalists, Sports Celebrities and Coaches at select tables Keynote Address by University of Alabama Head Football Coach, Nick Saban Silent Auction Autograph and photo opportunities Video presentation highlighting each finalist Area High School Awards Bronko Nagurski Legends Award presentation Bronko Nagurski Trophy presentation

THE WESTIN HOTEL

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL:

704-347-2918

Proceeds benefit the Charlotte Touchdown Club Scholarship Fund Ticket Purchases are 80% Tax Deductible

Gold Gridiron Sponsorship Table:

One Table with Seating for EIGHT: Corporate Identification inside Ballroom Sponsor Recognition in Event Program Invitation to General Reception Touchdown Club Members - $2,500 Non-Club Members - $3,000

One Table with Seating for TEN: Touchdown Club Members - $3,000 Non-Club Members - $3,750

Individual Ticket:

Awards Dinner Invitation to General Reception Touchdown Club Members - $350 Non-Club Members - $400

Web site: www.touchdownclub.com


A LOOK BACK AT THE

BRONKO NAGURSKI

Media Partner:


2015 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY AWARDS BANQUET

ORDER FORM MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

To order tickets by mail, fill out below and mail to: Charlotte Touchdown Club 7725 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28277 704-347-2918

Club-Members

$2,500 per “Gold Gridiron” Sponsorship Table of EIGHT (8) $350 per Individual Ticket (80% of each ticket is tax deductible)

Non Club-Members

$3,000 per “Gold Gridiron” Sponsorship Table of EIGHT (8) $400 per Individual Ticket (80% of each ticket is tax deductible)

tables of TEN (10)

Name Company Address

Club Members: $3,000; Non-Club Members: $3,750 (80% of each ticket is tax deductible)

City

Gold Gridiron Sponsorship Table-Members (8)

State

Gold Gridiron Sponsorship Table-Non-Members (8)

Zip

Phone Number

Individual Ticket(s) - Members Individual Ticket(s) - Non-Members Gold Gridiron Sponsorship Table-Members (10) Gold Gridiron Sponsorship Table-Non-Members (10) Will not be able to attend, but please find my $ donation to the Charlotte Touchdown Club Scholarship Fund enclosed.

E-mail Credit Card Type (VISA, MC, AMEX only) Credit Card No. Exp. Date

Total Enclosed Please make check payable to Charlotte Touchdown Club

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