Walter Camp Foundation, Inc.

Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces Major Award Winners

Ray Guy, Dick Butkus, Frank Broyles to Be Recognized

NEW HAVEN, CT – The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the recipients of three major awards – Alumnus of the Year (Ray Guy), Man of the Year (Dick Butkus) and Distinguished American (Frank Broyles).

“We are extremely honored t o recognize three outstanding human beings for these awards,” Foundation president John Barbarotta said. “These three individuals have not only made their mark on the gridiron, but their accomplishments in a greater capacity make them worthy recipients.”

The major award winners as well as the members of the 2007 Walter Camp All-America team – the 118th honored by the Foundation ­ will be recognized at the organization’s 41st annual national awards banquet on Saturday, January 12 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. Dinner ($275.00) tickets can be purchased by calling (203) 288-CAMP.

Alumnus of the Year – RAY GUY

The 2007 Walter Camp Alumnus of the Year is Ray Guy (Southern Mississippi). The nation’s top collegiate punter at Southern Mississippi, Guy earned Walter Camp All­America honors in 1972.

The first pure punter to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, Guy went to play 14 seasons for the Oakland Raiders (1973­-1986) and was the reason the term “hang­time” became used throughout the NFL. For his career, Guy averaged 42.4 yards per kick, and one had a streak of 619 punts without a block. He earned six straight Pro Bowl appearances (seven total) and played on three Super Bowl winners (1977, 1981 and 1984). In 1994, Guy was named to the NFL’s 75 th Anniversary All­-Time Team and was a member of the 1970’s All­-Decade Team.

Guy is the co­founder of the Ray Guy Kicking Academy, based in Kentucky. In addition, The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. Criteria include total average yards per kick, net average yards per kick, number of times ball downed or out of bounds inside opponents' 20-yard line.

Guy joins a distinguished list of former “Alumni of the Year” winners, including Alan Page (Notre Dame), Archie Griffin (Ohio St ate), Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh), Herschel Walker (Georgia) and last year’s recipient Mike Rozier (Nebraska).

The Walter Camp “Alumnus of the Year” award is bestowed on a worthy individual who has distinguished himself in the pursuit of excellence as an athlete, in his personal career and in doing good works for others. He must be an individual who has exhibited dedication and good moral conduct in achieving success. He must be a compassionate and unselfish person who contributes his time and assistance in helping to encourage and comfort fellow human beings less talented and less fortunate than himself. He must be an individual who takes pride in having been a Walter Camp All­American.

Man of the Year – DICK BUTKUS

Walter Camp All­-Century Team member and NFL Hall­-of-­Famer Dick Butkus (University of Illinois) is the recipient of the 2007 Walter Camp “Man of the Year” award.

A two-­time Walter Camp All­-America selection (1963 and 1964) while playing center and linebacker for the Fighting Illini, Butkus was drafted by the Chicago Bears and became one of the most­ feared defensive players in NFL history. An eight-­time Pro Bowl selection, Butkus was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. A member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All­-Time Team, Butkus had his number 51 jersey retired by the Bears in 1994.

After his playing career, Butkus became a well­-known celebrity endorser, broadcaster and actor. In addition, the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, FL created an award in his name and is given annually to the most outstanding linebacker in college football.

Butkus joins an impressive list of former “Man of the Year” winners, including Roger Staubach (Navy), Gale Sayers (Kansas), Jim Kelly (Miami), Anthony Muñoz (USC) and last year’s recipient Mike Utley (Washington State).

The Walter Camp “Man of the Year” award honors an individual who has been closely associated with the game of football as a player, coach or close attendant to the game. He must have attained a measure of success and been a leader in his chosen profession. He must have contributed to the public service for the benefit of his community, country and his fellow man. He must have an impeccable reputation for integrity and must be dedicated to our American Heritage and the philosophy of Walter Camp.

Distinguished American – FRANK BROYLES

Former collegiate player, coach and athletic administrator Frank Broyles (Georgia Tech) is the recipient of the 2007 Walter Camp “Distinguished American” award.

As a quarterback, Broyles led Georgia Tech to four bowl appearances was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 1944. He entered the coaching ranks in 1947 and served as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, University of Texas and the University of Florida before getting the head coaching position at the University of Missouri in 1957. After one just year, he moved to the University of Arkansas and over the following 19 seasons led the Razorbacks to one national championship (1964), two Cotton Bowl wins and seven Southwest Conference titles.

In 1974, he was appointed as the Men’s Athletic Director at Arkansas and under his leadership Razorback teams have won over 40 national championships and have built several world­class athletic facilities. Broyles recently announced his retirement, effective December 31, 2007, ending a 50-year association with the University.

Broyles is known for producing high quality coaches and the Broyles Award, the annual award for best assistant coach, is named after him.

Past recipients of the Walter Camp Distinguished American honor include nationally-­respected sportscaster Pat Summerall (2004), all­-purpose television personality Regis Philbin (2003), NBC Sports Executive Dick Ebersol (1996), former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1994), world­-renowned entertainer Bob Hope (1985), and last year’s recipient former coaching standout Dick Vermeil.

The Walter Camp “Distinguished American” recipient is an individual who has utilized his or her talents to attain great success in business, private life or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done. He or she may have a record of dedication to mankind which should not pass unrecognized and whose life has been dedicated to the preservation of the American ideal. The recipient need not have participated in football but must be one who understands its lesson of self-­denial, cooperation and teamwork and who is a person of honesty, integrity and dedication. He or she must be a leader, an innovator, even a pioneer, who has reached a degree of excellence which distinguished him or her from contemporaries and who lives within the principles of Walter Camp.

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Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp — a former Yale University athlete and football coach — is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation — a New Haven based all volunteer group — was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All America team.