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11th ANNUAL O’CHARLEY’S DINNER OF CHAMPIONS HONORS THE BEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE SPORTS
2009-03-03
March 2, 2009
11th ANNUAL O’CHARLEY’S DINNER OF CHAMPIONS HONORS THE BEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN
MIDDLE TENNESSEE SPORTS
Nashville, Tenn. March 2, 2009- The Nashville Sports Council tonight honored the best in Middle Tennessee sports at the 11th Annual O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions. Award recipients were honored at the event attended by more than 600 attendees at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. "We applaud all of the nominees and award winners whose outstanding achievements represent all of the good that comes from participating in sports. We thank them for being a part of Middle Tennessee’s defining sports moments in 2008 and for giving our community so many reasons to cheer,” said Jeff Warne, O'Charley's concept president.
Vanderbilt University’s Bobby Johnson won Sports Person of the Year. In his seventh season as head coach of the Vandy football team, he led the Commodores to their first bowl game in 26 years and their first bowl victory in 53 years. Coach Johnson and his team started the season 5-0 with upsets over South Carolina and Auburn. They would finish 7-6 for the first winning season in 26 years. Their seventh victory would be an upset of #24 Boston College in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Coach Johnson was also named Co-Coach of the Year in the SEC.
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt University Basketball player, was named the Ed Temple Amateur Athlete of the Year. Shan led the SEC in scoring, three-point field goals made and three-point field goal percentage during the 2007-08 season. He also became the all-time leading scorer for Vanderbilt and became the school’s leader in three-point field goals made and attempted as well as first player in school history to score over 2,000 points. Shan was named SEC Player of the Week a record four times during the season and posted the most 20-point games in the league. Shan was named SEC Player of the Year and selected to the All-SEC First Team.
In a heartfelt moment, former David Lipscomb Men’s Basketball Coach, Don Meyer was presented with the Kaia Jergenson Courage Award. Don’s life took an unlikely turn when he was involved in a car accident that took place just after the 2007-08 basketball season ended. During surgery to mend injuries from the crash, doctors discovered that Don also had cancer of the small intestine and liver. He remained in the hospital for two months, after which he returned to work almost immediately. On Jan. 10, 2009, confined to a wheelchair as a result of the accident, Don earned win number 903, making him the winningest coach in NCAA men’s basketball history.
Betty Wiseman was the recipient of the Fred Russell Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1968, Betty along with Belmont president Herbert Gabhart founded the women’s basketball program at Belmont. Belmont women’s basketball team was one of the first women’s collegiate programs in the southeast. Betty was named “Coach of the Year” four times, including at the Women’s NIT. In 1981 Betty was inducted into the Belmont Athletics Hall of Fame and in 1999 she was recognized by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Betty was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Community Spirit Award was awarded to Nashville Predator J.P. Dumont. J.P. has proved to be very involved in the Middle Tennessee community through his work with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and the United Way.
The High School Male Athletics Award was presented to Lipscomb High School Football and Track & Field notable Zach Rogers. Zach was honored by The Tennessean as a member of the All Mid-State Boys Track Team and named Mr. Football for Class 3A Back. Zach won the 100, 200 meter, as well as the long jump and anchored the 800-meter relay for the Lipscomb state championship team. On the football field, Zach rushed 59 times for 671 yards and 9 touchdowns along with having 369 yards on 14 catches for an additional 6 touchdowns. Zach will continue his football career at the University of Tennessee.
In a heartfelt moment, former David Lipscomb Men’s Basketball Coach, Don Meyer was presented with the Kaia Jergenson Courage Award. Don’s life took an unlikely turn when he was involved in a car accident that took place just after the 2007-08 basketball season ended. During surgery to mend injuries from the crash, doctors discovered that Don also had cancer of the small intestine and liver. He remained in the hospital for two months, after which he returned to work almost immediately. On Jan. 10, 2009, confined to a wheelchair as a result of the accident, Don earned win number 903, making him the winningest coach in NCAA men’s basketball history.
Betty Wiseman was the recipient of the Fred Russell Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1968, Betty along with Belmont president Herbert Gabhart founded the women’s basketball program at Belmont. Belmont women’s basketball team was one of the first women’s collegiate programs in the southeast. Betty was named “Coach of the Year” four times, including at the Women’s NIT. In 1981 Betty was inducted into the Belmont Athletics Hall of Fame and in 1999 she was recognized by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Betty was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Community Spirit Award was awarded to Nashville Predator J.P. Dumont. J.P. has proved to be very involved in the Middle Tennessee community through his work with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and the United Way.
The High School Male Athletics Award was presented to Lipscomb High School Football and Track & Field notable Zach Rogers. Zach was honored by The Tennessean as a member of the All Mid-State Boys Track Team and named Mr. Football for Class 3A Back. Zach won the 100, 200 meter, as well as the long jump and anchored the 800-meter relay for the Lipscomb state championship team. On the football field, Zach rushed 59 times for 671 yards and 9 touchdowns along with having 369 yards on 14 catches for an additional 6 touchdowns. Zach will continue his football career at the University of Tennessee.
The High School Female Athletics Awardwas presented to Independence High School Cross Country / Track & Field star Kathy Kroeger. Kathy will go into the state record books as the most decorated high school distance runner in state history. During 2008, she won both the 1600 meter and 3200 meter events in the Class AAA state championship for the second time, finished first in the South Regional which led to sixth place finish at the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship. She was also named the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award winner, an annual award given to the nation’s top male and female high school student-athlete for excelling in academics, athletics and community service.
Hillsboro High School Football was awarded the High School Male Team Athletics Award. The Class 4A state football championship game will go in the record books for Hillsboro High School as they upset Maryville, ending their 74 game winning streak, which was the nation’s longest high school winning streak.
Greenbrier High School Volleyball was awarded High School Female Team Athletics Award. With their second consecutive state title Greenbrier’s Volleyball team became only the second Robertson County team to win back-to-back state titles. Greenbrier won three straight games against Boyd-Buchanan to capture the Class A/AA championship. The team won their fifth straight district and fourth straight regional title.
The 2nd Annual Sergeant York Trophy was presented to Tennessee State University. The trophy was awarded to the winner of the quadrangular season football series between the four Ohio Valley Conference schools located in Tennessee: Austin Peay State University; University of Tennessee at Martin; Tennessee State University; and Tennessee Technological University. Tennessee State University was the recipient of the award in 2008 as well.
The Top Ten Sports Moments of 2008 were also unveiled during tonight’s event.
The Top Ten Sports Moments of 2008 were also unveiled during tonight’s event.
#1 Moment-Vanderbilt Football - Vanderbilt began the season 5-0 for the first time since World War II and was ranked in the Top 15 nationally. ESPN College Gameday made its first appearance in Nashville as Vandy defeated Auburn 14-13 for their first win over the Tigers since 1955. Vanderbilt defeated the Boston College Eagles (16-14) in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, their first bowl appearance since 1982 and their first bowl victory since 1955.
#2 Moment- The 2008 Tennessee Titans finished with the NFL’s best regular season record at 13-3, capturing the AFC South title and the top seed in the NFL Playoffs.
#3 Moment- The Belmont Men’s Basketball team won their third consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference tournament and appeared in their third straight NCAA Tournament in 2008.
#4 Moment- David Price showed why pro scouts have been raving about his arm for quite some time. During the Rays surprising post-season run, Price played a major role in helping the Rays to their first-ever American League Championship.
#5 Moment- Another remarkable season for Kevin Stallings’ men’s basketball program. Vandy began the year 16-0 for the first time in school history. The Commodores finished the season 19-0 at home.
#6 Moment- The Nashville Predators advanced to the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
#7 Moment- Hillsboro High School Football had one of the most successful seasons in Metro public school history. The Burros advanced to the state championship game in Murfreesboro to face traditional state power Maryville to pull off one of the biggest upsets in state championship history by defeating Maryville 10-7.
#8 Moment- Kathy Kroeger, one of the most decorated high school athletes ever in the state of Tennessee capped off her senior year in style. The future Stanford Cardinal won both the 1600 meter and 3200 meter events in the Class AAA State Championship for the second time. She was also named the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award winner.
#9 Moment- Middle Tennessee State captured two of its biggest wins in school history in 2008 by defeating the University of Maryland, 24-14 and Florida Atlantic, 14-13.
#10 Moment- Lipscomb Baseball had been waiting five years to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history so they didn’t really mind waiting 15 innings to secure the berth. It was not only the first baseball NCAA Tournament win for Lipscomb, but the first ever NCAA win in any sport at Lipscomb.
The recipient of the Nashville Sports Council Volunteer of the Year is Liz Parrott. For over five years, Liz has generously given her time as a volunteer with the Sports Council. Liz volunteers for many events such as Comcast Spotlight Sports Speakers Series, SEC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments and Music City Hits. Her favorite event to volunteer for is the Youth Football Program’s Champions Ceremony, which takes place each year before kickoff at the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl.
The Nashville Sports Council will also award two $2,500 college scholarships to a deserving male and female high school student-athlete who excels in the classroom as well as in their respective sport. This year the scholarships will be awarded to Bridget Winstead of Battle Ground Academy and Gary Pope III of Ensworth School.
The O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions was created in 1999 and is Nashville’s premier sports awards event saluting amateur and professional sports in Middle Tennessee.
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The Nashville Sports Council is a private, non-profit, membership-based organization of area corporations and individual sports enthusiasts. Created in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council’s mission is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sporting events. The Nashville Sports Council has hosted more than 120 events that have produced over $340 million in direct economic impact and is The Driving Force of Sports in Nashville. For more information, call 615.743.3120 or visit NashvilleSports.com.
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