Leonhard A Finalist For Lott Trophy
December 01, 2004 | Football
Jim Leonhard, senior free safety with the Wisconsin football team, has been named one of three finalists for the inaugural Lott Trophy, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation announced.
Named after NFL Hall of Fame star Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy will go to the Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year, a player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity, all characteristics exhibited by Lott during his illustrious playing career.
"I was hesitant to put my name on yet another college football award until I understood that The Lott Trophy would be the first award to give equal consideration to the personal character of these athletes,' said Lott, an All-American at USC. 'We were thrilled that we had so many excellent candidates this first year. It was extremely gratifying to learn about the positive IMPACT these outstanding young men have generated both on and off the field. I congratulate them all"
Leonhard and the other two finalists (Georgia DE David Pollack and Texas LB Derrick Johnson) will be honored in Newport Beach, Calif., at a gala banquet on Dec. 12 when the winner will be announced. Among those scheduled to speak at the banquet are Bill Walsh, John Robinson, Marcus Allen, Mark Carrier, Mike Garrett, Pat Haden, Jack Kemp and Lott.
One-third of the monies raised from the diner will go to the winner 's university while one-third of the money will go the Boys & Girls Club of America and one-third to the Pat Tillman Foundation.
