The Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group, Inc.

The Blanton Collier Award was established by the KY Chapter of the NFL alumni in 2007 to honor individuals who not only excelled on the football field, but utilized the platform given them through their athletic careers to give back off the field. The annual winner is chosen by the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group. The award is named for Blanton Collier who was head football coach at the University of Kentucky and went on to be head coach of the Cleveland Browns where he led them to the World Championship in 1964. Coach Collier was known for his integrity on and off the field. He always shook hands left-handed, for the left hand 'is closer to my heart'. In presenting the first award to Coach Rich Brooks, former NFL star Frank Minnifield quoted Collier's famous words, "You can accomplish anything you want, as long as you do not care who gets the credit." The list of recipients has set a high standard for the award: Coach Brooks, the 2008 awardees, members of Collier's final University of Kentucky football recruiting class and team who were recognized for "getting up off their knees and moving on to successful college careers and lives" after a coaching change which disrupted many young lives, the 2009 recipient Tony Dungy, the 2010 recipient Jim Brown, the 2011 recipient Gale Sayers, the 2012 recipients the Manning family, the 2013 recipients the Harbaughs, Jack and sons John and Jim, the 2014 recipient Franky Minnifield, and the 2015 recipient Nick Saban, the 2016 recipient Howard Schnellenberger and the 2017 recipient the 1964 NFL Champions the Cleveland Browns team.

The 2017 NFLPA Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

The 2017 Blanton Collier Award winner is the 1964 NFL Champions (Pre Super Bowl) the Cleveland Browns team. Representing the team were three outstanding players from that team, Ernie Green, Dick Safrath and Paul Warfield.

Pictured Left to Right in the Paris High School weight room are; Carolyn Collier Ware (Blanton Collier’s daughter}, Susan Ware (granddaughter), Mary Chun Slone (great granddaughter), Kay Collier McLaughlin (daughter), Dale Lindsey (Cleveland Browns), Paul Warfield (Cleveland Browns Champs), Mary Blanton Ware (granddaughter), Dick Safrath (Cleveland Browns Champs), Ernie Green (Cleveland Browns Champs), Scott Brogdon (BCSG Director), Ron Butler (BCSG President), Drew Newsome (great grandson) and Laura Slone Newsome (granddaughter).

The 2016 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

The 2016 Blanton Collier Award winner is Coach Howard Schnellenberger. The award celebration was at the Opera House in Lexington, KY on June 24, 2016.

The 2015 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

The 2015 Blanton Collier Award winner was Alabama head football coach Nick Saban. The award celebration was at the Brown Theater Louisville, KY on June 26, 2015.

Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban, Jr. is the head football coach of the University of Alabama, a position he has held since the 2007 season. Saban previously served as head coach of the National Football Leagues's Miami Dolphins and three other universities: Louisiana State University, Michigan State University and the University of Toledo. He appeared on the September 1, 2008, cover of Forbes magazine as "The Most Powerful Coach in Sports". Coach Saban's career record as a college head coach is 177–59–1.

Saban led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2003 and the Alabama Crimson Tide to BCS and AP national championships in the 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons, making him the first coach in college football history to win a national championship with two different Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936.Saban and Paul "Bear" Bryant are the only coaches to win an SEC championship at two different schools. In May 2013, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Saban also is the co-founder, along with his wife, Terry, of the foundation Nick's Kids. This foundation has been used by the Sabans to help mentally-challenged children ever since Saban started head coaching. In the first three years at Alabama, Nick's Kids raised more than $1 million.

The 2014 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

Franky Minnifield with the Blanton Collier Award accompanied by Blanton Collier Hansen (grandson of Blanton Collier from Houston), wife Diane Minnifield and Kay Collier McLaughlin (daughter of Blanton Collier from Lexington)

The 2014 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award was presented to Franky Minnifield in Louisville, KY on June 20, 2014

Franky Minnifield is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, who graduated from Henry Clay High School and the University of Louisville. After graduating from Louisville, he played cornerback for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns for nine years, from 1984 -93. During this time, Franky made the Pro Bowl 4 years straight, All NFL 3 years and played in 3 AFC championship games. Upon his retirement from professional football, he returned home to Lexington, where he still resides with his wife, Diane, and two children, Chase and Chanel. Franky displays the same tenacious commitment to his business and civic endeavors as he exhibited in his pro football career. In 2006, he received the Volunteers of America “Person of the Year” Award. In 1997, Minnifield Enterprize was selected as Lexington’s “Minority Business of the Year”. Franky has served on several boards including the YMCA of Central Kentucky, LexTran, Governor’s Sports Commission, the Lexington Sports Authority, and currently, Community Trust Bank and the University of Louisville. In addition, Franky is a member of several halls of fame including: Henry Clay High School Hall of Fame, University of Louisville Hall of Fame, Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, and the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The 2013 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

FATHER JACK HARBAUGH AND SONS JIM and JOHN RECEIVED THE NFL/COLLIER AWARD JUNE 28, 2013 IN LOUISVILLE, KY

The 2012 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

The 2011 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

GALE SAYERS RECEIVED NFL/COLLIER AWARD ON JUNE 24, 2011

Gale Sayers set a standard of excellence in his football days, first at the University of Kansas where he earned the nickname the Kansas Comet and then with the Chicago Bears where injuries ended his career after five short years. Mr. Sayers is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sayers' NFL records include most touchdowns in a rookie season (22 in 1965), most touchdowns in a game (6, tied with others), highest career kickoff return average (30.56), and most return touchdowns in a game (2, tied with many others). His friendship and support of fellow Chicago Bear Brian Piccolo was the basis for the movie Brianï¿½s Song. The movie exemplifies the type of character that Mr. Sayers has shown throughout his life. Gale Sayers has had a successful career following his retirement from football. In 1976, Sayers was named Athletic Director at Southern Illinois University. In 1984 he founded Crest Computer Supply Company in the Chicago-area. Under Sayersï¿½ leadership, the company experienced consistent growth and was renamed Sayers 40, Inc. Gale Sayers and his wife are also active philanthropists in Chicago, Kansas and elsewhere. They support the Cradle Foundationï¿½an adoption organization in Evanston, Illinois, and, most recently, they founded the Gale Sayers Center in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. The Gale Sayers Center is an after-school program for children ages 8ï¿½12 from Chicago's west side and focuses on leadership development, tutoring, and mentoring.

Drew Newsome, Great-grandson of Blanton Collier, welcomes Gale Sayers to the Bluegrass Airport, Lexington, KY.	PALS kids are part of the airport welcome in Lexington, KY.
Carolyn Collier Ware, Gale Sayers, Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, Stephen Ware, Sam Ware and Susan Ware, members of the Collier family with Gale Sayers at the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship reception at the Lyric Theater, Lexington, KY.	Scott Brogdon, President of the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group, Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, Vice Chair of the KY Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Board member of the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group, Gale Sayers and Frank Minnifield, Executive Director of the KY Pro Football Hall of Fame and Board member of the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group.
Virginia Newsome, Great-granddaughter of Blanton Collier, sang the National Anthem at the 2011 KY Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The 2010 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

JIM BROWN RECEIVED NFL/COLLIER AWARD ON JUNE 18, 2010

Jim Brown, the Hall of Fame record setting running back for the 1964 World Champion Cleveland Browns, and Founder of the Amer-I-Can Foundation to assist young people who might otherwise fall through society's cracks came to Lexington to receive the Kentucky Chapter NFL Hall of Fame BLANTON COLLIER AWARD for giving back with integrity off the field as well as on.

The BLANTON COLLIER SPORTSMANSHIP GROUP, a non-profit established to promote ethics, education and excellence in athletics joined with the KY Chapter NFL in the presentation of the award and other activities during Brown's visit to Lexington.

While many of Jim Brown's records still stand today, the KY Chapter NFL Hall of Fame Committee and the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group are proud to note that upon his retirement, the then-29 year old Brown asked not for a gala event for himself; rather, for a fund-raiser for the Negro Industrial and Economic Union which he had founded to assist minority business owners. While Brown is still known today as arguably the greatest football player to ever play the game, and is an advisor to the Browns, his time and energy are devoted to work with young people through Amer-I-Can.

Kay Collier McLaughlin and the Blanton Collier great grandchildren greet Jim Brown during his arrival at the Lexington, KY airport. Also pictured are children from the PALS program.	Kay Collier McLaughlin of the BCSG greets Jim Brown upon his arrival at the Lexington, KY airport.
Jim Brown preparing for a filmed interview by the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group, Inc. at Georgetown College, KY.	Jim Brown interviewed by Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group Board members Ron Butler and Eric Carter.

The 2009 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

The Recipient Of The 2009 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award - Coach Tony Dungy!

COACH TONY DUNGY, retired head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Bucaneers has been named the recipient of the 2009 NFLPA- Kentucky Chapter's 3rd Annual Blanton Collier Award for INTEGRITY ON AND OFF THE FIELD. He was presented the award at the 7th annual Kentucky Chapter NFL Hall of Fame Ceremony on Friday evening, June 19th, at the Opera House in Lexington, Kentucky.

At the NFL Media Conference on April 16th, the following introduction was given for the 2009 award:

We believe that there could be no higher standard set for those who might be considered for the NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award than the 2009 recipient. You have known him as the winning coach of two NFL teams. You have known him as a teacher, of both the men who have played for him, and his assistant coaches, three of whom are presently head coaches in the National Football League. You have known him to have widespread recognition as an individual of such personal integrity and deep beliefs, lived daily in his actions , that he has received awards and accolades from educational, civic and religious institutions. You have known him as the author of five books ; the title of the latest of these describes so well the reasons he has been chosen to receive this award:Quiet Strength:The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life. He is the living example of the truth of the statement that GOOD GUYS DO WIN 'on the field and in life.

Coach Dungy led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory on February 4, 2007, the first such win for an African American coach. Dungy established another NFL first by leading his teams to the playoffs for ten consecutive years. He has been involved in a wide variety of charitable organizations, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Mentors for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Prison Crusade Ministry, and All Pro Dad. He also works with Basket of Hope, the Black Coaches Association National Convention, Indiana Black Expo, the United Way of Central Indiana, and the American Diabetes Association. He retired from coaching in 2008 and now serves as an analyst for NBCï¿½s Football Night in America.

The 2008 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

1961-62 University of Kentucky Football Team

1961 University of Kentucky Varsity Football Team
ROW ONE: Ed Rutledge, coach; Joe Moraja, Doc Carson, Joe Brandel, Doug O'Brien, Jim Hill, Jon Jurgens, Gary Cochran, Dave Chapman, Irv Goode, Mel Chandler, Bill Randsell, Jerry Dickerson, Bob Butler, Wayne Dixon, Tommy Simpson, Junior Hawthorne, George Boone, coach. ROW TWO: Ermal Allen, coach; Karl Crandell, Billy Bird, Bob Farrell, Marshall Johnson, John Mutchler, Dennis Schrecker, Herschel Turner, Tommy Brush, Howard Dunnebacke, Jerry Woolum, Clarkie Mayfield, Gary Steward, Hugh Sturgeon, Bob Waddle, Bob Kosid, Ken Bocard, Perky Bryant, Bill Arnsparger, coach; ROW THREE: Harry Johnson, coach; Norm Deeb, coach; Darrel Cox, Mark Thompson, Ken Willits, Louis Owen, Ray Jeffington, Larry Schad, Tom Hutchinson, John Rampulla, Bill Baker, Frank Sakal, Jim Jarret, Vince Semary, Jerry Shepherd, Shelby Lee, Benny Monroe, John North, coach; Leeman Bennett, coach; Blanton Collier, head coach; ROW FOUR: Mike Coyle, coach; Abe Shannon, coach; Steve McGee, Dan Haley, Gary Myers, Bobby Lee, Neil James, Duane Schwartz, Elmer Jackson, John Helmers, Bill McManigal, Clark Maples, Phil Martin, Denny Cardwell, Dan Riviero, George Sengel, coach; John Knox,coach.

1961 University of Kentucky Freshman Football Team
ROW ONE:Phil Branson, Joe Bill Campbell, Phil Pickett, Larry Whitaker, Joe Parrott, Charles Young, Jesse Grant, Howard Mize, Elvis Humble, Darwin Turpin, Mike Minix. ROW TWO:Coach Deeb, Paul Pisani, Bill Burnette, Bill Hudson, Gary Mayes, Roscoe Perkins, Terry Clark, Bob Hennecke, Mike Basham, Denny Bradford, Roy Evans, Clyde Richardson, Coach Shannon. ROW THREE:Coach Bennett, Bill Jenkins, Riley Bozeman, Jim Bolus, Lindsey Able, Jim Fawns, Tom Hedden, Mike Snider, Jim Overman, Dan Sundberg, Ron Butler, Jim Cheatham, Randy Beard, Coach Johnson, Bill Gill. FOURTH ROW:Coach Coil, Frank Edmisten, Claude Hoffmeyer, Ben Harrison, Morris Hall, Scott Brogdon, Bob Brown, Crosby Bright, Joe Blankenship, Jim Foley, Giles Smith, Dale Lindsey, Jim Komara, Russell Miracle, Art Lafleur (not pictured).

The second annual NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award was presented in 2008 to the 1961-62 University of Kentucky varsity and freshman football teams, Blanton Collier's final UK team and recruiting class. It was presented for the manner in which they overcame the difficulties of the loss of their coach, and the change in coaching philosophy, in order to achieve success in life as well as on the field.

The 2007 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

Coach Rich Brooks with the Blanton Collier award trophy!

The first annual NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award was presented in 2007 to University of Kentucky head football coach Rich Brooks; for integrity on and off the field.

Coach Rich Brooks has had a high degree of success as a college and pro football coach. He ended his coaching career as head coach of the University of Kentucky. He was head coach at the University of Oregon for 17 years. Brooks was also head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. His efforts have been recognized through a number of national coaching awards including Pac- 10 Coach of the Year, Slats Gill Sportsman of the Year (State of Oregon) and National Coach of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America. Throughout his coaching career coach Brooks has been known for his ethics and his efforts to build character in his players.

More About Blanton Collier and The NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award

Collier, a native of Paris, Kentucky, played Midget Football at Georgetown, College, where his nick-name was 'Brainy.' Graduating at age 20, he became the coach of all sports at Paris High School, and taught history and math. He was a few hours from completion of his Doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of Kentucky, scouting for both Bear Bryant and Adolph Rupp when war intervened, bringing with it a story-book meeting of the high school coach from Kentucky and the famed Paul Brown, who, recognizing genius when he saw it, hired Collier to assist him in coaching the Great Lakes Navy team, and then as his top assistant with the newly formed Cleveland Browns, where the two took the Browns to the top of the pro football world. Collier then spent eight winning years in Kentucky , compiling a record of wins against arch-rival Tennessee that still stands today, before returning to Cleveland. He became Head Coach of The Cleveland Browns, master-minding their 'return to glory,' with a World Championship (pre-Super-Bowl) in 1964. The great Jim Brown said of his Coach:'I was prepared for his genius; I was not prepared for his humanity.'

His college coaching staffs yielded seven NFL head coaches and a Doctor of Philosophy. He is still known in the pro ranks as 'The Old Professor'-according to Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated, 'probably the best of them all.' His innumerable former students include such famous names as Ara Parseghian and Don Shula, as well as literally hundreds who benefitted from his teaching and his example on the field, in the classroom, and in life.

Coach Collier's biography, FOOTBALL'S GENTLE GIANT:THE BLANTON COLLIER STORY is available at local libraries and online.