Fans to vote for winners online; Recipients to be honored during MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney Sept. 4
The MEAC/SWAC Challenge, an ESPN Regional Television (ERT) owned-and-operated event, announced today the six nominees for the Walter Payton Achievement Award. The award is given annually to a player from each of the schools participating in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney. This year’s game will pit MEAC defending champion South Carolina State University against 2008 SWAC title winner Grambling State University from Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla., and will air on ESPN2/ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. ET.
Three finalists from each school were selected by a committee consisting of academic advisers and coaches. South Carolina State University Nominees: Otis Key (Sr., DL), Marshall McFadden (Sr., LB) and Zachary Middleton (Jr., DL). Grambling State University Nominees: Gabriel Fleming (So., DB), Van Phillips (So., WR) and Stephen Tripp (Sr., LB). For the first time ever, fans will determine the winners via online voting at www.meacswacchallenge.com from July 30 – Aug. 30. Winners will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 1, and will be honored at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff Banquet, Friday, Sept. 4.
About the Walter Payton Achievement Award
The Walter Payton Achievement Award was first presented in 2008. The honor is given annually to a player from each school participating in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney. Like Payton, who starred at Jackson State from 1971 to ’74 and earned his bachelor’s degree in communications, the recipients must be high achievers in the classroom and on the football field. Nominees are selected by a committee consisting of academic advisers and coaches and the winners are determined by online fan voting. The inaugural award recipients were Jackson State University linebacker Marcus Smith and Hampton University wide receiver Kevin Teel.
About the MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Each year, the game is played at a neutral site within the footprint of one of the conferences. The inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge in 2005 showcased the MEAC’s South Carolina State vs. Alabama State of the SWAC, with South Carolina State prevailing, 27-14. In 2006, the contest went into overtime with the MEAC’s Hampton University defeating the SWAC’s Grambling State, 27-26. The SWAC earned its first MEAC/SWAC Challenge trophy in 2007 as Southern defeated Florida A&M, 33-27. Last year, the event moved from Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., to Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, where the MEAC reclaimed the MEAC/SWAC Challenge crown, as Hampton defeated Jackson State 17-13. The MEAC leads the series 3-1. Teams for future games are determined on an annual basis.
ESPN Regional Television/Event Ownership The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than1,000 telecasts of sporting events. Coverage includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – SEC, BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, Sun Belt, WAC).
