Conerly Trophy

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The Conerly Trophy is an award given annually to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi. The winner is decided by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. All athletes at colleges or universities throughout the state are eligible for the award. Cellular South is the corporate sponsor of the award, so it is currently known as the Cellular South Conerly Trophy.

Contents

[edit] Purpose, as stated by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

To impartially select Mississippi's top college football player for the regular season.

[edit] Eligibility

All players at all of Mississippi's four-year college football programs are eligible regardless of school size, team record, position played or class standing.

[edit] Voters

Sixty media representatives from across Mississippi affiliated with radio, television and print outlets in small, medium and large markets determine the Cellular South Conerly Trophy recipient; all players are eligible on the first ballot with only the top vote-getters listed in a second and final ballot. PLEASE NOTE: Voters will rank the three players on their first round ballots in order of preference: the top player listed on your ballot will receive 3 points, #2 will receive two points and #3 1 point.

[edit] Voting criteria

Voters should evaluate a players’ entire regular season performance and should not consider post-season honors or professional potential.

[edit] Namesake

The Conerly Trophy is named after the late Charlie Conerly who is the only football inductee in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame who combines all of the following accomplishments: native Mississippian who was an All-American at The University of Mississippi; NFL rookie of the year; NFL All-Pro who quarterbacked a team to a world championship.

[edit] The actual trophy

Sculpted by the late Bruce Brady, a nationally-acclaimed sculptor from Brookhaven, Mississippi; the Conerly Trophy is a lost-wax bronze casting of an original clay sculpture by Mr. Brady; 19" high x 11" long x 7.5" wide; weighs 18.5 lb (8.4 kg); the original trophy is on permanent display at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum; an exact replica of the trophy is presented to the winner each year at the announcement dinner.

[edit] History

The award was begun in 1996. Cellular South has served as title sponsor since 1998. There was no title sponsor in 1996 and 1997. The current sponsorship agreement between the Museum and Cellular South for the Cellular South Outstanding Player Awards Series extends into June 2010.

The ten prior Cellular South Conerly Trophy presentations have been held in four cities: Jackson, Clarksdale, Tunica and Biloxi.

[edit] Cellular South Conerly Trophy past winners & presenters

[edit] Cellular South Conerly Trophy finalists

  • * Trophy Recipient

[edit] Legend

v • d • e
Conerly Trophy winners
1996: T. Thomas | 1997: S. Patridge | 1998: J. Johnson | 1999: D. McAllister | 2000: J. Bright | 2001: E. Manning | 2002: R. Davis | 2003: E. Manning | 2004: M. Boley | 2005: J. Norwood | 2006: P. Willis | 2007: D. Fletcher