Former college and NFL coach Dick Vermeil will deliver the keynote address at the 2014 Biletnikoff Award Banquet, called by 2013 keynoter Larry Csonka and other observers ”the best banquet in college sports.” Vermeil was an outstanding head coach on four levels of football in high school, community college, NCAA Division I and the National Football League. He was head coach of UCLA, the Philadelphia Eagles, the St. Louis Rams, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chairman Ritchie Pickron of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation (the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award) stated, “It is a great day for us to have the remarkable coach and great American Dick Vermeil as our 2014 banquet keynote speaker.”

In 1975, Vermeil led UCLA to its first conference championship in 10 years and that season the Bruinsbeat undefeated, top ranked, and heavily favored Ohio State in the 1976 Rose Bowl.

Coach Vermeil began his NFL head coaching career in 1976 with the Philadelphia Eagles. By 1978, the Eagles had reached the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.

Vermeil was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 1980 and led the Eagles to Super Bowl XV, losing in the Super Bowl to the Oakland Raiders.

Retiring after the 1982 season, Vermeil worked for the next 15 years as a sports commentator for CBS and ABC, before returning to the NFL to coach the St. Louis
Rams in 1997.  Leading the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XXXIV after the 1999 season, Vermeil was again named NFL Coach of the Year.

After retiring from the Rams in 2000, Vermeil was named head coach of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. In 2003, the Chiefs won the AFC West Division with a 13-3
record and were the NFL’s top ranked offense. Coach Vermeil retired at the conclusion of the 2005 season.

In 2001, Coach Vermeil received the coveted Silver Beaver Award for his steadfast and significant support of Boy Scouts of America.

Born in Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, Vermeil partnered with OnTheEdge Winery to produce his own wine, named “Garage Cabernet”, in honor of his father,
Jean Louis Vermeil.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation will celebrate its 20th annual banquet on February 8, 2014, with its usual sell-out crowd of 550 patrons at the University Center Club in the south end zone of Florida State University’s Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. The 2013 banquet saw a record $740,000 in college scholarships awarded to North Florida high school seniors who had overcome significant barriers to achieve at the highest academic and extra curricular levels. The 2014 banquet, like the 2013 banquet, will be broadcast through live streaming by ESPN3. Chairman Ritchie Pickron and Dick Vermeil will present the Biletnikoff Award trophy, the most beautiful in college sports, and the Biletnikoff Award ring to the 2013 season Biletnikoff Award winner at the 2014 banquet.

The Biletnikoff Award winner is selected by a 203- person national selection committee comprised of the nation’s outstanding college football writers, analysts, and commentators, as well as former eminent receivers and Biletnikoff Award winners.

The Foundation has achieved remarkable success over its twenty years of existence with all uncompensated volunteers as trustees and leaders. By 2013, the Foundation had achieved another milestone: Over the course of 20 years, the total value of trustees’ volunteered hours exceeded 3 million dollars. The Foundation boasts North Florida’s leading business and professional achievers as trustees. The Foundation has attracted the finest banquet keynote speakers in American sports, including Dick Vermeil, Larry Csonka, Bart Starr, Archie Manning, Don Shula, Mike Ditka, Steve Largent, Jerry Kramer, Bill Curry, Dan Fouts, and Ron Jaworski.

Fans can follow the Biletnikoff Award at its fact-filled web site: www.biletnikoffaward.com

The banquet, considered the best in college football, can be viewed at http://es.pn/YRssGR. ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, giving fans a destination that delivers thousands of live sports events annually, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members. It is available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection or video connection from an affiliated service provider. ESPN3 is currently available in 83 million homes. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, in its 20th year of existence held its 19th annual banquet on Saturday, February 9, 2013, with a sell-out crowd of 550 patrons at Florida State University’s University Center Club in the south end zone of Tallahassee’s Doak Campbell Stadium. The banquet, hailed by keynote speaker Larry Csonka, as the “best” in college sports, saw a record $740,000 in college scholarships awarded to North Florida high school seniors who have overcome significant barriers to achieve at the highest academic and extra curricular levels. In addition, at the banquet which was broadcast through live streaming by ESPN3, Foundation Chairman Walter Manley, II, presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy, the most beautiful in college sports, to 2012 winner Marqise Lee of the University of Southern California. Lee, gracious and animated, declared he would “be back” in 2014 to accept the award for a second year. Both Michael Crabtree and Justin Blackmon have twice won the Biletnikoff Award, presented to college football’s outstanding receiver. Lee delighted the enthusiastic patrons and his family by brandishing his custom designed Biletnikoff Award ring which he had received the evening prior at a welcoming party by foundation trustees. This year marked the most successful in Foundation history in terms of number of scholarship benefactors, number of scholarship recipients, amount of donated scholarship funds both received by the Foundation and awarded to Foundation scholars, and in total revenues. “Although this year is our greatest in history,” recounted Foundation Chairman Manley, “Our momentum is such that we expect every subsequent year to be the most outstanding.” Professor Manley noted that the Foundation has achieved remarkable success over twenty years with all uncompensated volunteers as trustees and leaders. In fact, this year the Foundation achieved another milestone: Over the course of 20 years, the total value of volunteered hours exceeded 3 million dollars. “We are blessed to have had many of North Florida’s most successful and talented leaders serving as trustees over the last 20 years,” noted Manley. “Our trustees’ inexorable drive and talented dedication have established the Biletnikoff Award as one of the most recognized individual awards in college football, as well as generously funding our charitable purpose in providing college scholarships to outstanding North Florida high school students,” remarked Foundation Chairman-elect Ritchie Pickron. Also recognized in the proceedings were prominent Foundation benefactor and trustee Mel Pope, III, who received a Biletnikoff Award ring; Master of Ceremonies virtuoso and former executive director of Seminole Boosters Charlie Barnes, cited as the greatest MC in Florida, who also received a custom designed Biletnikoff Award ring for 20 years of orchestrating the banquet; and, in the stunning surprise of the evening, Southern Scholarship Foundation CEO Mickey Moore, who pledged that organization’s financial support for the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation’s scholars beginning immediately. Hall of Famer Larry Csonka, also the keynote speaker at the 1997 Biletnikoff Award Banquet, delivered a stirring speech referring to barriers in life to be overcome and praising the Foundation scholars, as well as Marqise Lee, for their noteworthy lives. Csonka’s remarks were interrupted by standing ovations from an appreciative audience. The Foundation has attracted the finest speakers in American sports, including Csonka, Bart Starr, Archie Manning, Don Shula, Mike Ditka, Steve Largent, Jerry Kramer, Bill Curry, Dan Fouts, and Ron Jaworski. Fans can follow the Biletnikoff Award at its fact-filled web site: www.biletnikoffaward.com. The banquet, considered the best in college football, can be viewed at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/798617/2013-biletnikoff-awards-banquet ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, giving fans a destination that delivers thousands of live sports events annually, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members. It is available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection or video connection from an affiliated service provider. ESPN3 is currently available in 83 million homes. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

ESPN3 will carry live Saturday’s sold-out 19th annual Biletnikoff Award Banquet starting at 7 p.m. (EST) from the University Center Club at Florida State University’s Doak Campbell Stadium.

The banquet, considered the best in college football, can be viewed at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/798617/2013-biletnikoff-awards-banquet 

The Biletnikoff Award Banquet will honor sixteen remarkably talented North Florida high school senior scholarship recipients. The Foundation will provide $640,000 in scholarships to these sixteen outstanding young men and women, who have overcome significant emotional, mental, physical, and environmental barriers to achieve at the highest academic and extracurricular levels.

Founding Trustee and Foundation Chairman Walter W. Manley, II, commented, “We know what these seniors have come through and we are very proud of them and their indomitable spirit. These scholars will become important leaders in the Florida and America of the 21st century!”

Pro football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka will deliver the keynote address to a sold-out crowd of over 550 patrons and present the Biletnikoff Award trophy, the most beautiful trophy in college sports, to 2012 winner Marqise Lee of the University of Southern California. The Biletnikoff Award recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football.

ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, giving fans a destination that delivers thousands of live sports events annually, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members. It is available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection or video connection from an affiliated service provider. ESPN3 is currently available in 83 million homes. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award presented annually to college football’s outstanding receiver, has selected sixteen remarkably talented high school seniors of high character as Foundation Scholars.

The Foundation will provide $640,000 in scholarships to these outstanding young men and women, who have overcome significant emotional, mental, physical, and environmental barriers to achieve at the highest academic and extracurricular levels.

Founding Trustee and Foundation Chairman Walter. W. Manley, II, commented, “These students will become important leaders in the Florida and America of the 21st century!”

Scholarship Committee Co-Chairmen Richard Bush and Dr. Chuck Newell remarked, “Foundation designations for scholarship awards are the most coveted in Florida, as the competition is fierce due to the large number of quality applicants and the fact that the requirements to be so designated are extraordinarily high.”

“In fact, the overall quality of applicants has never been higher and the distinction of those ranked among the top 50 in the applicant pool is the most outstanding in our 19 years history,” said Chairman Manley.

The sixteen honored scholars are:

Elizabeth Bailey, Leon High School, Tallahassee, The Tracy Biletnikoff Memorial Scholar

Joseph Briggs, Rickards High School, Tallahassee,The Brooks Rogers Memorial Scholar

Aileen Kadzis, John Paul II High School, Tallahassee,The Foundation Trustees Memorial Scholar

James Covington, Maclay School, Tallahassee
Esther Synthia Jean, Lincoln High School, Tallahassee
Evan Cole Gentry, North Florida Christian School, Tallahassee
Marcus Mascagni, Leon High School, Tallahassee
Dana McCalvin, School for the Arts, Tallahassee
Jasmyne Arnold, Lincoln High School, Tallahassee
Sudhanshu Rath, Rickards High School, Tallahassee
Savanna Harris, Wakulla High School, Crawfordville
Stephanie Stone, Godby High School, Tallahassee
Amion Carridine, Rickards High School, Tallahassee
Kaytron Coker, Godby High School, Tallahassee
Patricia Moes, John Paul II High School, Tallahassee
Rashid Elsamra, Godby High School, Tallahassee

Scholar biographies will be posted to the website in the coming weeks at www.biletnikoffaward.com

The Foundation will introduce the scholars at the 19th annual Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, February 9, 2013. Pro football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka will deliver the keynote address to 550 patrons and present the Biletnikoff Award trophy, the most beautiful trophy in college sports, to 2012 winner Marqise Lee of the University of Southern California.

The Biletnikoff Award was featured in the January 2013 issue of the Tallahassee Magazine article titled, “Celebrating the Catch: A heavyweight award with a Tallahassee connection“, by Lizeth George.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, announces that Marqise Lee of the University of Southern California is the 2012 Biletnikoff Award recipient as the outstanding receiver in college football. Lee was selected by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee of 190 prominent college football sportswriters, commentators, analysts, and former players. Trustees of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation are prohibited from serving on the National Selection Committee and, hence, cannot vote. Please consult the website for a full list of voters.

Foundation Trustee and Selection Chairman Ritchie Pickron noted, “The 2012 college receivers are among the most talented and their number of outstanding receivers among the highest in the history of the Biletnikoff Award. Our voters had a difficult time because of the high quality of the group.”  Foundation Chairman and Founding Trustee Walter W. Manley, II, remarked,” As the passing game has become more dominant at the college level, the quality and quantity of terrific receivers have increased significantly. Receivers , consequently, have become the most exciting players in college football. We are proud that Fred Biletnikoff, a player with the integrity and drive to be the best player he could become, is honored by our award as well. There is a lot of Fred in Marqise Lee, to their mutual credit.”

Lee, a 21-year-old Trojan sophomore, finished the 2012 regular season with 112 catches for 1,680 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns, plus a kickoff return for a touchdown.  He currently is second nationally in per game receptions (9.3, first in Pac-12) and receiving yards (140.0), third in all-purpose yards (215.7, first in Pac-12) and 11th in kickoff returns (28.6, first in Pac-12).  He has set or tied 12 USC individual records in 2012 (four are Pac-12 marks) and five other school combination records that he set with Robert Woods (one of which  is an NCAA mark).  His 112 receptions and 1,680 receiving yards are Pac-12 season records.

Lee was a 2012 All-America first team pick by the American Football Coaches Association.  He was the 2012 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, was the only unanimous pick on the All-Pac-12 first team and also made the All-Pac-12 second team as a return specialist.  Lee has also made the 2012 Sporting News and Phil Steele’s Mid-Season All-American first teams.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. congratulates Marqise Lee on being selected the 2012 Biletnikoff Award recipient and will present the award-winning Biletnikoff Award trophy, the most beautiful in college sports, to him at the 19th annual Biletnikoff Award Banquet for 550 patrons at the University Center Club at Tallahassee’s Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, February 9, 2013, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka delivering the keynote address. At the banquet, the Foundation will recognize high school seniors who have overcome significant barriers to achieve at the highest academic and extracurricular levels and who will receive over $640,000 in college scholarships from the Foundation.

Tallahassee, FL  — The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, announces the three Finalists for the 2012 Biletnikoff Award. The electronic voting by the 190 distinguished members of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee was conducted from November 14th through November 18th. Foundation trustees cannot serve on the National Selection Committee and, hence, do not vote.

Finalists for the 2012 Biletnikoff Award are:
(listed in alphabetical order)   

Stedman Bailey, West Virginia University

Marqise Lee, University of Southern California

Terrance Williams, Baylor University

Foundation Trustee and Chairman of Selection Ritchie Pickron commented, “Biletnikoff Award voters have had a challenge because this year’s crop of receivers is as deep as any in recent memory.”  Foundation Chairman and Founding Trustee Walter Manley, II, added, “The Foundation is fortunate to have such a distinguished and knowledgeable national selection committee and we are grateful for their service.”

The three Biletnikoff Award Finalists will be highlighted on ESPNU during The Home Depot College Football Awards Nomination Special airing Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. (ET). The 30-minute show, hosted by Matt Schick, will include player interviews and analysis by Kevin Carter regarding finalists for the Biletnikoff Award and other awards presented by members of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA).

This year’s Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented by Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards show airing live from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk at the Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

The Biletnikoff Award winner will be feted and receive the award-winning Biletnikoff trophy, the most beautiful in college sports, at the 19th annual Biletnikoff Award Banquet for 550 patrons at the University Center at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, February 9, 2013. Pro Football Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka will deliver the keynote address and introduce the recipients of Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation scholarships totaling $640,000 this year. The scholarship recipients have overcome significant barriers to achieve at the highest academic and extracurricular levels.

Please consult the Biletnikoff Award website at www.biletnikoffaward.com for additional information and timely updates.

The Biletnikoff Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, www.NCFAA.org.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, announces the ten Semifinalists for the 2012 Biletnikoff Award. The electronic voting by the 190 distinguished members of the National Selection Committee was conducted from November 7th through November 11th.

Semifinalists for the 2012 Biletnikoff Award are:
(listed in alphabetical order)

Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Stedman Bailey, West Virginia

Brandin Cooks, Oregon State

Austin Franklin, New Mexico State

Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

Austin Hill, Arizona

Deandre Hopkins, Clemson

Marqise Lee, Southern California

Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech

Terrance Williams, Baylor

The vote for the three Biletnikoff Award Finalists by the National Selection Committee will open on November 14th and close on November 18th.  The three Finalists will be announced on Monday, November 19th. The Biletnikoff Award winner will be announced live on ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 6, 2012.

For more information visit our website at www.biletnikoffaward.com.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to college football’s outstanding receiver (click here for the definition of receiver eligible for the award), today announced the addition of five players to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

Those players are:

Jamison Crowder, Duke University
Mike Evans, Texas A&M
Justin Hardy, East Carolina University
Jordan Leslie, University of Texas at El Paso
Bernard Reedy, University of Toledo

For the current watch list, click here.

Interested parties should consult the Biletnikoff Award web site at www.biletnikoffaward.com for timely updates.

Tallahassee, FL – The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to college football’s outstanding receiver, today announced the addition of eleven players to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

Those players are:

Davante Adams – Fresno State University
Brandin Cooks – Oregon State University
Phillip Dorsett – University of Miami (FL)
Mike Edwards – University of Texas at El Paso
Quintin Payton – North Carolina State University
Chip Reeves – Troy University
Alonzo Russell – University of Toledo
Dawan Scott – Miami University (Ohio)
Tommy Shuler – Marshall University
Willie Snead – Ball State University
Marquelo Suel – University of Akron

“The Foundation will make further additions as game performances dictate,” noted Ritchie Pickron, Foundation Selection Chairman.

Interested parties should consult the Biletnikoff Award web site at www.biletnikoffaward.com for timely updates.