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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota NFF Chapter to Hold Awards Dinner
4/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
TheMinnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will honor outstanding individuals from the world
of amateur and professional football in Minnesota at the Chapter's annual awards dinner on April 18. The event, which will be held at the University of St. Thomas, will feature a keynote address by 2002 NFL MVP Rich Gannon.
Numerous college football and NFL legends will attend the event, and WCCO-TV news personality Frank Vascellaro will return for his third year as Master of Ceremonies. The Minnesota Chapter will present the 2010 Distinguished Minnesotan Award to brothers Bob and Richard "Pinky" McNamara for their contributions to Minnesota football. Natives of Hastings, Minnesota, the brothers played football for the Golden Gophers in the 1950s and remained loyal supporters of the University of Minnesota and its football program long after their playing careers were over. They have spent years raising funds for the university, and their involvement was instrumental to the completion of TCF Bank Stadium. Bob McNamara served as one of the honorary captains for the inaugural game on September 12, 2009. Pinky McNamara served on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents from 2001-2005, and his generous gifts helped fund the
building of the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota campus.
Former Gopher Eric Decker is scheduled to be in attendance and will be recognized as a finalist for the Campbell Trophy and for earning a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award last year. Minnesota's first NFF Scholar-Athlete Bob Stein (1968) is also slated to be recognized.
John Lieser will be honored with the 2010 Outstanding Officiating Award. During his more than 45 years in the profession, Lieser has officiated high school football games, including sectional contests and state championships, and college football games in the
North Central (NCC), Minnesota Intercollegiate (MIAC), and Northern Intercollegiate (NIC) Conferences. His career is further highlighted by 49 years officiating high school and intercollegiate basketball games and championships, and 45 years as the golf coach at
Apollo High School (St. Cloud). In 2009, Lieser was enshrined in the Minnesota High School Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Jim Marshall is the 2010 recipient of the Fred Zamberletti Award. The award, named for the legendary athletic trainer for the Minnesota Vikings, honors an outstanding athletic trainer who has done extensive work in the state of Minnesota. He joined the University of Minnesota staff in 1961 under Lloyd "Snapper" Stein and served both the football and hockey teams until he was named Head Football Trainer in 1975. For 25 years he worked with the Gophers football program then eventually was named Administrative Services Coordinator of the Sports Medicine Department. Marshall's 42- year career at the University of Minnesota spanned 8 university presidents, 8 head football coaches, 6 head men's basketball coaches, 6 head men's hockey coaches and well over 8000 student athletes from all the Gophers sports teams. In 1993 he was inducted into the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame and is also a member of the University of Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame.
Eight young men will receive recognition as outstanding high school Scholar-Athletes. These Scholar-Athletes, as nominated by their football coaches, were evaluated on their academic achievement (3.0 GPA or better), football ability, performance, leadership,
attitude, and service to their community. Remarkably, the average GPA among the finalists was 3.84. The 2010 honorees are Marshal Ash (Milaca HS), Dan Freund (St. Thomas Academy), Jacob McHenry (Henry Sibley HS), Gabe Mezzenga (Totino-
Grace HS), Anthony Osifuye (Woodbury HS), Alexander Richelsen (Holy Family Catholic High School), Jason Schneider (Andover HS), and Kristopher Wensmann (Melrose Area HS).
The 3rd Annual "Honoring Legends-Inspiring Leaders" awards dinner will take place on Sunday, April 18, at 6:00 pm on the campus of the University of St. Thomas. To purchase tickets to the event or to become a member of the Minnesota Chapter of the
National Football Foundation, please visit the Minnesota Chapter website: www.nffmn.org.
About the Minnesota Chapter:
The mission of the Minnesota Chapter of the NFF is to serve Minnesota and the nation by
developing leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and academic excellence in
America's youth through promoting amateur football. The Chapter aims to:
- Inspire excellence through Minnesota and College Football Hall of Fame player
and coach role models
- Highlight the educational and character-building benefits of football through
youth programs
- Honor, publicize, and financially support student-athlete football players
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