Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award
Awarded for | "the player who by his conduct on and off the gridiron demonstrates a high esteem for the football code and exemplifies sportsmanship to an outstanding degree." |
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Location | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Country | United States |
Presented by | Gridiron Club of Greater Boston |
History | |
First award | 1946 |
Most recent | Patrick Witt Bryant Johnston |
Website | http://gridclubofgreaterboston.com/awards/swede-nelson-award.html |
The Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award is an American college football award given annually by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston to "the player who by his conduct on and off the gridiron demonstrates a high esteem for the football code and exemplifies sportsmanship to an outstanding degree" among northeastern colleges and universities.[1] In 1982, the award was narrowed to the player deemed to be the "very best, and most academically talented, college football player in New England."[1][2]
Since 1989, the award has been given annually to two players (with the exception of a single winner in 1996, three winners in 2007 and 2015, and no award given during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic), one from a Division I football program, and one from a small college.[2]
The award is the fourth oldest collegiate football award in the United States, following the Heisman, Maxwell, and George "Bulger" Lowe trophies.[2]
The award is named after the founder of the Gridiron Club, Nils V. "Swede" Nelson, a former college player at Harvard and coach. Nelson was a member of the unbeaten Harvard football team that defeated Oregon in the 1920 Rose Bowl.
The inaugural winner of the trophy was quarterback Perry Moss of Illinois in 1946. Other notable winners of the award include Doak Walker (1949), Johnny Bright (1951), Floyd Little (1966), Dick Jauron (1971), Otis Armstrong (1972), Tom Waddle (1988), Jay Fiedler (1992), Matt Hasselbeck (1997), Mark Herzlich (2009), Anthony Castonzo (2010), and Zach Allen (2018).
Past winners
Year | Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Justin Anagonye | OL | Brown |
2023 | Brady Klein | RB | MIT |
2022 | Vinny DePalma | LB | Boston College |
2022 | Tony Hooks | LB | Bates College |
2021 | Peter Oliver | RB | Holy Cross |
2021 | Mike Pedrini | RB | Tufts |
2019 | Jake McIntyre | K | Harvard |
2019 | Nick Bainter | OL | Springfield College |
2018 | Zach Allen | DL | Boston College |
2018 | Joe Wilson | OL | Wesleyan University |
2017 | Peter Pujals | QB | Holy Cross |
2017 | Chris Hayden | OL | Springfield College |
2016 | Justin Wain | P | Connecticut |
2016 | Mark Upton | LB | Bates College |
2015 | Brian Strachan | WR | Brown |
2015 | Anthony Massucci | DB | Stonehill College |
2015 | Ty Spencer | WR | Fitchburg State |
2014 | Tyler Varga | RB | Yale |
2014 | Danny Guadagnoli | QB | Bentley University |
2013 | Devin Brown | DB | UMass |
2013 | Tim Grupp | OL | WPI |
2012 | Emmett Cleary | OL | Boston College |
2012 | Ethan Peterson | OL | MIT |
2011 | Patrick Witt | QB | Yale |
2011 | Bryant Johnson | QB | Bentley |
2010 | Anthony Castonzo | OL | Boston College |
2010 | Ryan Schmid | DL | Coast Guard |
2009 | Mark Herzlich | LB | Boston College |
2009 | Alex Rubino | DL | MIT |
2008 | Andrew Berry | DB | Harvard |
2008 | James Oleinik | OL | MIT |
2007 | Dan Guariglia | OL | Amherst |
2007 | Ryne Nutt | C | Central Connecticut |
2007 | Steve Morgan | P/K | Brown |
2006 | Ed McCarthy | OL | Yale |
2006 | Brendan Fulmer | WR/P/K | Williams |
2005 | David Diamond | OL | Bowdoin |
2005 | Nick Hartigan | RB | Brown |
2004 | Keron Henry | WR | Connecticut |
2004 | Fletcher Ladd | RB | Amherst |
2003 | Steve Fox | OL | Holy Cross |
2003 | Greg Wood | WR | Worcester State |
2002 | Kevin Noone | OL | Dartmouth |
2002 | Chuck McGraw | RB | Tufts |
2001 | John Richardson | OL | Boston College |
2001 | Bob Montgomery | C | UMass Lowell |
2000 | Eric Johnson | WR | Yale |
2000 | Tim McCarthy | OL | Middlebury |
1999 | Isaiah Kacyvenski | LB | Harvard |
1999 | Nicholas Kozy | OL | MIT |
1998 | Matt Jordan | WR | UMass |
1998 | Eric Trum | OL | Tufts |
1997 | Matt Hasselbeck | QB | Boston College |
1997 | Daniel Lord | OL | Tufts |
1996 | Joseph DeAngelis | OL | Trinity |
1995 | Tim O'Brien | OL | Boston College |
1995 | Mike Rymsha | QB | Bentley |
1994 | Andre Miksimow | OL | Boston University |
1994 | Nate Sleeper | QB | Williams |
1993 | Keith Miller | RB | Boston College |
1993 | Michael Turmelle | DB | Bowdoin |
1992 | Jay Fiedler | QB | Dartmouth |
1992 | Roderick Tranum | WR | MIT |
1991 | Paul Capriotti | RB | Maine |
1991 | Paul Oliveira | OL | Tufts |
1990 | Brad Preble | DB | Dartmouth |
1990 | Mark Katz | OL | Bowdoin |
1989 | Ben Cowan | OL | Boston University |
1989 | Rich Schachner | RB | Coast Guard |
1988 | Tom Waddle | WR | Boston College |
1987 | Gordie Lockbaum | RB/DB | Holy Cross |
1986 | Stan Kaczorowski | OL | UMass |
1985 | Guy Carbone | OL | Rhode Island |
1984 | Steve Strachan | RB | Boston College |
1983 | Matt Martin | LB | Holy Cross |
1982 | John Loughery | QB | Boston College |
1981 | Kenny Duckett | WR | Wake Forest |
1980 | Jerry Pierce | LB | Dartmouth |
1979 | Tom Bell | OL | BYU |
1978 | Rich Leach | QB | Michigan |
1977 | Roy Heffernan | RB | Middlebury |
1976 | Peter Cronan | LB | Boston College |
1975 | George Niland | OL | Trinity |
1974 | Peter Gorniewicz | RB | Colby |
1973 | James Stoeckel | WR | Harvard |
1972 | Otis Armstrong | RB | Purdue |
1971 | Richard Jauron | RB | Yale |
1970 | Renso Perdoni | DL | Georgia Tech |
1969 | Steve Smear | DL | Penn State |
1968 | Vic Gatto | RB | Harvard |
1967 | Brian Dowling | QB | Yale |
1966 | Floyd Little | RB | Syracuse |
1965 | Thomas Clarke | OL | Dartmouth |
1964 | Arthur Roberts | RB | Columbia |
1963 | Bob Cappadona | RB | Northeastern |
1962 | Pat Culpepper | LB | Texas |
1961 | Joseph Kowalski | OL | Rutgers |
1960 | Alan Rozycki | RB | Dartmouth |
1959 | George Roden | QB | Colby |
1958 | J.W. Brodnax | RB | LSU |
1957 | Thomas Salvo | OL | Boston University |
1956 | James Swink | RB | TCU |
1955 | Don Hollender | TE | Army |
1954 | Arthur Luppino | RB | Arizona |
1953 | Don King | QB | Clemson |
1952 | Joseph Mitinger | QB | Yale |
1951 | Johnny Bright | RB | Drake |
1950 | Bob Williams | QB | Notre Dame |
1949 | Doak Walker | RB/DB/K | SMU |
1948 | Gordon Long | OL | Arkansas |
1947 | Everett Dorr | RB | Boston University |
1946 | Perry Moss | QB | Illinois |
References
- ^ a b "McGraw to Receive Gridiron Club's Swede Nelson Award". Tufts University. 2003-01-08. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
- ^ a b c "Bowdoin's Dave Diamond Honored by Gridiron Club of Greater Boston". New England Small College Athletic Conference. 2005-12-30. Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
External links
- Gridiron Club of Greater Boston - Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award Winners
- v
- t
- e
- Heisman Trophy (winners) (Most outstanding)
- Maxwell Award (Player of the year)
- Walter Camp Award (Player of the year)
- Defunct: Archie Griffin Award (Most valuable)
- Chic Harley Award (Best player)
- AP Player of the Year (1998)
- Sporting News Player of the Year (1942)
- Defunct: UPI Player of the Year
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defensive player)
- Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive player)
- Lott Trophy (Defensive player)
- Outland Trophy (Interior lineman)
- Manning Award (Quarterback)
- Davey O'Brien Award (Quarterback)
- Doak Walker Award (Running back)
- Fred Biletnikoff Award (Receiver)
- John Mackey Award (Tight end)
- Joe Moore Award (Offensive line)
- Rimington Trophy (Center)
- Ted Hendricks Award (Defensive end)
- Butkus Award (Linebacker)
- Jim Thorpe Award (Defensive back)
- Lou Groza Award (Placekicker)
- Ray Guy Award (Punter)
- Patrick Mannelly Award (Long snapper)
- Jet Award (Return specialist)
- Peter Mortell (Holder)
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Senior quarterback)
- Paul Hornung Award (Most versatile)
- Lombardi Award (Best performance)
- Jacobs Blocking Trophy (Best blocker)
- Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award (Best player of Polynesian descent)
- Deacon Jones Trophy (HBCU's most outstanding player)
- AFCA Coach of the Year Award (1935)
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (1957)
- Sporting News Coach of the Year (1963)
- Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1967)
- Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (1976)
- Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (1986)
- George Munger Award (1989)
- Home Depot Coach of the Year (1994)
- AP Coach of the Year (1998)
Defunct: Joseph V. Paterno Award (2010)- Bobby Bowden Coach of the Year Award (2009)
- Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2006)
- Woody Hayes Trophy (1977)
- Broyles Award (Assistant Coach of the Year)
- AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year
- Walter Payton Award (Div. I FCS offensive player)
- Buck Buchanan Award (Div. I FCS defensive player)
- Jerry Rice Award (Div. I FCS freshman)
- Eddie Robinson Award (Div. I FCS coach)
Defunct: Mickey Charles Award (Div. I FCS student-athlete)- STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year (Div. I FCS offensive player)
- STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year (Div. I FCS defensive player)
- STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year (Div. I FCS freshman)
- STATS FCS Coach of the Year (Div. I FCS coach)
- Harlon Hill Trophy (Div. II)
- Gagliardi Trophy (Div. III)
- Rawlings Award (NAIA)
- Hec Crighton Trophy (U Sports)
- Fred Mitchell Award (non-Div. I FBS placekicker)
- Defunct: Melberger Award (Div. III)
and versatility awards
- Academic All-America of the Year (Student-athlete)
- Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award
- William V. Campbell Trophy (Student-athlete)
- Wuerffel Trophy (Humanitarian-athlete)
- Senior CLASS Award (Div. I FBS student-athlete)
- Burlsworth Trophy (Walk-on)
- Rudy Award (inspirational/motivational)
- Champ Pickens Cup (1923–1926; Southern Conference champion)
- Conerly Trophy (Mississippi)
- Jon Cornish Trophy (top Canadian NCAA player)
- Dudley Award (Virginia)
- Norris Cup (North Carolina, school's best athlete)
- Porter Cup (South, school's best athlete)
- Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (Texas-related offensive player)
- Kent Hull Trophy (Mississippi; offensive lineman)
- Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award (New England sportsmanship)