DALLAS (FWAA) Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Jim Weaver is the weekly nominee for the 2013 Discover Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award that will be announced at the end of the season.
Weaver disclosed in 2006 that he suffers from Parkinson's Disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that can cause speech and coordination problems. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2004.
In recent years he has under gone several back surgeries, but still serves as the Hokies' athletic director. He doesn't plan to retire until the end of December 2015 when he will be 70, according to news reports.
Weaver played center and linebacker and was an assistant football coach at Penn State University. He also has been a top-notch athletic administrator in helping to lead schools such as Florida and UNLV out of NCAA probations.
In 2009, he won the National Football Foundation's John Toner Award, which is given to an outstanding athletic director each year. At Virginia Tech, he has guided the school through conference membership changes twice and a school-wide tragedy and formulated a blueprint for one of the best run athletic departments in the country.
The Courage Award was created by ESPN's senior columnist Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.
Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez (2012), Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. (2011), Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand (2010), the University of Connecticut football team (2009), Tulsa's Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).
The Orange Bowl is a 351-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. The Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Discover Orange Bowl on January 3, 2014. Other Orange Bowl core events include the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance presented by Sports Authority, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta, Orange Bowl Swim Classic and Orange Bowl Paddle Championships. For more information on the 2013-14 Orange Bowl events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, visit www.orangebowl.org.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization
founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football.
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key
executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas
that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For
more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson
at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.
2013 Discover Orange Bowl Courage Award Nominees
Sept. 25: Eric Fieilo, San Houston State
· Oct. 2: Gabe Woullard, East Carolina
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Oct. 9: Bryson James, South Alabama
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Oct. 16: Anthony Larceval, San José State
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Oct. 23: Jim Weaver, Virginia Tech
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Oct. 30: L'Damian Washington, Missouri
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Nov. 6: Josh Stewart, Oklahoma State
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Nov. 13: Case McCoy, Texas
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Nov. 20: Coaching Staff, Minnesota
Related link:
Discover
Orange Bowl Courage Award