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The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) is an organization of college football media members in the United States founded in 1941.
History and operations
It is composed of approximately 1,200 professional sports writers from both print and Internet media outlets. 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 game day operations, and strives for better working conditions for sports writers in college football press boxes, and deals with access issues to college athletes and coaches. The FWAA also sponsors scholarships for aspiring writers and an annual writing contest.
The FWAA is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also selects the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, the Outland Trophy winner, a freshman All-America team, and weekly defensive player of the week, as well as developing scholarship programs and surveys for better working conditions. From 1954 to 2013, the association awarded the Grantland Rice Trophy to the college football team they chose to be the National Champion.
All-America Committees
The Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee selects the 25-man All-America Team and the winners of the Bronko Nagurski and Outland trophies. In the spring, the committee selects the FWAA All-America Watch List and the watch lists for both of the FWAA's major player awards. The FWAA has chosen an All-America Team annually since the 1944 season; it is the second longest continuously-published team in major college football.
2009 Committee
- John Davis, Oxford (Miss.) Eagle
- Heather Dinich, ESPN.com
- Pete DiPrimio, Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel
- Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com
- Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star
- Pete Fiutak, College Football News
- Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Anthony Hanshew, The Herald-Dispatch
- Dave Matter, Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune
- Mick McGrane, The San Diego Union-Tribune
- Rodney McKissic, The Buffalo News
- Adam Sparks, The Daily News Journal
- Phil Steele, Phil Steele Publications
- Jimmy Watson, Shreveport Times
2008 Committee
- Bob Asmussen, Champaign News-Gazette
- Frank Coyle, draftinsiders.com
- Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman
- Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com
- Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
- Antonya English, St. Petersburg Times
- Maureen Fulton, Toledo Blade
- Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
- Tom Kensler, Denver Post
- Lenn Robbins, New York Post
- George Schroeder, Eugene Register-Guard
- Phil Steele, Phil Steele Publications
- Paul Strelow, The State
- Phil Stukenborg, The Commercial Appeal
2007 Committee
- Mark Blaudschun, The Boston Globe
- Chip Brown, The Dallas Morning News
- Bob Clark, Eugene Register-Guard
- Buddy Davis, Ruston Daily Leader
- Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com
- Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
- Steve Irvine, Birmingham News
- Michael Lewis, Salt Lake Tribune
- Matt Markey, Toledo Blade
- Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune
2006 Committee
- Eric Bailey, Tulsa World
- Chad Cripe, Idaho Statesman
- Scott Ferrell, Shreveport Times
- Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
- Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune
- Andrew Logue, Des Moines Register
- Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger
- Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic
- George Schroeder, Daily Oklahoman
- Norm Wood, Daily Press
Armed Forces Merit Award
The Armed Forces Merit Award was established by the FWAA in 2012 "to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football." The winners are as follows:
2012: Nate Boyer, LS, Texas<br>
2013: Brandon McCoy, DE, North Texas<br>
2014: Daniel Rodriguez, WR, Clemson<br>
2015: Bret Robertson, SS, Westminster (MO)<br>
2016: Steven Rhodes, DE, Middle Tennessee State<br>
2017: Kansas State Wildcats football<br>
2018: Christopher B. Howard, President, Robert Morris University<br>
2019: Mike Viti, Coach, Army<br>
2020: Collin O'Donnell, Bluefield<br>
2021: Damian Jackson, LB, Nebraska<br>
2022: Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation<br>
2023: Tyler Huff, QB, Furman<br>
2024: Jack Hawkins Jr., Chancellor, Troy University<br>
2025: Levi Moell, RB, Dayton
Bert McGrane Award winners
Presented to a member of the FWAA for "outstanding contribution to the organization".
1974: Charley Johnson, Minneapolis Star<br />
1975: Wilfrid Smith, Chicago Tribune<br />
1976: Paul Zimmerman, Los Angeles Times<br />
1977: Dick Cullum, Minneapolis Tribune<br />
1978: Wilbur Evans, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association<br />
1979: Tom Siler, Knoxville News-Sentinel<br />
1980: Maury White, Des Moines Register<br />
1981: Fred Russell, Nashville Banner<br />
1982: Furman Bisher, Atlanta Journal<br />
1983: John Mooney, Salt Lake Tribune<br />
1984: Si Burick, Dayton News<br />
1985: Blackie Sherrod, The Dallas Morning News<br />
1986: Raymond Johnson, Nashville Tennessean<br />
1987: Tim Cohane, Look<br />
1988: Dave Campbell, Waco Tribune-Herald<br />
1989: Jim Brock, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association<br />
1990: Jack Hairston, Gainesville Sun<br />
1991: Murray Olderman, Newspaper Enterprise Association<br />
1992: Volney Meece, The Daily Oklahoman<br />
1993: Bob Hentzen, The Topeka Capital-Journal<br />
1994: Edgar Allen, Nashville Journal<br />
1995: Dick Herbert, Raleigh News & Observer<br />
1996: Bob Hammel, Bloomington Herald-Times<br />
1997: Bill Lumpkin, Birmingham Post-Herald<br />
1998: Don Bryant, University of Nebraska–Lincoln<br />
1999: Field Scovell, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association<br />
2000: Jimmie McDowell, All-American Football Foundation<br />
2001: Edwin Pope, Miami Herald<br />
2002: Orville Henry, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette<br />
2003: Dan Foster, The Greenville News<br />
2004: Pat Harmon, Cincinnati Post<br />
2005: Steve Richardson, FWAA<br />
2006: John Junker, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl<br />
2007: Mark Blaudschun, The Boston Globe<br />
2008: Claude Felton, University of Georgia<br />
2009: Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution<br />
2010: Tom Mickle, Florida Citrus Sports<br />
2011: Beano Cook, ESPN/University of Pittsburgh<br />
2012: Dave Sittler, Tulsa World<br />
2013: Dick Weiss, New York Daily News<br />
2014: Tim Tessalone, University of Southern California<br />
2015: Steve Hatchell, National Football Foundation<br />
2016: Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com<br />
2017: Charlie Fiss, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association<br />
2018: Steve Wieberg, USA Today (1982–2012)<br />
2019: Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star<br />
2020: Wally Hall, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette<br />
2021: John Heisler, University of Notre Dame<br />
2022: Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports<br />
2023: Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times<br />
2024: Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman<br />
All-Time Teams
Selected by the Football Writers Association of America for the centennial year of college football in 1969. An Early Era team was chosen that featured Jim Thorpe, a modern team (1919–68) and a Quarter-Century team that was chosen in 1993, 25 years after the college football centennial celebration.
1969–1994 All-America Team
Offense<br />
C – Dave Rimington, Nebraska<br />
G – John Hannah, Alabama<br />
G – Dean Steinkuhler, Nebraska<br />
T – Bill Fralic, Pittsburgh<br />
T – Jerry Sisemore, Texas<br />
TE – Keith Jackson, Oklahoma<br />
WR – Anthony Carter, Michigan<br />
WR – Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State<br />
QB – John Elway, Stanford<br />
RB – Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh<br />
RB – Herschel Walker, Georgia<br />
K – Tony Franklin, Texas A&M<br />
KR – Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska<br />
Defense<br />
DE – Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma<br />
DE – Jack Youngblood, Florida<br />
DT – Steve Emtman, Washington<br />
DT – Randy White, Maryland<br />
LB – Hugh Green, Pittsburgh<br />
LB – Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina<br />
MLB – Mike Singletary, Baylor<br />
DB – Deion Sanders, Florida State<br />
DB – Ronnie Lott, USC<br />
DB – Jack Tatum, Ohio State<br />
DB – Kenny Easley, UCLA<br />
P – Ray Guy, Southern Miss
1919–1968 Modern Era All-America Team
E – Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan<br />
E – Don Hutson, Alabama<br />
L – Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota<br />
L – Bruiser Kinard, Ole Miss<br />
L – Jim Parker, Ohio State<br />
L – Bob Suffridge, Tennessee <br />
C – Mel Hein, Washington State<br />
B – Sammy Baugh, TCU<br />
B – Jay Berwanger, Chicago<br />
B – Ernie Nevers, Stanford<br />
B – Red Grange, Illinois
1869–1918 Early Era All-America Team
E – Frank Hinkey, Yale <br />
E – Huntington Hardwick, Harvard<br />
T – Josh Cody, Vanderbilt <br />
T – Wilbur Henry, Washington & Jefferson<br />
G – Pudge Heffelfinger, Yale <br />
G – Truxtun Hare, Penn<br />
C – Germany Schulz, Michigan<br />
B – Jim Thorpe, Carlisle<br />
B – Elmer Oliphant, Purdue<br />
B – Willie Heston, Michigan<br />
B – Walter Eckersall, Chicago
75th-Anniversary All-America Team
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of its formation in 2015, the Football Writers Association of America selected a 75th Anniversary All-America Team.
First Team
Offense<br />
QB – Roger Staubach, Navy<br />
RB – Archie Griffin, Ohio State<br />
RB – Herschel Walker, Georgia<br />
WR – Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh<br />
WR – Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State<br />
TE – Keith Jackson, Oklahoma<br />
OL – John Hannah, Alabama<br />
OL – Orlando Pace, Ohio State<br />
OL – Will Shields, Nebraska<br />
OL – Ron Yary, USC<br />
C – Dave Rimington, Nebraska<br />
Defense<br />
DT – Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma<br />
DT – Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska<br />
DE – Leon Hart, Notre Dame<br />
DE – Ted Hendricks, Miami<br />
LB – Tommy Nobis, Texas<br />
LB – Mike Singletary, Baylor<br />
LB – Derrick Thomas, Alabama<br />
DB – Ronnie Lott, USC<br />
DB – Deion Sanders, Florida State<br />
DB – Jack Tatum, Ohio State<br />
DB – Charles Woodson, Michigan<br />
Specialists<br />
P – Ray Guy, Southern Miss<br />
K – Kevin Butler, Georgia<br />
RS – Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska
Second Team
Offense<br />
QB – Tim Tebow, Florida<br />
RB – Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh<br />
RB – Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State<br />
WR – Fred Biletnikoff, Florida State<br />
WR – Randy Moss, Marshall<br />
TE – Mike Ditka, Pittsburgh<br />
OL – Bill Fralic, Pittsburgh<br />
OL – John Hicks, Ohio State<br />
OL – Calvin Jones, Iowa<br />
OL – Jonathan Ogden, UCLA<br />
C – Chuck Bednarik, Penn<br />
Defense<br />
DT – Merlin Olsen, Utah State<br />
DT – Randy White, Maryland<br />
DE – Hugh Green, Pittsburgh<br />
DE – Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech<br />
LB – Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma<br />
LB – Dick Butkus, Illinois<br />
LB – Luke Kuechly, Boston College<br />
DB – Champ Bailey, Georgia<br />
DB – Kenny Easley, UCLA<br />
DB – Jerry Gray, Texas<br />
DB – Ed Reed, Miami<br />
Specialists<br />
P – Russell Erxleben, Texas<br />
K – Mason Crosby, Colorado<br />
RS – Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame<br />
Third Team
Offense<br />
QB – Tommie Frazier, Nebraska<br />
RB – Bo Jackson, Auburn<br />
RB – Doak Walker, SMU<br />
WR – Anthony Carter, Michigan<br />
WR – Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech<br />
TE – Gordon Hudson, BYU<br />
OL – Barrett Jones, Alabama<br />
OL – Willie Roaf, Louisiana Tech<br />
OL – Jerry Sisemore, Texas<br />
OL – Dean Steinkuhler, Nebraska<br />
C – Jim Ritcher, N.C. State<br />
Defense<br />
DT – Steve Emtman, Washington<br />
DT – Reggie White, Tennessee<br />
DE – Bubba Smith, Michigan State<br />
DE – Jack Youngblood, Florida<br />
LB – Jack Ham, Penn State<br />
LB – Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama<br />
LB – Chris Spielman, Ohio State<br />
DB – Dré Bly, North Carolina<br />
DB – Dave Brown, Michigan<br />
DB – Troy Polamalu, USC<br />
DB – Roy Williams, Oklahoma<br />
Specialists<br />
P – Rohn Stark, Florida State<br />
K – Tony Franklin, Texas A&M<br />
RS – Derek Abney, Kentucky
Awards sponsored
:See footnote
Currently the FWAA sponsors seven awards and those are affiliated with the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA).
- All-America and Freshman All-America Teams
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy
- Outland Trophy
- Grantland Rice Trophy
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
- FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award
- Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week
Poll
Beginning in 2014, 26 members of the FWAA will vote in a new poll in partnership with the National Football Foundation. It is called the FWAA-NFF Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll.
See also
- Pro Football Writers Association
- National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
- Baseball Writers' Association of America
- United States Basketball Writers Association (college)
- Pro Basketball Writers Association
- Professional Hockey Writers Association
- National Sports Media Association