DALLAS (FWAA) Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner is this week's nominee for the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award to be announced at the end of the 2006 season.
Hoeppner, 59, who underwent brain surgery Sept. 13, returned to coaching last week and was on the sidelines for Indiana's loss to Wisconsin.
"I love coaching football games," Hoeppner told the Associated Press upon his return. "I enjoy the preparation, I enjoy the recruiting, but my passion is coaching football games, so it's good to be back."
It was the second similar surgery since last December, when doctors removed a tumor.
The second time around, doctors removed scar tissue. Hoeppner was expected to miss 2-4 weeks, but returned in 11 days, cleared for full activities. Hoeppner left the hospital Sept. 15 and watched two games from the press box before returning to full duties Sept. 24.
Hoeppner began experiencing headaches late last fall. He underwent tests and surgery on Dec. 27. Doctors pronounced the procedure a success, but Hoeppner underwent regular checkups.
For the first time, the FWAA and the FedEx Orange Bowl will announce a weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.
The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine's senior writer 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 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 Committee is a not-for-profit, 329-member, all-volunteer organization that exists as a self-sustaining, independent organization supporting and producing activities and events which enhance the image, economy, and culture of South Florida . Among the OBC core events are the Orange Bowl Festival, FedEx Orange Bowl and World-Class Halftime Show, the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, the WaMu Orange Bowl Fan Fest presented by the City of Miami, the Budweiser Orange Bowl Tailgate Party, Boston Market Orange Bowl Youth Football Championships, Orange Bowl Cheer & Dance Championships, Orange Bowl Swim Classic, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships and Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 900 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.
2006 Orange Bowl Courage Award Nominees
Sept. 20: Ray Ray McElrathbey, Clemson
· Sept. 27: Martel Van Zant, Oklahoma State
· Oct. 4: Terry Hoeppner, Indiana
· Oct. 11: Dan Howell, Washington
· Oct. 18: Eddie Martin, Navy
· Oct. 25: Bill Doba, Washington State
· Nov. 1: Jerry Kill, Southern Illinois
· Nov. 8: Carl Pendleton, Oklahoma
· Nov. 15: Mike Tepper, California
· Nov. 29: Carlos Garcia, Oregon State