Dan Morgan Wins Butkus Award
Dec. 8, 2000
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami linebacker Dan Morgan made college football history Friday night when he was named the recipient of the 2000 Dick Butkus Award, awarded annually by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando. The Award recognizes college football’s finest linebacker and is named in honor of Dick Butkus, a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Morgan a 6-3, 245-pound senior from Coral Springs, was given the award at the Butkus Award Gala at the Hard Rock Caf? at Universal Studios in Orlando. Morgan was the fifth Hurricane linebacker to become a finalist for the Butkus Award, but is the first to win the award. The honor capped an amazing week for the former high school fullback who was lightly recruited out of Taravella High School in Coral Springs.
On Monday, Morgan won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy recognizing the nation’s finest all-around defensive player. Thursday night saw Morgan named winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award, another honor representing college football’s outstanding defensive player. With Friday’s honor, Morgan becomes the most decorated Hurricanes defensive player ever.
“It’s a tremendous honor to win this award,” Morgan said. “It’s been an overwhelming week. To win these awards ahead of the great players I have been nominated with is really an amazing honor. I am very thankful to my teammates, Coach Davis, Coach Greg Mark and my family for all their support. Coach Davis and Coach Mark gave me a chance at the University of Miami when some people didn’t believe in me and I couldn’t have come this far without their faith.”
The 2000 BIG EAST Champion Miami Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 10-1 mark and an undefeated 7-0 record in conference play. Miami finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls for the final five weeks. The Hurricanes will play state-rival and SEC Champion Florida in the 2001 Nokia Sugar Bowl on Tuesday, January 2 at the Louisiana Superdome.
For ticket information for the 2001 Nokia Sugar Bowl, check out the University of Miami athletic website at www.hurricanesports.com or call 1-800 GO CANES.
