The Dan S. Petty Scholar-Athlete Award is presented annually to two deserving student-athletes, one from each team, participating in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
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A crowning achievement for student-athletes playing in the Classic, this recognition was created as a continuing effort to emphasize the combination of academics and athletics along with good citizenship, leadership and sportsmanship. The student-athletes are selected by the schools' directors of athletics and football head coaches.
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For the award's namesake, family, higher education, the game of football and Cotton Bowl Classic were Dan S. Petty's greatest passions in life. Petty was a mentor to everyone lucky enough to make his acquaintance. His relationship with the Classic spanned more than five decades – first as a player, then as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board and finally as Chairman of Team Selection.
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Petty earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas. He went on to earn three master’s degrees – one in public affairs, the second in governmental administration and the third in electronic commerce management.
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Petty passed away in 2011, but his legacy lives on via Dan S. Petty Scholar-Athlete Award.
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The Cotton Bowl Classic Scholar-Athlete Award began with the 51st Classic in 1987. The award was presented by American Airlines (1987-88), American Airlines/Mobil (1989-92), Delta Airlines/Mobil (1993-95), SBC (2002-05) and AT&T (2006-11), with no presenting sponsor from 1996-2001, before officially being renamed as the Dan S. Petty Scholar-Athlete Award beginning with the 76th Classic in 2012.
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PREVIOUS WINNERS (1987-2011)
1987 (51st) – Kip Corrington, Texas A&M (Junior, Defensive Back, College Station, Texas) and William White, Ohio State (Junior, Cornerback, Lima, Ohio)
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1988 (52nd) – Kip Corrington, Texas A&M (Senior, Defensive Back, College Station, Texas) and Byron Spruell, Notre Dame (Senior, Offensive Tackle, Aurora, Ohio)
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1989 (53rd) – Steve Atwater, Arkansas (Senior, Safety, St. Louis, Mo.) and Brendan McCracken (Senior, Wide Receiver, La Canada, Calif.)
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1990 (54th) – Eric Still, Tennessee (Senior, Offensive Lineman, Germantown, Tenn.) and Bill Winston, Arkansas (Senior, Tight End, Marianna, Ark.)
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1991 (55th) – Rob Chudzinski, Miami (Fla.) (Senior, Tight End, Toledo, Ohio) and Stephen Clark, Texas (Senior, Tight End, New Orleans, La.)
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1992 (56th) – Reggie Dixon, Florida State (Senior, Offensive Guard, Jacksonville, Fla.) and Bucky Richardson, Texas A&M (Senior, Quarterback, Baton Rouge, La.)
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1993 (57th) – Jason Atkinson, Texas A&M (Junior, Linebacker, Houston, Texas) and Tim Ruddy, Notre Dame (Junior, Center, Dunmore, Pa.)
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1994 (58th) – Jason Atkinson, Texas A&M (Senior, Linebacker, Houston, Texas) and Tim Ruddy, Notre Dame (Senior, Center, Dunmore, Pa.)
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1995 (59th) – Tony Boselli, Southern California (Senior, Offensive Tackle, Boulder, Colo.) and Field Scovell, Texas Tech (Sophomore, Flanker, Dallas, Texas)
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1996 (60th) – Paul Jensen, Oregon (Senior, Linebacker, Lebanon, Ore.) and Neil Voskeritchian, Colorado (Senior, Placekicker, Arcadia, Calif.)
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1997 (61st) – James Johnson, BYU (Senior, Offensive Guard, Provo, Utah) and Jason Johnson, Kansas State (Senior, Center, Gladstone, Mo.)
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1998 (62nd) – Shawn Stuart, UCLA (Junior, Center, Saugus, Calif.) and Koby Hackradt, Texas A&M (Senior, Center, Conroe, Texas)
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1999 (63rd) – Eric Allen, Mississippi State (Senior, Center, Water Valley, Miss.) and Dusty Renfro, Texas (Senior, Linebacker, Granbury, Texas)
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2000 (64th) – Josh Melton, Arkansas (Freshman, Center, Batesville, Ark.) and Kris Stockton, Texas (Junior, Placekicker, Katy, Texas)
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2001 (65th) – David Leaverton, Tennessee (Senior, Punter, Midland, Texas) and Brice Libel, Kansas State (Senior, Wide Receiver, Wathena, Kan.)
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2002 (66th) – Kenny Sandlin, Arkansas (Senior, Center, Van Buren, Ark.) and Renaldo Works, Oklahoma (Sophomore, Running Back, Tulsa, Okla.)
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2003 (67th) – Bradie James, LSU (Senior, Linebacker, Monroe, La.) and Brett Robin, Texas (Junior, Running Back, Austin, Texas)
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2004 (68th) – Billy Bajema, Oklahoma State (Junior, Tight End, Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Wes Scott, Ole Miss (Senior, Defensive Back, Memphis, Tenn.)
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2005 (69th) – Keith Joseph, Texas A&M (Senior, Running Back, Houston, Texas) and Michael Munoz, Tennessee (Senior, Offensive Tackle, Mason, Ohio)
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2006 (70th) – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama (Senior, Linebacker, Bessemer, Ala.) and David Schaefer, Texas Tech (Sophomore, Wide Receiver, Cisco, Texas)
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2007 (71st) – Will Herring, Auburn (Senior, Linebacker, Opelika, Ala.) and Dane Todd, Nebraska (Senior, Fullback, Lincoln, Neb.)
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2008 (72nd) – Adam Crossett, Missouri (Senior, Punter, Liberty, Mo.) and Marcus Monk, Arkansas (Senior, Wide Receiver, Lepanto, Ark.)
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2009 (73rd) – Jason Cook, Ole Miss (Senior, Fullback, Suwanee, Ga.) and Graham Harrell, Texas Tech (Senior, Quarterback, Brownwood, Texas)
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2010 (74th) – Andy Hartmann, Ole Miss (Senior, Fullback, Cooper City, Fla.) and Andrew Lewis, Oklahoma State (Senior, Offensive Lineman, Joplin, Mo.)
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2011 (75th) – Richard Dugas, LSU (Senior, Fullback, Lincoln, Neb.) and Michael Hodges, Texas A&M (Senior, Linebacker, Helotes, Texas)
PREVIOUS WINNERS (2012-Present) are listed below.
