The University of Mississippi Athletics
National Football Foundation To Honor Manning, Khayat
12/8/2003 | Football
Dec. 8, 2003
MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Eli Manning, current Ole Miss quarterback, and Robert Khayat, former Rebel kicker and current Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, will be recognized as outstanding individuals, athletes, and scholars by the National Football Foundation on Tuesday.
Manning is one of 15 student-athletes to receive the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, while Khayat will receive the National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's 46th Annual Awards Dinner.
Manning will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship for his achievements in the classroom.
Following in a rich family tradition of quarterbacks with academic genius and athletic supremacy, Eli Manning has maintained a rigorous academic ledger while establishing himself as one of the nation's elite at his position.
A Second Team Academic-All America selection in 2002, Manning has earned Academic All-Southeastern Conference honors three times and First Team Academic All-District VI honors twice. Listed in Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges, he is a member of the Chancellor's, Dean's and UMAA Honor Rolls.
A Second Team All-Conference pick in 2002, Manning is a two-time semifinalist, and a 2003 finalist for the Dave O'Brien Award (nation's top quarterback). Manning was recently named the 2003 Unites Award winner for the nation's top senior quarterback, and a finalist for the 2003 Walter Camp Player of the Year.
Named All-America Honorable Mention in 2001 by The Football News, he holds 45 school records, including a single-season passing yards (3,401), career passing yards (9,860), and career touchdown passes (79). A preseason All-America in 2003, Manning currently leads the SEC in passing average per game (278.4) and total offense (276.0). Khayat will be honored as the recipient of the Distinguished American Award at the same ceremony.
Presented on special occasions when a truly deserving individual emerges, the award honors someone who has applied the character building attributes learned from amateur sport in their business and personal life, exhibiting superior leadership qualities in education, amateur athletics, business and in the community.
A native of Moss Point, Mississippi, Dr. Khayat attended the University of Mississippi where he was an outstanding football and baseball player, leading the nation in scoring by a kicker in 1958 and 1959 and helping the Rebels to consecutive Southeastern Conference baseball titles. He was also an academic All-America selection in football and an All-SEC selection in baseball. He played in the 1960 College All-Star Game. After graduation, Khayat played for the Washington Redskins from 1960-64 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1961.
Following his professional career, Khayat returned to Ole Miss to attend law school, graduating in 1966. Three years later, he joined the law school faculty. After years in private law practice and teaching, Khayat took a leave of absence during the 1980-81 academic year to earn a Masters of Laws at Yale University.
Khayat was promoted to associate law dean before his selection to serve as vice chancellor for University Affairs in 1984, a post he held until 1989. His outstanding fundraising ability and leadership was recognized in 1989 when he was appointed, following a national search, as the first president of the NCAA Foundation. This Foundation funds NCAA projects, including scholarships for student athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and still desire to earn undergraduate degrees, and fellowships for students pursuing careers in sports administration, athletics research, and drug education programs.
After three years with the NCAA, Khayat returned to Mississippi as a law professor. Possessing a great popularity among his pupils, the Law Student Body chose him as its 1993-94 Outstanding Law Professor of the Year and the school's Mississippi Law Journal staff established a scholarship in his name in 1995. On July 1, 1995 Khayat was named the University's 15th Chancellor, overseeing the Oxford campus, University Medical Center in Jackson and degree-granting centers in Southaven and Tupelo.
Khayat was named the Oxford Lafayette County Citizen of the Year in 1989 and has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce. He also has been an active member of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, receiving the Distinguished American Award by the Gulf Coast Chapter in 1987 and the Ole Miss Chapter in 1989. In 1998, Dr. Khayat was honored by the NFL Alumni Association for achievements on and off the playing field when he was presented with its prestigious Career Achievement Award. In addition, he served as president of the M-Club Alumni, and president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He resides in Oxford, Mississippi with his wife Margaret. They have two children.