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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Archie Manning To Receive Francis "Reds" Bagnell Award
2/29/2012 | Football
Feb. 29, 2012
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Maxwell Football Club (MFC), the oldest football club in America, has selected National Football Foundation (NFF) Chairman Archie Manning as the winner of the 23rd Francis "Reds" Bagnell Award for Contributions to Football.
Manning, who joined the NFF Board of Directors in 1993 and became chairman in 2008, will receive the award at the Maxwell Football Club's 75th Anniversary Awards Gala Friday, March 2 at the Harrah's Atlantic City Resort.
Born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Miss., Manning attended the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American quarterback and was the first of only two Ole Miss players to have his number retired. Manning's uniform No. 18 was retired in 1986 and the late Chucky Mullins had his No. 38 retired in 2006.
Manning was voted Mississippi's Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992, and recently was named Mississippi's Most Popular Athlete of the Century. He was elected to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-1990), named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and he and his son Peyton were named among the 100 All-Time Greatest College Football Players. Archie was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and is a member of other Halls of Fame, including Mississippi and Louisiana.
In 1971, he was the second player chosen in the National Football League draft -- the No. 1 draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978. He was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame. He concluded his 15-year career in 1985. Manning was also drafted four times by major league baseball.
While in pro football, he received the Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the U.S. Jaycees named him one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans. In 2005, Archie received the Legends Award from the Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life's coaches, from the Cal Ripken Foundation.
His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Archie and his wife Olivia reside in New Orleans and have three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli.
"Archie's accomplishments as a player at both the collegiate and professional levels are well documented, and he has continued his involvement in his post playing days through his efforts as the Chairman of the NFF, which is an exceptional football organization," said MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert. "He certainly has had a tremendous impact on the game and is most deserving of recognition as the winner of the Reds Bagnell Award."
The Francis "Reds" Bagnell Award was established in 1989 by the Maxwell Football Club and named in honor of long-time Maxwell Football Club president, Reds Bagnell. The award is given to an individual who through his efforts has helped to foster and promote the integrity of the game of football. Bagnell was an All-American running back for the University of Pennsylvania and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He also served as the President of the National Football Foundation from 1990 until his death in 1995.
Notable past winners of the Reds Bagnell Award include George Bodenheimer (President ESPN/ABC Sports), Steve Sabol (President NFL Films), Ralph Wilson (Owner Buffalo Bills), Vince Dooley (University of Georgia Head Football Coach & Athletics Director), Darrell Royal (University of Texas Head Football Coach), Don Shula (Head Coach Miami Dolphins), Joe Paterno (Penn State University Head Football Coach), Art McNally (NFL Consultant), Lamar Hunt (Owner Kansas City Chiefs), and Pete Rozelle (NFL Commissioner). The full list of Bagnell Award winners can be seen at www.maxwellfootballclub.org.
The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football club of its kind in America. The organization is devoted to recognizing excellence at all levels of football from high school through the NFL ranks. Under the stewardship of MFC President Ron Jaworski, the Club has grown rapidly and has members in 40 states. The MFC provides educational and training programs for players and coaches, and also provides scholarships to outstanding student-athletes who demonstrate excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
