There is no denying that this year has been a year of triumph for NDA’s football program, and they can add another honor to this historic season.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame awarded the team with the National Academic Award, an honor that only three other Wisconsin schools received.
This nationwide award showcases a team’s commitment to success on the field and in the classroom. For a team to be eligible for this award, they need to have won a state championship and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, both of which were achieved by the Tritons this year.
Notre Dame Athletic Director Matthew Koenig said that he was not notified at all of the award.
“I found out when I saw it on Twitter,” he said.
He also mentioned that the way the award goes to a national level is through the Coaches Association.
The top academic football teams from each level of play within each state are recognized, and the award is designed to inspire and foster a culture of academic excellence in high school football teams throughout the nation.
Along with Notre Dame, the Coaches Association also viewed Bay Port as worthy of this honor.
This award makes a school a finalist for the NFF Hatchell Cup, an award given to one school across the country to symbolize both excellence in academics and athletics.
This year, the recipient is Hemet High School in California and they will receive a $10,000 donation as part of their award.
This is the first time in Notre Dame history that the football team has been honored with this award, and Mr. Koenig made sure to compliment his coworkers for their role in this achievement.
He said, “I personally want to thank the teaching staff for your commitment to all the students in this building. It is super special that we can all share this together.”
He was also quick to praise the coaching staff, saying, “I would also like to thank our coaching staff who promote the importance of academics to our student-athletes throughout the season.”
This is a monumental achievement for the football program that Mr. Koenig hopes to build on in the future.
“This award is a testament to past achievements and a guide for future success.”
