Maxwell Football Club
Encyclopedia
The Maxwell Football Club (originally called the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia) was established in 1935 to promote safety in the game of American football
. Named in honor of the late Robert W. (Tiny) Maxwell, legendary college player, official
, and sports columnist
, the club was founded by his friend Bert Bell
, then owner of the Philadelphia Eagles
professional football
team and later commissioner of the National Football League
.
As of 2011, the club's president is Ron Jaworski
, former NFL quarterback
. The club's headquarters are located in Ambler, Pennsylvania
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. Named in honor of the late Robert W. (Tiny) Maxwell, legendary college player, official
Official (American football)
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
, and sports columnist
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
, the club was founded by his friend Bert Bell
Bert Bell
De Benneville "Bert" Bell was the National Football League commissioner from 1946 until his death in 1959. As commissioner, he helped chart a path for the NFL to facilitate its rise in becoming the most popular sports attraction in the United States...
, then owner of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
professional football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
team and later commissioner of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
As of 2011, the club's president is Ron Jaworski
Ron Jaworski
Ronald Vincent "Ron" Jaworski is a former American football quarterback and currently an NFL analyst on ESPN. He is also CEO of Ron Jaworski Golf Management, Inc., based out of Blackwood, New Jersey, and manages golf courses in southern New Jersey, northeast Pennsylvania, and West Virginia...
, former NFL quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. The club's headquarters are located in Ambler, Pennsylvania
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Ambler is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, approximately 16 miles north of Philadelphia.- Village of Wissahickon:...
.
Awards
The club presents several awards annually to professional, college, and high-school football players, coaches, and others, including:- Maxwell AwardMaxwell AwardThe Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
for College Player of the Year, first awarded in 1937 - Chuck Bednarik AwardChuck Bednarik AwardThe Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive collegiate football player adjudged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in the United States...
for College Defensive Player of the Year, instituted in 1995 - Bert Bell AwardBert Bell AwardThe Bert Bell Award for the Professional American football Player of the Year is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. This award is named in honor of Bert Bell , Commissioner of the National Football League and founder of the Maxwell Club...
for Professional Player of the Year, established following Bell's death in 1959 - Jim Henry Award for Area High-School Student-Athlete Football Player of the Year, instituted in 1986
- Earle "Greasy" Neale Award for Professional Coach of the Year, introduced in 1989
- Joseph V. Paterno AwardJoseph V. Paterno AwardThe Joseph V. Paterno Award is an award that was established in 2010 and is given annually to the college football head coach who best exemplifies Penn State head coach Joe Paterno’s dedication to the development of student-athletes and the advancement of the university beyond just athletics.The...
(formerly the George Munger AwardGeorge Munger AwardThe George Munger Award was presented to the NCAA Division I college football coach of the year by the Maxwell Football Club from 1989 to 2009. The award was named after former University of Pennsylvania head coach George Munger...
) for College Coach of the Year, introduced in 1989 - Reds Bagnell AwardReds Bagnell AwardThe Reds Bagnell Award is presented annually to an individual for their contributions to the game of American football. The award is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. It is named for longtime Club president and College Football Hall of Fame member Reds Bagnell.-Winners:...
for Contributions to the Game of Football, introduced in 1989 - Tri-State Player of the Year Award, first presented in 2001
- Tri-State Coach of the Year Award, established in 1998
- Harrah's Broadcast Award for Sports Broadcaster of the Year, established in 2003
- The Spirit Award
- Al Lucas AwardAl Lucas AwardThe Al Lucas Award is awarded to the Arena Football Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club. The award is named for Al Lucas who died in an Arena Football game in 2005.-Previous winners:...
for Arena Football League Player of the Year - National High School Player Award, presented to the best high school football player in the United States, first awarded in 2007
See also
- Kansas City Committee of 101 AwardsKansas City Committee of 101 AwardsThe Kansas City Committee of 101 was founded by Jack Wheeler. The name was chosen because the membership was limited to 101 Chief's fans and cost $1,000 to join. The group began presenting its annual NFL awards in 1969. They started as NFL and AFL Awards. After the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, however,...
- Washington D.C. Touchdown ClubWashington D.C. Touchdown ClubThe Washington D.C. Touchdown Club was started in 1935 with a passion for charity and sports. In the ensuing years the Club has benefited many local charities as well as providing scholarships to deserving student/athletes....
- Touchdown Club of ColumbusTouchdown Club of ColumbusThe Touchdown Club of Columbus was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1956 by Sam B. Nicola at the request of State Auditor James A. Rhodes, who later became governor of the state. Nicola served as the club's president until his death in 1993. More than a decade later, his son Sam Nicola, Jr...