Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame

In January of 2000, the Sugar Bowl Committee took over the title sponsorship of the New Orleans Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Included in the Bowl’s sponsorship of the chapter is the administration of an annual awards banquet held each spring to honor deserving high school football scholar athletes from the metropolitan area. Since 2000, the Sugar Bowl has recognized over 500 student-athletes while distributing over $500,000 in scholarship money. To become a member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, please click here.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter held its 2021 Awards Luncheon on May 26 at the Audubon Tea Room. Thirty-one local high school football players were recognized for their achievements in the classroom, in the community and on the football field. The honorees were chosen from a group of nominated scholar athletes from the New Orleans area. Archie Manning, the national chairman of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, recognized each of the 31 student athletes at the event. From that group of 31, five were selected to receive Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholarships: four for $10,000 and one for $20,000 each. The scholarship winners were chosen based on essays submitted after being notified of their selection as scholar-athletes.

Wyatt Coffey from Archbishop Hannan High School was the recipient of the $20,000 Oliver Delery Scholarship, named for the Sugar Bowl Committee-member and past president who passed away two years ago. The $10,000 scholarships were awarded to Joshua Bailey (Fontainebleau High School), Brandon McGowan (Isidore Newman School), John Drake (John Curtis Christian School) and Justin Perritt (Northlake Christian School).

In addition to the high school honorees, two local leaders were recognized for their contributions to the community and the sport of football.

Jay Roth, the current director of athletics at Archbishop Rummel who was the Raiders’ head football coach for 24 years before retiring following the 2018 season, was presented with the Contributions to Amateur Football Award, which is given annually to an individual for his or her effort to promote the game, preserve its history and ensure its future. Roth compiled a career record of 228-62 at Rummel, directing the Raiders to two consecutive Class 5A state championships (2012 and 2013), two other trips to the finals and an unfathomable 12 Catholic League championships. Roth’s dozen Catholic League championships are the most by any coach in the 65-year history of the league that dates to 1955. He also had 10 trips to the state semifinals and seven undefeated regular seasons, including 1980, when he was the Raiders’ senior quarterback.

Rick Dickson, who served as the director of athletics at Tulane University from 2000-16, was presented with the Distinguished American Award, which is presented each year to an individual who has set the standard for a life of service to the community and has made a significant contribution to the betterment of amateur football. Dickson guided the Green Wave through some of the most tumultuous periods in its history, including the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which nearly destroyed the university’s athletics facilities. Despite the Katrina chaos, Dickson provided leadership and coordinated the effort to rebuild the athletics program to a full complement of 16 programs. He also keyed the program’s admission to the American Athletic Conference, opened Yulman Stadium and built or renovated numerous other facilities. Under Dickson’s watch, Tulane teams won 41 C-USA titles and advanced to NCAA postseason play 36 times. This includes two bowl games, two College World Series trips and four runs to the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships. He is currently the Director of Athletics at the University of Tulsa.

The New Orleans Chapter of the National Football Foundation was established in 1971. The Sugar Bowl took over sponsorship of the chapter in 2000 and since then it has recognized nearly 500 student-athletes while distributing over $500,000 in scholarship money.

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• 2021: Allstate Sugar Bowl Recognizes On- and Off-the-Field Excellence at Awards Lunch
• 2020: Allstate Sugar Bowl Goes Virtual for Scholar-Athlete Recognition and Scholarships
• 2019: Allstate Sugar Bowl Recognizes 29, Allocates $80,000 in Scholarships
• 2018: Allstate Sugar Bowl Teams With NFF To Honor Football Scholar Athletes
• 2017: Another Strong Class of Honorees at Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholar-Athlete Luncheon
• 2016: Allstate Sugar Bowl and NFF Host Annual High School Football Awards Luncheon
• 2015: Thirty-Three Local Football Standouts Recognized at Superdome Event
• 2014: Scholarships Highlight Allstate Sugar Bowl/NFF Honors Luncheon
• 2013: Allstate Sugar Bowl and NFF Honor 34 Local Scholar-Athletes
• 2012: Thirty-Four Local Scholar-Athletes Honored by Sugar Bowl and NFF
• 2011: Allstate Sugar Bowl and NFF Honor 35 Scholar-Athletes
• 2010: NFF Honors Local High School Football Players
• 2009: Talented Class of Honorees at 2009 NFF/College Football Hall of Fame Luncheon
• 2008: Nineteen Honored at 2008 Football Foundation Luncheon
• 2007: Sugar Bowl Honors Standouts at 2007 NFF Awards Luncheon
• 2006: No class recognized due to Hurricane Katrina
• 2005: Listing of the 2004-05 NFF Scholar Athletes
• 2004: Listing of the 2003-04 NFF Scholar Athletes
• 2003: Listing of the 2002-03 NFF Scholar-Athletes
• 2002: Listing of the 2001-02 NFF Scholar-Athletes
• 2001: Listing of the 2000-01 NFF Scholar-Athletes

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Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the NFF/CFHOF Special Awards