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 nearly 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 2020 event will be held on Wednesday, April 8.

Twenty-nine local high school football players were recognized for their achievements in the classroom and on the football field at the 2019 Awards Luncheon held on May 7 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The honorees were chosen from a group of nominated talented 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 29 student athletes at the event. From that group of 29, four were selected to receive Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholarships for $20,000 each. The scholarship winners were chosen based on essays submitted after being notified of their selection as scholar-athletes.

The four scholarship winners were Tyruss Gayden (West Jefferson High School), William Harper (Thomas Jefferson High School), Kenny-Khai Vo (L.W. Higgins High School) and Jalen Womble (Holy Cross High School). Monique Morial, the President of the Sugar Bowl Committee, recapped their accomplishments and referenced their winning essays prior to presenting each scholarship winner with a commemorative check.

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

Paul Hoolahan, who will officially retire as chief executive officer of the Sugar Bowl on June 30, 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. He took over the helm of the Sugar Bowl in 1996 and has directed the bowl’s operations for five national championship games during his tenure in New Orleans. In addition to maintaining the Sugar Bowl’s status as one of the premier bowl games in the nation, Hoolahan has been a driving force in the Bowl’s significant contributions to amateur football. While the Allstate Sugar Bowl is one of the top amateur football events in the nation on an annual basis, the organization also sponsors the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s state football championships each December. In 2012, the Allstate Sugar Bowl was a major partner in the rebuilding of Joe Brown Park in New Orleans East. The multi-million-dollar project resulted in a state-of-the-art stadium, including field, locker rooms and meeting spaces, for youth and high school football. A native of New York, Hoolahan was an all-conference football player at North Carolina before working at his alma mater and Vanderbilt University before taking the helm of the Sugar Bowl organization.

The owner of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, Gayle Benson 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. The New Orleans native is an accomplished business professional and philanthropist with strong ties to the local community and who is dedicated to contributing to the growth and enhancement of the Gulf South region. Mrs. Benson has continued her late husband Tom’s vision to build championship-level NBA and NFL organizations, while making a positive impact in the community away from the basketball court and football field as well, through significant philanthropic investment, annually putting millions of dollars back into the community in financial supports, in-kind donation, charitable appearances and donations of goods and services.

• 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

Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the NFF/CFHOF Special Awards