University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Quarterback Jeff Wedding Named Recipient of the NAIA-CTSA "All That's Right in Sport" Award

Wedding will be recognized in June at the 10th Annual AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards in St. Louis, Mo.

Posted on 02.27.08

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced this afternoon its decision to award the NAIA-Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) “All That’s Right in Sport” award to University of Saint Francis (Ind.) quarterback Jeff Wedding. The award is the first of its kind for the NAIA and recognizes a college student-athlete based on how an individual played the game in the spirit of sportsmanship.

“The NAIA-CTSA “All That’s Right in Sport” award celebrates Jeff Wedding, the University of Saint Francis football program and all NAIA member institutions committed to character driven intercollegiate athletics,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “The NAIA’s signature program, Champions of Character, defines athletes by the choices they make and the effort they give. I commend Jeff on his sportsmanlike conduct and his choices both on and off the field.”

An unquestionable leader, Wedding’s accolades are off the chart. A junior from Kendallville, Indiana, Wedding is an excellent student, team captain and the only NAIA player named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 5 Football Team. This past season Wedding came back from a serious knee injury to play a role in making Saint Francis history. 

In late November Saint Francis traveled to McKenzie, Tenn. in hopes of landing the team’s first road playoff victory. Wedding and the Cougars, who ended the 2007 campaign 11-2, met the Bethel (Tenn.) Wildcats on the gridiron in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Football Championship Series. Wedding had rushed and passed for two touchdowns on the night but the Cougars were locked at 27-27 with no time on the clock. The game came down to a field goal attempt and the man on the mission was sophomore Rhys Barnhart. Barnhart hit the 39-yarder etching in Cougar history many firsts. The first game-winner by Barnhart, first-game winner in Saint Francis history and the first road playoff win.

Fans who follow Cougar ball realize that Head Coach Kevin Donley goes for sixes rather than threes and that is what makes Barnhart’s success so special. The four quarters were stamped with team brilliance and Barnhart’s performance combined with Wedding’s stellar playmaking skills put a semifinal game on the Cougar calendar. Following the post-game celebration Wedding took home the trophy for NAIA Offensive Player of the Game. The Cougars headed for the locker room before traveling home to Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

Wedding felt Barnhart deserved the trophy just as much any anyone so when no one was looking he quietly tucked the MVP hardware inside the kicker’s duffle. A tip from a teammate led Barnhart to find the MVP trophy.

“I've tried to give it back on several different occasions, but Jeff won't take it back. He just says 'You earned it. You kicked the game-winning field goal’. He's a great teammate,” said Barnhart. “I'm glad we have him back for one more season.”

“What Jeff did came as no surprise to me because that's the kind of person he is,” said Donley. “He's a great asset to the team, in the classroom, and to the University of Saint Francis.”

The NAIA is centered on character driven intercollegiate athletics and its flagship program Champions of Character. The philosophy is based on the association’s commitment to high standards and to the principle that participation in athletics serves as an integral part of the total education process.

“Jeff (Wedding) didn’t give up his award for the publicity or the press. He did it as an example of good sportsmanship, fair play and thinking of others before himself,” said University of Saint Francis Athletics Director Mark Pope. “To me, that is exactly what is right about sport.”

The award recognizes Wedding for his team first approach to sport and his decision to share his individual success.

“I had no idea what Coach (Kevin) Donley was talking about when he told me about the award. What an honor,” said Wedding. “I just did it because Rhys (Barnhart) deserved it. I certainly wasn't thinking about winning an award for doing the right thing.”

The NAIA Character Committee selected Wedding from an outstanding pool of finalists. The other finalists for the NAIA-CTSA “All That’s Right in Sport” award included Thomas Leinenbach (University of the Cumberlands), Mills College Women’s Soccer Team, Ohio Dominican University Women’s Soccer Team and William Woods University Softball Team.

Wedding will be recognized as the recipient of the NAIA-CTSA “All That’s Right in Sport” award on June 5, 2008, at the 10th Annual AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards at the Chase Park Plaza Khorassan Ballroom in St. Louis, Mo. The AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards celebrates athletes and personalities from around the nation that exemplify outstanding sportsmanship, citizenship, ethical conduct and community service. It is one of the most prestigious sports awards events in the country. The awards program features major league superstars and local favorites, as well as individuals who may not necessarily be household names, but bring with them the most heartwarming stories.

This event is the signature event of the St. Louis Sports Commission’s Sportsmanship Initiative. By recognizing the outstanding individuals who set the standard with their approach on and off the field, the St. Louis Sports Commission hopes to set the tone for all parents, coaches and fans to be “good sports” and pass those values on to children in the community. To learn more about the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards visit www.stlouissports.org. To learn more about Wedding and the University of Saint Francis football program visit www.sf.edu.

-NAIA-

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association’s innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.