The Bobby Bowden award recognizes the Football Bowl Subdivision player who epitomizes a student-athlete. He must conduct himself as a faith model in the classroom, on the field, on the campus and in the community. To win, he must also have the backing of his school's athletic director and head football coach.
The award is named after former Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden. It was conceived by Vince Gibson, a former Bowden assistant at South Georgia College who went on to become head coach at Kansas State, Louisville and Tulane before he passed away in 2012 from Lou Gehrig's disease; and Vernon Brinson, one of Bowden’s former players at South Georgia College in the 1950s.
The Award, presented annually since 2003, is sponsored by The Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Ikard is looking to become the second Sooner to win the award after Carl Pendleton took home the honors in 2006.
The 2013 Bobby Bowden Award winner will be announced at the FCA Bowl Championship Breakfast site in Irvine, California on Jan. 3, 2014.
/// SoonerSports PR
