Majors To Receive Special Award

Johnny Majors didn't receive the respect he should have at Tennessee when he was replaced by Phil Fulmer following the 1992 season.

Majors had a 116-62-8 record in 15 seasons as the Vols head coach.

Nonetheless, after he missed the last four games of the 1992 season he was replaced by Fulmer.

Majors never wanted to leave Tennessee, where he was a triple-threat tailback and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1956 to Notre Dame's Paul Hornung. He was later elected into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The former Tennessee All-American will be honored on April 17, at the Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath, Mich. as the recipient of the 2008 Duffy Daugherty Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to amateur football.

The event honors the memory of Daugherty, a the former Michigan State coach who had national champion teams in 1955, 1957, 1965 and 1966.

"I loved Duffy and his wife, Frances," Majors said. "We were the greatest of friends. And he had some great, great teams at Michigan State. When he quit coaching there, he kept coaching me. That's why this award ranks at the top in my football career."

Majors' teams won 185 games, including nine bowls, in 29 years at Iowa State (1968-72), Pittsburgh (1973-76) Tennessee (1977-92) and Pitt again (1993-96).

His 1976 Panthers featuring Tony Dorsett were 12-0 and captured the National Championship.

"It's another great group of honorees," said Pat Boog , president of the Duffy Daugherty Memorial Award Committee. "Their accomplishments speak for themselves. But this is a chance to remember their special contributions and a game they loved."

Majors joins a list of honorees that includes college coaches Bud Wilkinson, Bob Devaney, Eddie Robinson, Joe Paterno, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler, Woody Hayes, Frank Kush, Biggie Munn, Hayden Fry, Tom Osborne and LaVell Edwards, broadcaster Keith Jackson, A.D. Don Canham and two-time Ohio State Heisman winner Archie Griffin.

Tickets for the event are expected to sellout, but are available by calling Michelle Fink at (517) 853-6457. Tables of eight are $400, with individual tickets $50.