Utah's Morgan Scalley Garners First Annual Pat Tillman Award

Ute defensive back collects first annual Pat Tillman Award at East-West Shrine Game

Morgan Scalley earns first-ever East-West Shrine Game Pat Tillman Award
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Jan. 17, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO - The first annual East-West Shrine Game's Pat Tillman Award was presented to Morgan Scalley, a defensive back from the University of Utah.

Tillman's collegiate coach, Bruce Snyder, presented the award to Scalley during the 80th East-West Shrine Game player's banquet, which carries the following inscription:

The Pat Tillman Award is presented each year to a player in the East-West Shrine Game to recognize character, intelligence, sportsmanship, and service. More than a football award, this honor is about achievements and conduct on and off the field.

Pat was a great American. This award is presented to honor and remember Pat as standout athlete, dedicated student, strong family man, and a patriot.

Scalley graduated from the University of Utah with a 3.953 cumulative GPA and is currently working on his MBA. He was a unanimous First Team All-Mountain West selection and the conference's 2004 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Scalley is president of Utah's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was named First Team Academic All-American by CoSIDA/ESPN Magazine. He was the Utes team captain and leads many philanthropic and charitable projects. Scalley is also married and devoted to his family.

Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Tillman gave up his million-dollar contract in the NFL to join his brother, Kevin, in service to the nation in the war on terror. Both enlisted in the U.S. Army in the summer of 2002 and became members of the Elite 75th Ranger Regiment. Tillman was killed during a mission in southeastern Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. His sacrifice touched a nation and this award was created to honor and remember Tillman, a San Jose, Calif. native, Leland High School graduate, 1997 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year at Arizona State and the 1998 East-West Shrine Game's Defensive MVP. He spent five seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals.

Tillman was also inducted into the East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame during halftime. Pat Tillman, Sr. accepted the honor.

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