Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Sugar Bowl

Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame

Scholarships 2024 (Katie Ulmer Photography)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 over 650 student-athletes while distributing over $700,000 in scholarship money. To become a member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, please click here.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter held its 2024 Awards Luncheon on April 11 at the Audubon Tea Room. Thirty-two local high school football players were recognized for their achievements in the classroom, in the community and on the football field. The honorees were chosen from a group of nominated scholar athletes from the New Orleans area. From that group of 32, five were selected to receive Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholarships: four for $10,000 and one for $20,000 each. The scholarship winners were chosen based on essays submitted after being notified of their selection as scholar-athletes.

Nathan Lousteau from Archbishop Rummel High School was the recipient of the $20,000 Oliver Delery Scholarship, named for the Sugar Bowl Committee-member and past president who passed away in 2020. The $10,000 scholarships were awarded to Dagan Bruno (John Curtis Christian School), Quinn Eden (Thomas Jefferson Academy), Benjamin Harrison (Northlake Christian School), and Dallas Hughes (Sophie B. Wright Charter School).

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

Ron Brocato, a New Orleans native who is regarded as the preeminent historian on high school sports in the New Orleans area and is one of the foremost experts on prep sports in Louisiana, 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. His sports coverage has encompassed much beyond preps during his six decades in the field. He worked for the New Orleans States-Item and later the Times-Picayune, until 1987, and now serves as sports editor for the Clarion Herald, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. During his career, Brocato has won several awards for headline and feature writing, columns and photography. In 2011, he earned the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism – it’s recognized as the most prestigious honor offered to sports media personnel in Louisiana. He was also inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Brocato has also served the Louisiana High School Athletic Association as media coordinator for the state football championship games in the Superdome for the past 29 years.
 
The executive director of the College Football Playoff (CFP), Bill Hancock, 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. Hancock has achieved a unique trifecta at the highest echelon of intercollegiate athletics. He was the first full-time director of the NCAA Final Four, the first executive director of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), and the first executive director of the College Football Playoff (CFP). Hancock’s five-decade career began in 1971 at the University of Oklahoma. He spent 16 years with the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, 13 years as its director. In 2005, he was appointed administrator of the BCS. He became executive director in 2009 and was named to the same role for the playoff when it was created in 2012. Hancock has served on the United States Olympic Committee staff at 15 Olympic Games and two Pan American Games. In June 2023, Hancock announced that he will step down when his current contract with the CFP expires in February 2025.

The New Orleans Chapter of the National Football Foundation was established in 1967. The Sugar Bowl took over sponsorship of the chapter in 2000 and since then it has recognized over 600 student-athletes while distributing over $700,000 in scholarship money.

Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the NFF/CFHOF Special Awards

 Year
 Contributions to Amateur Football
 Distinguished American
2024  Ron Brocato, Sportswriter  Bill Hancock, College Football Playoff
 2023  Eddie Bonine, LHSAA  Troy Dannen, Tulane University
 2022  Frank Monica, St. Charles Catholic HS  Ro Brown, WDSU-TV
 2021  Jay Roth, Archbishop Rummel HS  Rick Dickson, Tulane University
 2020  None (COVID-19)  None (COVID-19)
 2019  Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints  Paul Hoolahan, Allstate Sugar Bowl
 2018  Alan Freeman, SMG  Steve Gleason, New Orleans Saints
 2017  Marty Mulé, Sportswriter/Author  Marshall Faulk, Carver High/NFL
 2016  Edwin Murray, Louisiana Senator  Darryl Berger, Tulane/New Orleans
 2015  Karl Benson, Sun Belt Conference  Jack Laborde, Sugar Bowl Committee
 2014  Jim Henderson, Sports Broadcaster  Dennis Lauscha, New Orleans Saints
 2013  J.T. Curtis, John Curtis School  Elliott Hill, Nike North America
 2012  Vince Gibson, Tulane University  Elliott Laudeman, Sugar Bowl Committee
 2011  Bill Curl, Louisiana Superdome  Doug Hertz, Tulane University
 2010  Bill Bumgarner, Sportswriter  Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints
 2009  Wright Waters, Sun Belt Conference  Doug Thornton, SMG (Louisiana Superdome)
 2008  Jerry Romig, Saints/Sugar Bowl  Tony Biagas, New Orleans City Park
 2007  Skip Bertman, Louisiana State  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
 2006  NA  NA
 2005  Rick Dickson, Tulane University  Jerry Ebbert, New Orleans Homeland Security
 2004  Archie Manning, NFF/Sugar Bowl  Peter Finney, Times-Picayune
 2003  Don Wattigny, Edna Karr H.S.  Tommy Henry, LHSAA
 2002  NA  NA
 2001  Ken Trahan, Sports Reporter  Gene Newton
 2000  Ed Daniels, WGNO-TV  Tom Benson, New Orleans Saints
 1999  Edward Bravo  Paul Buckley, Hilton
 1998  Leonard Reis  James Wilson, Tulane University
 1997  Bobby Conlin, Brother Martin HS  William Ross
 1996  Jack Salter, Covington HS  Larry Lundy
 1995  Rev. John T. Curtis, Sr., Curtis School  Jim Mora, New Orleans Saints
 1994  Roy Glapion, N.O. Public Schools  Tony Reginelli, Newman HS
 1993  Otis Washington, St. Aug HS  Pat Taylor
 1990  NA  Bob Roesler, Times-Picayune
 1986  Shelby Fredrichs, Southern Yacht Club  Tony Porter
 1984  Champ Clark, Sportswriter  NA
 1984  Capt. Joe Katz, New Orleans  Kent McWilliams
 1983  Ben Weiner, Tulane University  NA
 1983  George Kalil, N.O. QB Club  Stan Kotteman, Tulane/Official/QB Club
 1982  Hap Glaudi, Sports Reporter  Kenny Konz
 1981  Armand Kitto  Hank Lauricella, Louisiana Legislator
 1980  John Lynch  Jim Taylor
 1979  A.B. Nicholas  NA
 1979  Pie Dufour, Writer  John Petitbon
 1978  NA  Charles Cusimano
 1978  Marshall David, Sugar Bowl  Andy Pilney, Tulane University
 1977  Theo Maumus, Sugar Bowl  NA
 1977  Sam Corenswet, Sugar Bowl  Hank Lauricella, Louisiana Legislator
 1976  Cliff Kern, Sugar Bowl  Dr. Rix Yard, Tulane University
 1971  Ike Carriere  Lester Lautenschlaeger
Allstate Sugar Bowl Office Caesars Superdome
1500 Sugar Bowl Drive
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
ph (504) 828-2440
fax (504) 828-2441