Arizona Football: What is the Hard Edge Award? And Who has gotten one?
Arizona Football coaches give out awards every week, one of the most sought after award is the Hard Edge award.
The Arizona Football team received a sword from the Navy Seals who worked with the players over the summer, so it’s very special to the players.
The sword is awarded to the Wildcat who is voted the player who exibited the most Hard Edge in a game. The player gets to keep the special sword for the week and gets his picture displayed Matt Dudek’s Twitter feed. It’s on Dudek’s feed because Rich is not so great at keeping up his Twitter posts, his daughter points it out to him from time to time.
We asked Coach Rod on the Pac-12 Football Coaches Teleconference call how they go about granting the award each week.
“Sometimes we give out player awards after games, offensive and defensive player, and scout team guys and all that. But the biggest award is the Hard Edge player. It’s basically, it’s the guy that just competes his tail off on each and every snap and kind of embodies the spirit that we want the players to have all the time.”
Coach Dudek explains it this way, “Basically goes to the guy who strained the most, worked his but off, fought the hardest…not necessarily anything to do with the stats but you always see there number doing something on the field.”
There have been three recipients thus far this season:
WR Nate Phillips Senior
A couple days late, but our Hard Edge Player of the Week for the Hawaii game goes to Nate Phillips! He gets the sword this week! #HardEdge pic.twitter.com/VFRXAjqoLF
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 21, 2016
DL Parker Zellers (Redshirt Junior currently on the injured list)
The sword belongs to Parker Zellers this week for winning Hard Edge Player of the Week honors! #HardEdge ????
???????? pic.twitter.com/1ST2ZLc3Go— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 12, 2016
DL Justin Belknap Redshirt Freshman Walk-on from Hendersen, NV (still waiting on a scholarship)
Justin Belknap earns Hard Edge Player of the Week honors for his effort Saturday! #BearDown #HardEdge pic.twitter.com/R9q1yQpdQU
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 5, 2016
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Every week, check out Coach Dudek or Arizona Football’s twitter feed for the latest Hard Edge Award recipient. BearDown Nate, Parker and Justin!
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