Sept. 29, 2011
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By Central Florida Sports Commission
ORLANDO, Fla. - Jeff Godfrey, the starting quarterback of the UCF Knights, took home the SPORTY for College Athlete of the Year, beating out Crystal Bardge (Bethune-Cookman and Embry-Riddle track and field) and Aurieyall Scott (UCF track and field). A sophomore at UCF, Godfrey led the Knights to a Conference USA championship as well as a Liberty Bowl victory in 2010.
Joining Godfrey as an award winner from UCF was the Knights' assistant athletics director for facility and event operations Tom Snyder, who won the honor of Employee of the Year.
A crowd of more than 350 of Central Florida's sports elite were on hand to experience the PNC Bank SPORTYS @ Full Sail University, which took place on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Full Sail Live. Hosted by the Central Florida Sports Commission, the inaugural event honored the top area high school, amateur, collegiate and professional athletes, coaches, deserving local residents and businesses throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties.
Other SPORTY winners were: Professional Athlete - Ryan Lochte, Amateur Athlete of the Year - Marvin Bracy, High School Athlete- Austin Rivers, Coach of the Year - Anthony Jones, Business of the Year - ESPN Wide World of Sports, Employee of the Year - Tom Snyder, Volunteer of the Year - Shawn Cavalieri, and Rich DeVos Community Spirit Award - Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.
During the show the Class of 2011 was inducted into the Central Florida Sports Hall of Fame. Inductees included Glenn "Doc" Rivers, Chuck Rohe and Ricky Watters. In 4-plus seasons as coach of the Orlando Magic, Rivers made the playoffs in 3 seasons and won the coach of the year award in 2000. Current coach of the Boston Celtics, Rivers continues to make his home in Central Florida and supports local charities through his annual celebrity golf tournament. The long time CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, Chuck Rohe was instrumental in updating and upgrading the Citrus Bowl in the early 1990s. Without his vision and commitment, Orlando could not host such great events, including two of the best bowl games in the country. Watters, a 5-time pro bowl NFL running back and Super Bowl champion with the 49ers, currently lives in Orlando where he is the CEO of Ricky Watters Sports Management and spends time as a motivational speaker and mentor for at-risk and foster youth.
The Central Florida Sports Hall of Fame is the continuation of a great regional sports tradition, where 80 other Central Floridians have been honored for their distinguished accomplishments within professional and amateur sports since 1981. The 2011 class joins past inductees including Arnold Palmer, Dot Richardson, Nick Anderson, Chris DiMarco and Chipper Jones, in a permanent display located on the terrace level of the Amway Center.
About the Central Florida Sports Commission:
The Central Florida Sports Commission strategically solicits, creates and supports marquis sports-related events and business that enhance our community's economy.