• Sgt. York Trophy History

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Delta Dental of Tennessee has been named the presenting sponsor of this year's OVC Sergeant York Trophy, and Tennessee Tech both start and finish the race. The Golden Eagles play the first game of the series in 2014 with a contest at Tennessee State on Sept. 20, and wrap up the trophy chase with the final game, a visit to Austin Peay on Nov. 22.

The Sgt. York Trophy goes to the winner of the quadrangular season football series between the four Ohio Valley Conference football-playing schools located in the state of Tennessee – Austin Peay State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee at Martin.

"We are proud to sponsor the Sgt. York Trophy and support our collegiate conference based here in Tennessee, the OVC," said Phil Wenk, president and CEO, Delta Dental of Tennessee. "The battle of these four Tennessee teams is always a fierce one – worth bragging rights within our state. It's fitting that we honor the legacy of Sgt. York, a true Tennessee hero with this trophy."

In July 2007, the Nashville Sports Council and the Ohio Valley Conference announced the creation of the award which is only the second traveling trophy that involves more than two teams in college sports; the other is the Commander in Chief's Trophy which has been contested between Air Force, Army and Navy annually since 1972.

The award is named in honor of Alvin C. York; the most noted Soldier of World War I. As a corporal in the 2nd battalion, 328th Infantry, in the Battle of the Meuse River-Argonne (Oct. 8, 1918), York and seven other soldiers captured 132 prisoners, was promoted to sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor, the Croce di Guerra of Italy and the War Medal of Montenegro. Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Following the war York returned his home in Pall Mall, Tenn. (located in north central Tennessee, 55 miles northeast of Cookeville) where he dedicated his life to improving education and facilitating educational opportunities for children in the state of Tennessee. In 1927 he established the Alvin C. York Institute after spending several years raising money for the school which opened as a private institution. That school was established, in part, to provide educational opportunities denied to the boys and girls of Fentress Country. In 1937, the Institute became a state special school after an appeal to the Tennessee State Legislature. The school, located in Jamestown, Tenn., is still in operation today.

York died on Sept. 2, 1964, and the foundation which he helped establish in 1920, the Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation, was dormant for many years. The Foundation was re-established by Lipscomb Davis, Jr. in 1992 and is currently run by Sgt. York's grandson Gerald (U.S. Army Colonel, Retired). York's papers are archived by Michael E. Birdwell, Ph.D., who is an associate professor of history at Tennessee Technological University, one of the four institutions that will compete for the yearly honor.

After the completion of the football season, the Sergeant York Trophy will be awarded to the institution with the best head-to-head record in the match-ups with their fellow Tennessee schools. In the event of a tie, the award will be shared; however, the previous winner will retain the trophy if they are part of the tie. If the tie is between two other institutions, the trophy will go to the institution that has gone the most seasons without winning the trophy.

The award is presented to the winning institution annually at the Celebration of Champions, which is hosted each spring by the Nashville Sports Council. The event was created in 1999 and salutes amateur and professional sports in Tennessee.
 
2014 Sgt. York Trophy Games
Sept. 20 - Tennessee Tech at Tennessee State
Oct. 9 - Tennessee Tech at UT Martin
Oct. 18 - UT Martin at Tennessee State
Oct. 25 - Austin Peay at UT Martin
Nov. 8 - Tennessee State at Austin Peay
Nov. 22 - Tennessee Tech at Austin Peay