Duke Linebacker David Helton Wins Campbell Trophy

Not many people nationally know about the Campbell Trophy--it is not presented at some over-glitzy ESPN-created theme show--but if I was going to win one trophy for college football excellence, this would be the one. The Campbell, awarded for the past 25 years, goes to the college football player who best combines on-field success with academic qualifications and work in the community. With the Heisman Trophy quickly morphing into the best-player-who-gets-national-press-irregardless-of-off-the-field-issues award, the little-known Campbell is now the trophy that best showcases just how good college football can be. Linebacker David Helton, who topped a competitive group of young men, is the latest example of the best of the best I a sport that is proud of its ability to help mold men in the right way all the while the press harps on the bad apples. Which, of course, is why the name David Helton means very little nationally. Despite being a star member of a Duke squad that has now become an annual challenger for not only a bowl bid but a spot in the ACC title game, Helton gets virtually zero press. That is true of the entire Duke team in the era of the only teams worth covering are the ones fighting for national championships. That Helton holds a 3.64 in psychology while leading the ACC is tackles for a team that has won at least 18 games over the past two seasons is not worthy of attention in a celebrity era. His many volunteer efforts are greatly appreciated by the Duke community but he would have garnered more ink for driving drunk or punching a women in a club. He did not do that, of course, and is probably fine being a local hero. Fortunately the National Football Foundation exists to promote the less sexy but more important side of college football, the side that actually covers a majority of players. Helton and the rest of the finalists for the Campbell were honored at a wonderful dinner. Once again the NFF did the right thing but unfortunately not enough people cared or knew about it.