Atlantic Coast Conference Announces 2009-10 Sportsmanship Award Winners

Aug. 16, 2010

Greensboro, NC – Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today the league’s 2009-10 Sportsmanship Award winners. Clemson junior cross county and track & field student-athlete Stephanie Buffo and Virginia freshman cross country and track & field student-athlete Robert Andrews were honored individually while the team award went to the Georgia Tech baseball squad.

The ACC continues to implement various sportsmanship initiatives, including an emphasis on the importance of good sportsmanship between student-athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, alumni, and fans.

Buffo, a health science major from Spartanburg, SC, saw one of her fellow competitors collapse while crossing the finish line following a race at the Charlotte 49er Classic. Buffo helped the other competitor to her feet and walked her to a medical station.

Andrews, from Manalapan, NJ, showed both humility and poise after an upset victory in the 800m men’s title at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. After defeating Andrew Wheating, a 2008 Olympic athlete from Oregon, Andrews shared embraces and sincere congratulations with Wheating. He responded in an interview with great respect to his fellow competitor and noted that he has been a huge fan of Wheating since his Olympic trial.

When the Georgia Tech baseball team heard about a baseball player from arch-rival Georgia who was seriously injured in a car accident, several players visited the injured player, Chancy Veazey, in Atlanta’s Shepherd Center. Additionally, head coach Danny Hall’s squad raised $2,000 to cover some of Veazey’s medical expenses by asking tailgaters prior to the Georgia Tech-Georgia football game to donate money.

The ACC Sportsmanship Award winners were selected from a group of institutional nominees submitted by each school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and their advisors. To be considered, nominees must consistently demonstrate good sportsmanship and ethical behavior in his/her participation in intercollegiate athletics as well is in the community, and be in good academic standing.