ACU's Scott moves on to next phase of his football life
12/13/2008 6:00:00 AM | Football
FLORENCE, Ala. -- Less than 24 hours after winning the Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation's top NCAA Division II player, ACU running back Bernard Scott began the next phase of his life as an NFL prospect.
After leaving the north Alabama area Saturday morning, Scott went to Houston to meet with a potential agent before going to Dallas late Monday afternoon to meet with another prospective agent on Tuesday. He should then be ready to make a decision on his future representation and begin training and getting ready for the next few months.
What will happen in those few months is that he will play in the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game, Jan. 31, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. He also received an invitation to the Cactus Bowl (NCAA Division II all-star game in Kingsville on Jan. 9), but has decided not to play in that game.
After his all-star game appearance, Scott hopes to earn an invitation to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Feb. 18-24, where he would have the chance to showcase his skills in front of owners, general managers, coaches and scouts from every team in the league.
All of those things in front of him, though, didn't keep him from reflecting on his experience in Florence, Ala., during the week.
"I had a fantastic time in Florence both times I was able to make the trip," said Scott, who was the runner-up for the trophy in 2007. "The people there treated us in a first-class manner, and I appreciate that, and I know the other two finalists (quarterbacks Mike Reilly and A.J. Milwee of Central Washington and North Alabama, respectively)."
Scott became somewhat emotional in his acceptance speech Friday night at the Florence Convention Center, especially when thanking members of his family and some of the members of the ACU coaching staff who were in attendance for the awards banquet.
"I just want to thank my mother and my grandmother for their guidance and direction in my life ... and for putting up with me," he said before gathering himself again. "I also want to thank my dad for putting up with me and helping me the way he has along the way.
"I also want to thank my head coach, Chris Thomsen, and my offensive coordinator, Ken Collums, for everything they've done for me," Scott said. "The three of us are all from the same hometown (Vernon, Texas), and I appreciate their guidance in my life. Without the two of them, I don't know where I'd be right now."
After Scott was announced as the winner (the 19th in the 23-year history of the award), he thanked his teammates and ACU itself in the post-event press conference.
"This is an individual award, but everyone of my teammates deserves a piece of this trophy," Scott said. "Without our coaches putting together good schemes and gameplans and without my teammates executing those gameplans, I wouldn't have had the success I enjoyed the last two seasons.
"I also want to thank ACU for giving me a chance to grow and be around great coaches and great people for the lst two years," he said. "ACU has helped me to become a better man, and I believe the things I've learned there will guide me through the rest of my life."
HARLON HILL NOTES
* Bernard Scott's 253 points are the third-highest total in the history of the award behind the 303 points by Emporia State running back Brian Shay in 1998 and the 271 points by Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002.
* Scott's 168-point margin of victory over runners-up Mike Reilly of Central Washington and A.J. Milwee of North Alabama (tied for second with 85 points apiece) is the second-largest in the history of the award. Shay set the all-time record with a 185-point margin of victory (303-118) over Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1998.
* Scott is the fifth player in the award's history to win the trophy the year after finishing as the runner-up. Former Texas A&M-Kingsville great Johnny Bailey finished as the runner-up for the first trophy in 1986 and then won the award three straight years. Shay finished second in 1997 before winning the award in 1998. McGuffey finished second to Shay in 1998 before taking home the trophy in 1999, and Anes finished second in 2001 before he won the award in 2002.
* Scott received 66 first-place votes and received points on 94 of the 97 ballots cast. He received 27 second-place votes and one third-place vote.
* The Lone Star Conference now has four Harlon Hill trophies in the league with three from Bailey and one from Scott. That places the LSC second among conferences behind the five totaled by the Gulf South Conference (three from Valdosta State and two from North Alabama).
