(November 27, 2007) U.S. Naval Academy slot back Zerbin Singleton has displayed an unwavering determination, overcoming a serious car wreck and a series of family tragedies to follow his dream of one day becoming a part of the U.S. space program. For his courage and perseverance, Singleton is this year's recipient of Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, given each year to college football's most inspirational figure. Disney's Director of Sports & Recreation Planning and New Event Development Kellen Winslow, an NFL Hall of Famer, will present the award to Singleton during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards at the Atlantic Dance Hall at Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday, Dec. 6. The 17th annual awards show is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET and will be televised live on ESPN.

Singleton, a senior aerospace engineering major from Decatur, Ga., overcame several obstacles growing up, including leaving Alaska after his mother's incarceration following a parole violation. He met his father for the first time as a senior in high school, then was forced to cope with his father's suicide a year later.

At age 11, Singleton found stability in Decatur, Ga., where he lived with his cousins and quickly developed a natural aptitude for school and athletics. A three-year football letterman at Columbia High School (Decatur, Ga.), he was also elected Senior Class President, along with President of CHS's National Honor Society.

Initially accepted into the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, Singleton chose the Navy because of the challenge of flying a jet to and from an aircraft carrier. However, Singleton's dreams of aviation were derailed after his car was struck by a drunk driver one week before graduating from high school as class valedictorian. As a result of a broken collarbone suffered in the accident, he couldn't participate in Navy's plebe summer and was subsequently denied admittance to the academy.

Undeterred by his physical limitations as a result of the car accident, Singleton never gave up and instead enrolled his freshman year at Georgia Tech University. Once healthy enough to complete the physical requirements set forth by the Naval Academy in 2004, he transferred to the academy in Annapolis, Md.

"Zerbin Singleton is the embodiment of character, purpose and determination," said Winslow. "We at Disney's Wide World of Sports are proud to present this honor to a member of our Armed Forces whose ambition and focus will ultimately lead him to inspiring new heights."

A three-year starter at slot back, Singleton enters the annual Army-Navy game on Dec. 1 playing perhaps the best football of his collegiate career. Primarily utilized as a blocking back the past two seasons, he has compiled back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances the past two games (at North Texas and vs. Northern Illinois), along with scoring three touchdowns in each of those contests. This season, he has rushed 59 times for 423 yards and eight touchdowns for the nation's leading rushing offense (357.4 ypg.).

"I am honored and humbled to be selected for this award," said Singleton. "All the credit goes to God and my family."

Singleton also excels in the classroom where he carries a 3.14 GPA in aerospace engineering. Last season, he was named Academic All-District by ESPN the Magazine.

This honor marks the second Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award for the U.S. Naval Academy. In 2001, the U.S. Service Academy football teams from Air Force, Army and Navy collectively received the Disney Spirit Award in recognition of their academic, athletic and military commitments following the tragic events of Sept. 11th.

Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award is presented annually to college football's most inspirational figure. Singleton becomes the 12th recipient of the Disney Spirit Award, joining past honorees Daniel Huffman (1996), Dwight Collins (1997), Matt Hartl (1998), East Carolina University (1999), Hameen Ali (2000), the United States Service Academy football teams (2001), Dewayne White (2002), Neil Parry (2003), Tim Frisby (2004), the Tulane University football team (2005) and University of Louisville band member Patrick Henry Hughes (2006).

Huffman, a high school player in Rossville, Ill., sacrificed a promising football career to donate a kidney to his ailing grandmother. Collins, a native of Lake Charles, La., overcame his loss of hearing to meningitis at 11 months of age to earn a scholarship to the University of Central Florida as a running back. Hartl, from Denver, Colo., battled Hodgkin's disease throughout his college career as a fullback at Northwestern University before succumbing to the illness in August 1999.

The East Carolina football team finished the season in the national rankings after overcoming the floods and devastation that affected the entire eastern North Carolina community during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Ali overcame a troubled youth and poverty-stricken conditions to earn a football scholarship and a degree from William & Mary.

Dewayne White suffered the loss of his parents, two house fires and serious injury before matriculating to the University of Louisville where he earned school records for career sacks and tackles for loss, as well as the 2002 Spirit Award. Neil Parry overcame the amputation of his right leg to return to San Jose State to play in six games for the Spartans, while 39-year old Tim Frisby followed a career in the Army by pursuing a life-long dream to play college football at South Carolina.

The Tulane University football team played 11 games in 11 different stadiums, including "home" games in six different cities after Hurricane Katrina devastated the team's home city of New Orleans.

University of Louisville band member Patrick Henry Hughes captured national headlines for his inspiring story of determination and remarkable achievement despite being physically challenged. Despite being born with a rare genetic disorder that left him with no eyes and the inability to fully straighten his arms or legs, and with his dad guiding his way, Hughes is a trumpet player in the University of Louisville marching band, a concert pianist, a recording artist and, most important, a straight-A student. The significant role of marching bands amid the landscape of college football, coupled with Hughes' remarkable achievements despite his physical challenges, made him the overwhelming choice for Disney's Spirit Award even though the award has traditionally been given to a student-athlete.

Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award Recipients:

Date - Recipient - School (Hometown)
1996 - Daniel Huffman - Rossville High School (Rossville, Ill.)
1997 - Dwight Collins - Central Florida University (Lake Charles, La.)
1998 - Matt Hartl - Northwestern University (Denver, Colo.)
1999 - East Carolina University * - East Carolina University (Greenville, N.C.)
2000 - Hameen Ali - College of William & Mary (Dover, Del.)
2001 - United States Air Force Academy ** - United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
United States Military Academy ** - United States Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.)
United States Naval Academy ** - United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Md.)
2002 - Dewayne White - University of Louisville (Marbury, Ala.)
2003 - Neil Parry - San Jose State University (Sonora, Calif.)
2004 - Tim Frisby - University of South Carolina (Allentown, Pa.)
2005 - Tulane University* - Tulane University (New Orleans, La.)
2006 - Patrick Henry Hughes - University of Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)
2007 - Zerbin Singleton - United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Md.)

*presented to entire football team
** presented to football teams at all three service academies

-- Posted November 27, 2007