Alabama's Carson Tinker Nominated for the Orange Bowl/Discover Courage Award

Alabama long-snapper, Carson Tinker, is the second nominee for the 2011 Discover Courage Award. Nominees are named by the Football Writers Association of America on a weekly basis throughout the football season. The recipient of the award is announced during the Orange Bowl week of festivities.

As most remember, Carson Tinker was severely injured in the tornado that struck the Tuscaloosa community on April 27 of this year. Tinker and girlfriend, Ashley Harrison, were violently thrown from their apartment during the melee, where they were huddled with two other friends. Carson and Ashley were separated for hours afterward. Mrs. Harrison's lifeless body was discovered the following day, more than a hundred feet from the apartment.

Carson Tinker suffered a concussion, broken wrist and cuts to his head and right ankle. More importantly, he had lost his best friend through the devastation and suffered from severe depression during recovery. He has fully recovered from his physical injuries and is still recovering from the loss of Ashley. He participated in practices throughout fall camp and has been involved in the kicking game of every contest during the 2011 season.

The first nominee for the 2011 award is Middle Tennessee's Shane Blizzard and athletic trainer, Robbie Stewart. Stewart's quick responsiveness to Blizzard's reaction after a routine hit and tackle during spring practice saved Blizzards life. After the hit, Blizzard was sidelined for recovery from the incident. Stewart was attentive to the athletes injuries which included more intense pain that usual, lightheadedness and shortness of breath.

When Blizzard began vomiting, Stewart immediately checked his blood pressure which was hypotensive. Blizzard was rushed to the hospital and found to have broken ribs, a punctured lung and fractured spleen. Blizzard was prepped and on the surgical gantry less than 90 minutes after the hit. Stewarts prompt and accurate diagnosis likely saved Shane Blizzards life.

Last year's recipient, Eric Lagrand, suffered a broken neck while making a tackle on a kick off return. He was damaged at the C3-4 level and underwent emergency surgery for stabilization of the injury. Legrand is a quadriplegic as a result of the injury.

ESPN The Magazine's senior writer Gene Wojciechowski founded the Courage Award. Recipients of the award are selected based on events that lead to adversity in an athletes personal life or courage on or off of the field. This might include overcoming an injury, physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through personal hardship. A select group of FWAA members vote on the recipient each year.

Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are the entire team of the Connecticut Huskies [dealing with the death of teammate Jasper Howard] (2009), Tulsa's Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane Green Wave [relocation due to hurricane Katrina] (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).

The Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for-profit volunteer organization whose primary function is organization and presentation of the Orange Bowl football game.

The Football Writers Association of America, is also a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consisting of more than 1,200 persons who are employed to cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, and key executives in all the areas that involve the game of football.