Michael McGhee Receives Bickerstaff/Pace University Scholar-Athlete Award

NASHVILLE - The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced on Thursday night that senior running back Michael McGhee of the University of the South was named the recipient of the 2023 C.R. Bickerstaff / Bill Pace University Scholar-Athlete Award. The award was presented at the chapter's annual banquet on Thursday night at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin.

At the banquet, McGhee, along with six other college student-athletes in the mid-state, was honored with the Charles W. Hawkins III College Scholar-Athlete Honorees. The awards were presented by National Football League Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson and Kelly Holcomb, former quarterback at Middle Tennessee State University. 

Below is the list of honorees:

School	Affiliation	Name
Austin Peay State University	NCAA Division I FCS	Mike DiLiello
Cumberland University	NAIA	Ronaldo Marmolejo
Middle Tennessee State University	NCAA Division I FBS	Jordan Ferguson
Tennessee State University	NCAA Division I FCS	Josh Green
Tennessee Tech University	NCAA Division I FCS	Jeremiah Oatsvall
The University of the South	NCAA Division III	Michael McGhee
Vanderbilt University	NCAA Division I FBS	Ethan Barr

Later in the program, the presentation of the C.R. Bickerstaff / Bill Pace University Scholar-Athlete Award, which was presented by Pat Brown and John Major. The Bickerstaff / Pace University Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to the top university football scholar-athlete in the Middle Tennessee area based on scholarship, sportsmanship and value to the team.

Bickerstaff was a longtime executive secretary of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Pace is a former head coach at Vanderbilt University. 

"The recognition from the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation of a student-athlete at the Division III level is tremendous," said Associate Head Coach Joe Rodgers. "This type of award supports the true meaning of a student-athlete; the academic rigor that is expected at the University of the South along with the athletic commitment brings out the best in our student-athletes."

With the University of the South being the only NCAA Division III institution in the region, McGhee is thankful and honored to be represented alongside the other indviduals from NCAA Division I and NAIA programs. 

"It is an honor to be noticed and acknowledged for my hard work throughout my college career, and it is a privilege that I am able to be recognized alongside other schools in our area," said McGhee. Being able to represent our chapter at the Division III level is an opportunity I will never forget."

McGhee becomes the third recipient of the award to come from Sewanee since 2006, joining Wesley Satterfield C'07 and Tyler Brantley C'09. Satterfield, who now serves as a head coach and offensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech, was in attendance on Thursday night.

"We feel MIke is a great candidate amongst many in the area that deserves this award. We are so proud of Mike and what he has accomplished at the University of the South. He has made the Sewanee community proud, bringing home the Bickerstaff/Pace University Scholar-Athlete award," added Rodgers.

The Chattanooga Central High School product came to the University of the South in the fall of 2019. Not only did he run the ball on the gridiron, but he also wanted to serve the Sewanee community by joining the volunteer fire department on campus.

Inducted into the Order of the Gown during the fall of 2021 and later a captain on the football program, McGhee's work with the Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) was critical to his experience on the Domain. 

"Working on the SVFD and being involved in a lot of the aspects of college life has been a challenge for sure. But, I have always had guidance, love, support and the accessibility to help when I needed it in all the things I am a part of, and thats in part to the special community Sewanee has," said McGhee. All these things have only pushed me to grow in a variety of ways that I would not have been able to do without the complexity of experiences I have had."

Earning All-SAA Second Team honors in 2022, McGhee ran for 812 yards and totaled 1,360 yards on the ground in his career. His 241-yard game on 21 carries versus Millsaps on Oct. 1. The 200-yard performance was the second in Sewanee's history in the Southern Athletic Association, where they were charter members of in the 2012-13 academic year. 

The 241-yard performance was the second-best performance in the SAA in 2022, which saw McGhee rush for 70 yards twice in the game. He was named the league's Offensive Player of the Week and the D3football.com Team of the Week. 

The definition of a true student-athlete rang true with the coaching staff, as they selected him to the SAA's All-Sportsmanship Team at the end of the season. 

"Mike came to Sewanee and worked hard every day to be the best version of himself. His work ethic is evident in his physical conditioning as well as his academic success, and it has propelled him to be successful. And that has affected not just his peers, but this community, too. Mike's leadership in this community as a volunteer firefighter and captain of the football team will be missed," said Rodgers. 

McGhee, who is running track for the Tigers this spring, is looking forward to his next chapter as he will graduate with a degree in Biology. 

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