Disney Spirit Award goes to Alabama for efforts following April storms

TUSCALOOSA, Al.

The University of Alabama football team has been honored with the 2011 Disney Spirit Award, given annually to college football's most inspirational player or team, for the team's efforts aiding victims of the April 27 tornado, helping rebuild the community and bringing hope to the city.

Junior long snapper Carson Tinker, who lost his girlfriend, Ashley Harrison, in the tornado and sustained injuries when the house they were in was blown away, will accept the award from Disney Sports on behalf of the team at The Home Depot College Football Awards at Walt Disney World Resort on Dec. 8 in Orlando.

“I think that it really speaks well for the University of Alabama,” said UA coach Nick Saban of the award. “I really think it speaks well for a lot of people in the organization who made a significant contribution to trying to help a community that was affected by probably as devastating of a circumstance as I've ever had to deal with in my life.

“Carson Tinker ... has done a lot of community service, probably lost the most and has given the most. I'm very proud to be a part of this, and I think a lot of other people should be, as well. I think it's the way we should do things, and I think I'm proud of the example we try to set in helping in our community, and I'm talking about the university as a whole and the football program as a whole.”

 UA football players have made numerous contributions to the relief effort. Linebacker Courtney Upshaw raised nearly $20,000 in his hometown of Eufaula, offensive lineman Barrett Jones spent days working with a chainsaw to carve up debris for removal from homes and yards, and former tight end Preston Dial hauled an 18-wheeler full of supplies from Mobile. The UA athletic department donated $1 million to the UA Acts of Kindness Fund to provide relief to faculty, staff and students who experienced hardship from the tornado.

“It's another thing that we'll never forget. An opportunity arose and it was kind of something we needed to do as a team was to help out and be there for anybody we could be there for,” said UA senior center William Vlachos. “I'm proud of Carson, I'm proud of a lot of guys that have handled this whole situation.

“I know our community cares about us a lot. I don't think what we do on Saturdays necessarily heals people in what they've gone through, but anytime you can distract and entertain, which is something I think we do, that's very important and a very positive thing.”

The Alabama football team joins 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), University of Louisville band member Patrick Henry Hughes (2006), Zerbin Singleton (2007), Tim Tebow (2008), Mark Herzlich (2009) and D.J. Williams (2010) in receiving the award.