On this page you have access to the known awards of Stillwater football. Some awards, like All Conference, All Metro, and All State, are still being researched prior to 1971. The awards since are complete. Most awards have a long history while a few have been discontinued or changed. We celebrate the outstanding contributions of our players. Still, we are more proud of the growth and development of student-athletes becoming men and the team accomplishments that have helped Stillwater rank second all-time in wins in Minnesota football history.
Listed in chronological order, each known Stillwater Area Ponies football player who has earned an award has a link to thier career biography.
While it is likely there were team captains prior to 1971 the records are incomplete. The captains are chosen by their teammates to be the primary leaders of the team. These young men will be expected to carry the mission and vision of the program throughout the months leading up to and during the season. The players select these peers because they believe they will represent and promote the importance of good character, academic achievement, athletic improvement and performance, football, and the team. It is an extraordinary recognition that must be met with extra time, investment, and expectations.
All America is selected by various media organizations. These players have reached extraordinary status within their state and beyond while the player is expected to be an outstanding college football player.
This award recognizes the state's most valuable player as selected by a panel of writers. The Ponies had a player recognized by WCCO once and the Minneapolis Star Tribune four times.
The Conference Player of the Year is selected by a vote of each member school. Simply put, this player is the most valuable player in all of the conference for that season. His achievements are likely attributed to his football, athletic, and leadership skills and strong character qualities.
This award requires a head coach, who is a member of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, to nominate a player who performed at an all state level while maintaining an exceptional cumulative grade point average. No more than 18 players earn this recognition in each competitive class in a season.
All Metro is selected by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. A panel of writers chooses the metro-based team with the help of each metro conference champion head football coaches. All State was selected by the St. Paul Pioneer Press through 2012. A panel of writers chooses the state-wide team with the help of head football coaches. In 2013, the Pioneer Press discontinued All State in place of an All Metro team. The Associate Press (AP) still chooses an All State team. Players are noted for their recognition.
The Minnesota High School All Star Football Game showcases the finest football players in the state. The game has been played in several formats, most recently returning to its roots with a North vs. South competition. Players are nominated by their head coach and selected by a Minnesota Football Coaches Association committee and high school head coaches.
Conference football existed for much of high school football history. In 2015, the Minnesota State High School League instituted district football. In our current league - the East Metro Blue - each team is awarded one All Conference player for each win the team earns plus one additional selection. All Conference was identified similarly. In each situation, these awards are the discretion of the coaching staff. Players are chosen based on their performance in the regular season games and overall contributions to the team.
Richard Kearney was a lifelong resident and businessman in the Stillwater community. Kearney was also an avid Stillwater athletics fan who had a stretch of 50 years in which he did not miss a Ponies football game. In memory of Kearney’s love of the game and his favorite team his family established this award to recognize the Pony football player whose career was most successful on and off the football field.
The player was a physical presence. The player hits hard throughout the game in any or all facets of the game. The player must get 70% of all ballots to earn this recognition.
The Most Valuable Player on the football team.
The Most Valuable Player on the defense. This award was derived from two previous awards. In 1971, Head Coach George Thole created a Most Valuable Lineman Award which recognized an offensive or defensive lineman. When the Pete Miller, Jr. Memorial Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award was established in 1980, the Most Valuable Lineman Award became the Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award. In 2000, Head Coach Scott Hoffman made this award the Most Valuable Player on Defense.
The Most Valuable Player on the offense. It was established in 2010 because the team most valuable player was an offensive player. In an effort to open up the team MVP award, this award was established.
This award was called the Pete Miller, Jr. Memorial from 1980-2012. Pete was an offensive lineman whose life was shortened by a car accident in 1980. For 32 years, Pete’s parents, Pete, Sr. and Marilyn, funded this award in Pete’s memory to recognize the hard work and dedication of a lineman who performed his best when called upon in a position that often goes unrewarded. It continues today under the title Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
The player who showed the greatest improvement either from one season to the next or from beginning of one season to its end. A player on each side of the ball is recognized.
The player showed great effort, attention to detail, and insisted on personal improvement while demonstrating the opposition’s personnel and scheme to the best of his ability. These players gave the defense or offense the “best look” throughout the season.
The player who was called to do more than any other player on the team. This player is a presence on offense, defense, special teams, and simply “wears the most hats.”
The player who was our finest example in the weight room. This player rarely, if ever, misses a workout, shows consistent and unmatched effort, continuous improvement, enthusiasm, and makes others better because he is there.
The underclassman who contributed to the varsity team, but in a way that surpasses the coaching staff’s anticipated expectations. In other words, this player represents a pleasant surprise to the team through their on-the-field performance.
The Most Valuable Defense Lineman on the team. This award was derived from a previous award. In 1971, Head Coach George Thole created a Most Valuable Lineman Award which recognized an offensive or defensive lineman. When the Pete Miller, Jr. Memorial Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award was established in 1980, the Most Valuable Lineman Award became the Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award. In 2000, Head Coach Scott Hoffman made this award the Most Valuable Player on Defense.
The Most Valuable Lineman on the team, offense or defense or both, created in 1971 by Head Coach George Thole. This award became the Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award when the Pete Miller, Jr. Memorial Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award was established in 1980. In 2000, Head Coach Scott Hoffman made this award the Most Valuable Player on Defense.