Colorado State University Athletics
Michael Gallup takes place among elites of college football at Walter Camp All-America Weekend
1/18/2018 3:15:00 PM | Football
Biletnikoff finalist took part in events to honor Walter Camp All-Americans in New Haven, Conn.
When college football's best of 2017 joined legends of the game in New Haven, Conn., for the annual Walter Camp All-America Weekend Jan. 11-13, Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup assumed his rightful place among the stars. A consensus All-American in his just-completed senior year, Gallup was a first-team selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the nation's oldest and most prestigious college football All-America team.
Camp, historically referenced as the Father of American Football for the order and structure he introduced to the game at Yale University beginning in 1876, selected his first All-America team in 1889. Gallup is the fifth Colorado State Ram to earn Walter Camp All-America honors, following Mike Bell (1978), Greg Myers (1995), Kapri Bibbs (2013; 2nd team) and Rashard Higgins (2014).
Gallup began his weekend in New Haven last Thursday night at a welcome dinner attended by the All-Americans, Walter Camp All-America alumni, staff and sponsors. Friday included a full day of hospital visits, youth clinics and social events that kept him busy from morning until late into the night. The Alumni Brunch kicked off the day, with Gallup conducting a radio interview beforehand with SiriusXM's NFL Radio tandem of Gil Brandt and Alex Marvez. Each player was introduced during the brunch, which included addresses by WCFF President Michael Madera, Alumni President David Fulcher and ESPN SportsCenter anchor John Anderson.
Gallup was part of a team of athletes who visited New Haven's VA Hospital following the brunch. He was joined by Memphis kick returner and running back Tony Pollard, Houston Texans and former UConn All-America running back Jordan Todman and former Syracuse All-America running back Kyle McIntosh. The quartet visited with veterans, offered encouragement and handed out autographed mini-footballs.
Each All-American then joined alumni players for the All-American Experience youth clinic later in the afternoon at the Floyd Little Athletic Center at Hillhouse High School. The facility was named in 2011 for the former Denver Broncos running back who is a graduate of Hillhouse and was a 2010 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Gallup enjoyed throwing passing to aspiring young wide receivers, while also offering tips on route-running and looking the ball into their hands, and signing autographs.
A Friday night dinner and social event gave Gallup a chance to visit with his fellow All-Americans—which included Walter Camp Player of the Year Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma, fellow Biletnikoff Award finalist Davis Sills V of West Virginia and defensive lineman Ed Oliver from Houston. Alumni players being recognized for the silver anniversary of their 1992 All-America honors were former Washington tackle Lincoln Kennedy and former Florida State linebacker Marvin Jones.
Saturday brought the pinnacle event to cap the weekend--the Walter Camp National College Football Awards dinner at Yale's Payne Whitney Gymnasium. The black-tie dinner was attended by nearly 1,000 and emceed by ESPN College Football play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore.
Gallup entered the dinner with an individual introduction and walk down the red carpet before taking his seat on the stage. Each honoree was presented his All-America plaque and answered several questions from Tessitore. Asked what he does for fun in Fort Collins, Gallup talked about his love for fishing, which he has enjoyed since he was growing up in Georgia, and attributed his success in 2017 in large part to being more coachable.
The evening also included speeches from Mayfield, accepting his Player of the Year Award, as well as Walter Camp Coach of the Year Mark Richt of Miami, former Ohio State and Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George accepting his Alumni Award, former Georgia Tech and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson accepting his Man of the Year Award and ESPN personality and former coach Lee Corso accepting the Distinguished American Award.
The most moving speech of the evening was delivered by 12-year-old Noah Aldrich, from Eagle, Idaho, who received the American Hero Award. Noah was recognized for his dedication to participating in triathlons while pulling and pushing his younger brother, Lucas, who was born with a rare brain disorder called lissencephaly, which affects development and growth. Noah described his motivation for giving his brother an opportunity to participate in things that his conditionin would otherwise prevent him from experiencing.
For the second time in the past four seasons, Colorado State was represented by an All-American at the awards dinner, identifying the Rams nationally as a program that has produced two of the best receivers in college football of late.
Who will be next? The Rams' recent history suggests it won't be long before its next Walter Camp All-American walks the red carpet at Yale. That development shows the growing stature of CSU's football program. But these honors are not to be taken for granted: CSU had just two Walter Camp All-Americans in their first 114 years of football before Bibbs, Higgins and Gallup more than doubled that total in the last five seasons. The present is strong, but the future is even brighter for Colorado State Football.
