Wisconsin's D'Cota Dixon wins Orange Bowl Courage Award
D’Cota Dixon has had a special trip to Miami.
As if playing in the Orange Bowl against Miami after a 12-1 season wasn’t enough, the Wisconsin safety was able to reconnect with his birth mother while in Florida, something he set out to do when he learned of the Badgers’ bowl destination. But it still gets better for Dixon.
On Friday, Dixon was presented with the FWAA Orange Bowl Courage Award, presented annually to a player, coach or support person in college football who displays courage, on or off the field.
D’Cota Dixon thought he was coming to today’s @OrangeBowl Luncheon to enjoy some food and talk football like the rest of his teammates.
What he didn’t know was that he was going to be surprised and recognized as the winner of the 2017 FWAA Courage Award. pic.twitter.com/TBP4NezXgZ
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) December 29, 2017
After Dixon was presented with the award, Wisconsin’s official Twitter account shared a 10-minute video, detailing his story.
If you’re not familiar with D’Cota Dixon’s story, it’s worth taking a few minutes out of your day to watch this.pic.twitter.com/7m1LGyooST
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) December 29, 2017
According to the FWAA’s website, the Orange Bowl Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine’s senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. The requirements for nomination for the weekly award include displaying some sort of courageous act, on or off the field including, overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster and living through a lifetime of hardships.
Pittsburgh running back James Conner was presented with the award last year.
