Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU’s Brian Dooley Chosen For 2023 Disney Spirit Award
12/4/2023 1:00:00 PM | Football
Offensive Lineman Donated Scholarship to Teammate Undergoing Financial Hardships
Video | Photo Gallery.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) - Helping one's teammate is part of being a college football player. But Eastern Michigan University offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo St. John's Jesuit) took that to another level, donating his scholarship to a teammate, an incredibly selfless act that earned him the 2023 Disney Spirit Award.
Dooley captured national attention earlier this season at EMU when he donated his football scholarship to one of his teammates. It was a significant gesture by Dooley given that walk-on Zack Conti had been working multiple jobs and donating blood plasma for money to pay for college. Conti's struggles have been further complicated by the fact that his mother has been fighting polycystic kidney disease and needs a transplant.
"At Walt Disney World we love the amazing stories that come out of college football every year," said Adam Ball, vice president of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. "And we also love the challenge of trying to find one, like Brian Dooley's, that embodies the indomitable spirit that is at the core of this very special award."
Since 1996 the Disney Spirit Award has been presented every year by Walt Disney World Resort to the most inspirational figures in college football. The award was created to honor people like Dooley who demonstrate an indomitable spirit and a willingness to help others.
Dooley, whose mother is a nurse and father is a truck driver, is in his final season at Eastern Michigan. He and his family are now paying for college themselves. Dooley said the decision to donate his scholarship was an easy one and he hopes it inspires others to help out in their communities.
"I think it's just the beginning. If people see what I've done they might take it to a whole new level," said Dooley. "I wish I could do more. To me it wasn't that big of a deal what I did. I was just doing it for one of my brothers. So, hopefully I can do a lot more now."
Dooley, a graduate student majoring in criminal justice, has routinely found ways to lift others around him. As a team captain, he has let his teammates take his place during the pregame coin toss, giving them the chance to represent the team. Off the field, he has performed more than 100 hours of community service, including reading to young students, building and refurbishing parks and participating in EMU's "Victory Day," an event supporting those with cognitive and physical impairments.
Dooley is the 28th recipient of the Disney Spirit Award and the first from Eastern Michigan University. He will be presented with the trophy during the "Home Depot College Football Awards" on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 8 (7- 9 p.m. ET).
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) - Helping one's teammate is part of being a college football player. But Eastern Michigan University offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo St. John's Jesuit) took that to another level, donating his scholarship to a teammate, an incredibly selfless act that earned him the 2023 Disney Spirit Award.
Dooley captured national attention earlier this season at EMU when he donated his football scholarship to one of his teammates. It was a significant gesture by Dooley given that walk-on Zack Conti had been working multiple jobs and donating blood plasma for money to pay for college. Conti's struggles have been further complicated by the fact that his mother has been fighting polycystic kidney disease and needs a transplant.
"At Walt Disney World we love the amazing stories that come out of college football every year," said Adam Ball, vice president of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. "And we also love the challenge of trying to find one, like Brian Dooley's, that embodies the indomitable spirit that is at the core of this very special award."
Since 1996 the Disney Spirit Award has been presented every year by Walt Disney World Resort to the most inspirational figures in college football. The award was created to honor people like Dooley who demonstrate an indomitable spirit and a willingness to help others.
Dooley, whose mother is a nurse and father is a truck driver, is in his final season at Eastern Michigan. He and his family are now paying for college themselves. Dooley said the decision to donate his scholarship was an easy one and he hopes it inspires others to help out in their communities.
"I think it's just the beginning. If people see what I've done they might take it to a whole new level," said Dooley. "I wish I could do more. To me it wasn't that big of a deal what I did. I was just doing it for one of my brothers. So, hopefully I can do a lot more now."
Dooley, a graduate student majoring in criminal justice, has routinely found ways to lift others around him. As a team captain, he has let his teammates take his place during the pregame coin toss, giving them the chance to represent the team. Off the field, he has performed more than 100 hours of community service, including reading to young students, building and refurbishing parks and participating in EMU's "Victory Day," an event supporting those with cognitive and physical impairments.
Dooley is the 28th recipient of the Disney Spirit Award and the first from Eastern Michigan University. He will be presented with the trophy during the "Home Depot College Football Awards" on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 8 (7- 9 p.m. ET).
Disney Spirit Award Winners Listed by Year
2023 – Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan
2022 – Tylee Craft, North Carolina
2021 – Tre Tipton, Pittsburgh
2020 – Darien Rencher, Clemson
2019 – Casey O'Brien, Minnesota
2018 – Tyler Trent, Purdue
2017 – University of Iowa
2016 – James Conner, Pittsburgh
2015 – Hank Goff, Concordia University (St. Paul, MN)
2014 – Sterling Shepard and Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
2013 – Devon Walker, Tulane
2012 – Nate Boyer, Texas
2011 – Alabama Crimson Tide football team
2010 – D.J. Williams, Arkansas
2009 – Mark Herzlich, Boston College
2008 – Tim Tebow, Florida
2007 – Zerbin Singleton, Navy
2006 – Patrick Henry Hughes, Louisville
2005 – Tulane University
2004 – Tim Frisby, South Carolina
2003 – Neil Parry, San Jose State
2002 – Dewayne White, Louisville
2001 – Air Force, Navy, and Army football teams
2000 – Hameen Ali, William & Mary
1999 – East Carolina University
1998 – Matt Hartl, Northwestern
1997 – Dwight Collins, UCF
1996 – Daniel Huffman, Rossville-Alvin High School
Players Mentioned
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