University of Georgia Athletics
UGA’s Brandenburg Honored at NFF Dinner
April 18, 2023 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Ben Brandenburg arrived at the Athens Country Club on Monday night not knowing what was to come. The longtime UGA Athletic Association staff member and his wife Mobley left the 37th Annual National Football Foundation University of Georgia Chapter Awards Presentation elated and very thankful.
"I was expecting a date night with my wife," Brandenburg said with a laugh. He got that and a lot more.
Brandenburg, who in 2021 was diagnosed with ALS, was surprised to learn that he was the inaugural recipient of the Mark Richt Altruism Award. Along with the award, Loran Smith, the UGA athletics historian and executive director of the NFF's Georgia Chapter, announced to the crowd of about 250 that Brandenburg and his family, including daughters Abby (age five) and Shelby (three), were getting an all-expenses-paid trip to Disney World.
"Oh, man, we're just thrilled," said Brandenburg, Georgia's Associate Director of External Operations. "Our girls are at the perfect age for it, and we're super excited about that. And to be honest, from a handicap-accessibility standpoint, that (Disney World) is the standard. It's really a good option and place for us to enjoy.
"As far as quality time with our girls, we didn't do much over spring break, so this is a perfect trip. We're really excited."
Brandenburg started working in the athletic department in 2007 as a Sports Communications intern while attending UGA. He later joined Richt's football recruiting staff as a graduate assistant, eventually working his way up to Recruiting Operations Coordinator, Associate Director of Digital Services/Recruiting, and in 2017 he was named to his current position.
After noticing unusual fatigue in 2018 and some involuntary twitching in 2019, it wasn't until May of 2021 that doctors determined that Brandenburg had ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Today, Brandenburg mostly gets around in a motorized wheelchair; he said he had to stop driving last September.
"The wheelchair allows me to have a lot of functionality in my day, the girls will climb up in my lap, and it allows us to go and do," he said. "We really try to protect their childhoods and not give this thing any more power than it already has. We're trying, as much as we can, to protect the normalcy of every day."
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said Brandenburg "has been tremendous for me" over the years.
"He's an unbelievable person, great man, great father, great husband, great leader — he's helped me through a lot of tough moments and tough times," Smart said. "This is an opportunity for us to give back to you, Ben, and we want you to enjoy Disney in all the right ways."
Before Smart stepped to the microphone to thank Ben for everything he's done UGA athletics, he had the special honor of introducing his father, Sonny Smart. A longtime high school football coach in Alabama and Georgia, Sonny was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award,
"The greatest contribution that we (high school coaches) make is the impact we have on the young men who play the game. ... That's the most important thing we do, and it lasts the longest," Sonny said.
While coaching at Bainbridge High School, Sonny coached his son and set him on his way toward an excellent playing career at Georgia and his own stellar coaching career that has included leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back College Football Playoff national championships.
Through his father and his own lifetime of experience interacting with high school coaches, Kirby said he's seen time and again the impact that prep coaches have on their players.
"You leave a trail in life of people you affect," Kirby said.
Early in the evening, Smith took a moment to remember two Georgia legends and College Football Hall of Fame inductees that passed away in 2022: Vince Dooley and Charley Trippi. On and off the field, Smith said, "I think they were All-Americans in every respect."
Smith also recognized Richt, who was seated near the stage, for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, which will be held in Las Vegas in December. Smith did wonder aloud how a coach that famously doesn't drink, cuss or gamble was going to have any fun in Las Vegas. Richt replied with a joke: "A lot's changed since I stopped coaching."
Former Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, who wrapped up his great career in 2022, received the Jack Turner Award, which goes to the outstanding Georgia senior whose focus and energy goes beyond his sport. In addition, Podlesny and his long snapper, Payne Walker, each received the Billy Payne Award, which is presented to players who have been with the program at least four years and have graduated while maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA.
Recognized with the J. Reid Parker Post Graduate Achievement Award were five former Bulldogs: quarterbacks Mike Cavan and Eric Zeier, wide receiver Terrance Edwards, defensive lineman Travis Stroud and offensive lineman Todd Wheeler.
Staff Writer
Ben Brandenburg arrived at the Athens Country Club on Monday night not knowing what was to come. The longtime UGA Athletic Association staff member and his wife Mobley left the 37th Annual National Football Foundation University of Georgia Chapter Awards Presentation elated and very thankful.
"I was expecting a date night with my wife," Brandenburg said with a laugh. He got that and a lot more.
Brandenburg, who in 2021 was diagnosed with ALS, was surprised to learn that he was the inaugural recipient of the Mark Richt Altruism Award. Along with the award, Loran Smith, the UGA athletics historian and executive director of the NFF's Georgia Chapter, announced to the crowd of about 250 that Brandenburg and his family, including daughters Abby (age five) and Shelby (three), were getting an all-expenses-paid trip to Disney World.
"Oh, man, we're just thrilled," said Brandenburg, Georgia's Associate Director of External Operations. "Our girls are at the perfect age for it, and we're super excited about that. And to be honest, from a handicap-accessibility standpoint, that (Disney World) is the standard. It's really a good option and place for us to enjoy.
"As far as quality time with our girls, we didn't do much over spring break, so this is a perfect trip. We're really excited."
Brandenburg started working in the athletic department in 2007 as a Sports Communications intern while attending UGA. He later joined Richt's football recruiting staff as a graduate assistant, eventually working his way up to Recruiting Operations Coordinator, Associate Director of Digital Services/Recruiting, and in 2017 he was named to his current position.
After noticing unusual fatigue in 2018 and some involuntary twitching in 2019, it wasn't until May of 2021 that doctors determined that Brandenburg had ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Today, Brandenburg mostly gets around in a motorized wheelchair; he said he had to stop driving last September.
"The wheelchair allows me to have a lot of functionality in my day, the girls will climb up in my lap, and it allows us to go and do," he said. "We really try to protect their childhoods and not give this thing any more power than it already has. We're trying, as much as we can, to protect the normalcy of every day."
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said Brandenburg "has been tremendous for me" over the years.
"He's an unbelievable person, great man, great father, great husband, great leader — he's helped me through a lot of tough moments and tough times," Smart said. "This is an opportunity for us to give back to you, Ben, and we want you to enjoy Disney in all the right ways."
Before Smart stepped to the microphone to thank Ben for everything he's done UGA athletics, he had the special honor of introducing his father, Sonny Smart. A longtime high school football coach in Alabama and Georgia, Sonny was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award,
"The greatest contribution that we (high school coaches) make is the impact we have on the young men who play the game. ... That's the most important thing we do, and it lasts the longest," Sonny said.
While coaching at Bainbridge High School, Sonny coached his son and set him on his way toward an excellent playing career at Georgia and his own stellar coaching career that has included leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back College Football Playoff national championships.
Through his father and his own lifetime of experience interacting with high school coaches, Kirby said he's seen time and again the impact that prep coaches have on their players.
"You leave a trail in life of people you affect," Kirby said.
Early in the evening, Smith took a moment to remember two Georgia legends and College Football Hall of Fame inductees that passed away in 2022: Vince Dooley and Charley Trippi. On and off the field, Smith said, "I think they were All-Americans in every respect."
Smith also recognized Richt, who was seated near the stage, for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, which will be held in Las Vegas in December. Smith did wonder aloud how a coach that famously doesn't drink, cuss or gamble was going to have any fun in Las Vegas. Richt replied with a joke: "A lot's changed since I stopped coaching."
Former Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, who wrapped up his great career in 2022, received the Jack Turner Award, which goes to the outstanding Georgia senior whose focus and energy goes beyond his sport. In addition, Podlesny and his long snapper, Payne Walker, each received the Billy Payne Award, which is presented to players who have been with the program at least four years and have graduated while maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA.
Recognized with the J. Reid Parker Post Graduate Achievement Award were five former Bulldogs: quarterbacks Mike Cavan and Eric Zeier, wide receiver Terrance Edwards, defensive lineman Travis Stroud and offensive lineman Todd Wheeler.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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