Fred Mitchell is an award-winning sportswriter and columnist who spent over 41 years with the Chicago Tribune. He is the author of 12 books, including biographies with Bears Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Richard Dent and Cubs Hall of Farmers Billy Williams and Ryan Sandberg.
Hired in 1974 as the Tribune’s first African-American sportswriter, Mitchell’s […]
The road to glory and success often includes a few potholes and detours.
Landon Reeves of Ottawa University in Arizona has experienced that journey on the way to winning the 2023 Fred Mitchell Award as the best kicker among more than 750 non-FBS colleges in America.
Esteemed veteran pro football writer Dan Pompei has been added to the Selection Committee of the Fred Mitchell Award.
“It is an honor and a privilege,” said Pompei, who is a member of the writers’ wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now a senior writer for The Athletic, Pompei previously wrote […]
The history of African Americans in professional football is a complicated, alarming, and yet remarkable journey that warrants detailed research and analysis.
Gary Burley, a former outstanding defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons, has made it his mission to chronicle those often-overlooked chapters in a new book entitled: “Glory: The Struggle For Yards.” […]
Chris Merritt, head football coach at Bryant University, realizes he has a tremendous weapon in 2022 Fred Mitchell Award winner Ethan Gettman.
Gettman, from Ormond Beach, Fla., led the nation (FCS) in field goal percentage (93.3) in addition to booming a school-record 56-yard field goal last season as a junior.
“I think this football team and this […]
The recent dedication of a Gale Sayers statue in Omaha, Neb., offered a precious opportunity for friends and longtime acquaintances to extend emotional support for the Sayers family.
Sayers, who passed away Sept. 23, 2020, was an iconic Hall of Fame running back for the Chicago Bears who was further immortalized because of his relationship with […]
As she celebrates her 103rd birthday, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt offers sage advice for young students, parents and our nation as a whole.
The longtime Loyola University men’s basketball chaplain and internationally renowned symbol of ecumenical optimism and grace, spoke to me over the weekend about her views of today’s young generation and the future of […]
The inaugural Gary Sports Hall of Fame ceremony was an enormous success as 12 former local athletes were inducted in the main auditorium of Indiana University Northwest.
Alex Karras, Tom Harmon, Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, Ron Kittle, George Taliaferro, Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, Lee Calhoun, Hank Stram, Rhonda Brady, Tony Zale, Dick Barnett and Lloyd McClendon were […]
Internationally acclaimed businessman and philanthropist Patrick Arbor (right) joins the Fred Mitchell Award Selection Committee.
Patrick Arbor, former longtime chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade and a prominent community supporter, has joined the Selection Committee for the Fred Mitchell Award.
Arbor has backed numerous local, national and international initiatives and continues his worldwide travels. The […]