The Blanton Collier Award for Integrity On and Off the Field was established by the KY Chapter of the NFL alumni in 2007 to honor individuals who not only excelled on the football field, but utilized the platform given them through their athletic careers to give back off the field. The annual winner is chosen by the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group. The award is named for Blanton Collier who was head football coach at the University of Kentucky and went on to be head coach of the Cleveland Browns where he led them to the World Championship in 1964. Coach Collier was known for his integrity on and off the field. He always shook hands left-handed, for the left hand 'is closer to my heart'. In presenting the first award to Coach Rich Brooks, former NFL star Frank Minnifield quoted Collier's famous words, "You can accomplish anything you want, as long as you do not care who gets the credit."