SEC Announces 2017-18 Sportsmanship Award Winners

June 14, 2018

Jake Bentley of the South Carolina football team and the collective group of the softball teams of the Southeastern Conference are recipients of the 111h annual Southeastern Conference Sportsmanship Awards, the league office announced Wednesday. The honorees were selected by a vote of the SEC’s 14 Directors of Athletics.

“The stories of Jake Bentley and the SEC softball programs are stories of the kind of sportsmanship and compassion that is common across the SEC,” said Commissioner Greg Sankey. “Empathy for others, even when they are your opponent in competition, is the definition of sportsmanship, and I am proud of this year’s recipients because they set a standard that is true to the values of the Southeastern Conference.”

Jake Bentley, a junior quarterback for the South Carolina football team, earned the men’s SEC Sportsmanship Award for the compassion he showed a fellow but opposing quarterback in a game at Tennessee.

In a tight game in Knoxville, South Carolina took a 15-9 lead with 1:13 left to play. Tennessee freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano led the Volunteers to first and goal at the two-yard line with nine seconds to play, but threw three incomplete passes to end the game. As the Gamecocks celebrated, Guarantano sat dejectedly near the sideline. Bentley jogged toward him, bending down to offer encouragement to the first-year quarterback after a difficult finish. Bentley told him “it’s just one game” and he reinforced that Guarantano had played well. Bentley told Guarantano that he has a long career ahead of him as a quarterback in the SEC and he encouraged him to “keep his head up and move forward.”

“Jake is a great ambassador for the team and the Athletics Department, consistently representing South Carolina at events and in the media with poise, personality and grace in victory and defeat,” said South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner. “After each game, he makes it a point to seek out the other team’s quarterback, to share specific conversation among his counterparts around the SEC as they share a brotherhood at one of the most scrutinized positions on the field.”

The SEC softball teams were named winners of the women’s SEC Sportsmanship Award for their show of support for Mississippi State student-athlete Alex Wilcox who is currently undergoing treatments for ovarian cancer.

Following Mississippi State announcing its “No One Fights Alone” campaign to bring awareness to ovarian cancer and Alex Wilcox’s fight, every softball team in the SEC developed a method for displaying its support throughout the season. Teams have honored Wilcox with moments of silence to honor those fighting the disease, by showing a video about Wilcox produced by Mississippi State, or by wearing teal uniforms, batting practice tops and ribbons. Some teams have displayed Wilcox’s name on their helmets and pregame gear, or have worn bracelets with Wilcox’s name and “No One Fights Alone” written across them.

“From sending encouraging videos, letters and social media posts to hanging posters in dugouts, every team in the SEC has shown unwavering and selfless support to a very special young woman and has brought MSU’s season rallying cry to life that truly no one fights alone,” said Mississippi State Athletics Director John Cohen.

Below is a list of all-time SEC Sportsmanship Award recipients:

2018 — Jake Bentley, South Carolina (Football); SEC Softball Teams

2017 — Ole Miss and Vanderbilt Baseball Teams; Tate Schroeder, Missouri (Tennis)

2016 — Leonard Fournette, LSU (Football); Lloydricia Cameron, Florida (Track & Field); Kentucky Volleyball Team and Support Staff

2015 — Texas A&M Men’s Basketball Team & Support Staff; Aleighsa Welch, South Carolina (Basketball)

2014 —Missouri Football Team; Tennessee Men’s Basketball Team; Georgia Equestrian Team; SEC Women’s Golf Coaches

2013 —Tennessee and South Carolina Football Teams; Maho Kowase, Georgia (Tennis)

2012 — Matt Walters, Arkansas (Tennis); Joanna Mather, Florida (Tennis); Laura Eddy, Georgia (Soccer)

2011 — Louis Day, South Carolina (Track & Field); Ole Miss Softball Team

2010 — Rodney Scott, Ole Miss (Football); Sam Arbaugh, South Carolina (Softball)

2009 — Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas (Track & Field); Alabama Women’s Tennis Team

2008 — Chris Lofton, Tennessee (Basketball); Jessica Yadloczky, Florida (Golf)