NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The first NCAA President's Gerald R. Ford Award was given during the Convention's opening business session January 11 to the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame.

The award, named in recognition of Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States and a member of two national-championship football teams at the University of Michigan, honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis over the course of his or her career.

NCAA President Myles Brand made the presentation, calling Hesburgh a seminal figure in intercollegiate athletics and higher education. The award recognizes Hesburgh's contributions during his 35-year career as Notre Dame president and after- ward, when he co-chaired the first Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Hesburgh has held 16 presidential positions during his career involving civil rights, peaceful uses of atomic energy and third-world development. He was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress, in July 2000. In 1964, Hesburgh received the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Ford, now 90 years old, could not attend the ceremony because of medical travel restrictions, but he told Convention attendees in a taped message that he is a firm believer that intercollegiate athletics is a valuable part of the educational experience and plays a valuable role in shaping student-athletes' lives.

Ford's son, Jack, was on hand to speak on his father's behalf. He recalled when Michigan retired his father's jersey number several years ago that the former president, not usually an emotional man, was obviously moved during the ceremony.

"I never saw him get emotional during all the political ups and downs," Jack Ford said, "but his voice cracked when he stood at midfield and said, 'Sixty years ago, I never dreamed I'd be here today. At no time in my life did I have more joy than as a student-athlete.' "

Upon receiving the award, Hesburgh hailed Ford as his "patron saint" and noted the fairness in which he conducted his business. "Ford started out by doing something controversial, forgiving President Nixon for his faults. But that didn't seem all that unusual to me -- after all, I had spent more than half my life forgiving people," Hesburgh quipped.

Hesburgh also applauded the NCAA and today's student-athletes, saying he is heartened to see that participants in intercollegiate athletics are striving to be better athletes -- and better students. "I'm proud of the NCAA, of which I've been critical at times, but which I now see as becoming even better than I had imagined," Hesburgh said. "I am most grateful for this award, and I am not going to criticize the NCAA ever again."