KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Former Tennessee football quarterback Heath Shuler was announced by the NCAA as one of six recipients for the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award on Thursday.
The Silver Anniversary Award annually recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college athletics careers. Representatives of NCAA member schools, conferences and past winners select the recipients each year.
Shuler, who is being recognized for his collegiate and professional achievements, will receive the award on Jan. 23 at the Honors Celebration during the 2019 NCAA Convention in Orlando, Fla.
He joins Tim Cullen, Mia Hamm, David Hirsch, Lisa Leslie and Jason Varitek as 2019 honorees.
Shuler started at quarterback for Tennessee in 1992 and 1993. After passing for a Southeastern Conference-best 2,354 yards and 25 touchdowns, he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1993. That season, he led the Volunteers to a 10-2 record and a spot in the Citrus Bowl. The same year, he was named the SEC Player of the Year and earned All-SEC first-team honors. Shuler ranks fifth in Tennessee history with 36 touchdown passes and 10th in all-time passing yards with 4,088. His 11 rushing touchdowns in 1992 stood as the school record by a quarterback until Josh Dobbs rushed for 12 scores in 2016. After Tennessee, he spent four years in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints.
After retiring from the NFL, Shuler returned to Tennessee to complete his degree in psychology and went on to pursue a successful real estate career in Knoxville. His real estate company remains one of the largest in East Tennessee. Shuler moved on to a career in government, serving as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina. He served for three terms from North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District from 2007 to 2013. The primary sponsor of two bills, Shuler served on the Budget Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2012. Additionally, he has volunteered regularly with local community organizations and has also served as a youth football coach.
Shuler said that his position coach and offensive coordinator at Tennessee, David Cutcliffe, had a profound impact on him and gave him life lessons he uses to this day, including to always have a plan.
“Part of my plan was finishing what I had started,” Shuler said. “I left Tennessee for the NFL after my junior season, so my proudest moment was coming back and graduating and getting my degree. I majored in psychology, and it has played an important role in my business career. To me, that has probably given me more tools than anything else because so much of what I do involves people skills and working with people. It has been as big a benefit for me as any of the business classes that I have ever taken. Having the opportunity to play in the NFL was a childhood dream, but to me, having that opportunity to come back and get a degree was priceless.”
Shuler is the third Tennessee football player to capture the Silver Anniversary Award – which honors athletes from all sports. He joins All-America center and first round NFL Draft pick Bob Johnson (selected in 1993) and All-America fullback Andy Kozar (selected in 1977).
Full Shuler Quote (as told to NCAA’s Emily Weisman):
David Cutcliffe — he was my position coach and offensive coordinator at Tennessee, he’s now the head coach at Duke — would always talk about having a plan. So, for example, if we were in the middle of the game and the defense was not what we wanted on a particular play, he would say, “Heath, you have to have a plan.” Whether it be changing plays or calling a timeout, you have to utilize your vision and the information you’re given and have a plan. What’s most important is that I’ve utilized that lesson in life.
Part of my plan was finishing what I had started. I left Tennessee for the NFL after my junior season, so my proudest moment was coming back and graduating and getting my degree. I majored in psychology, and it has played an important role in my business career. To me, that has probably given me more tools than anything else because so much of what I do involves people skills and working with people. It has been as big a benefit for me as any of the business classes that I have ever taken. Having the opportunity to play in the NFL was a childhood dream, but to me, having that opportunity to come back and get a degree was priceless.
