Herm! ASA tabs NFL great as banquet’s keynote speaker

His natural passion and zeal for life will translate in his words of inspiration for all.

This is the great thing about sports. You play to win the game.
Hello! You. Play. To. Win. The. Game.

The All Sports Association, just a few months away from its 49th annual banquet, played the game and won.

Yes, Herm Edwards, the voice of the above sound bite, will be the keynote speaker for the ASA’s annual banquet that will take place Feb. 16 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center.
But it is so much more than a banquet. The event is the culmination of an event that is many things to the Emerald Coast community.
A fundraiser that raises $120,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, the Okaloosa County chapter of Special Olympics, the Eleanor J. Johnson Youth Center, and the Okaloosa/Walton County Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

From Hall-of-Fame coaches to MVPs to Heisman winners, a look at all the All Sports Association Banquet Keynote Speakers (in order of most recent)

Herm Edwards
Mark Richt
Jimbo Fisher
Pete Rose
Kirk Herbstreit
Deion Sanders
Nick Saban
Jim Kelly
Annika Sorenstam
Paul Hornung
Steve Spurrier
Johnny Bench
Dale Brown
Ken Stabler
Lee Corso
Archie Manning
Bobby Bowden
Gene Stallings
Rocky Bleier
Don Sutton
Mike Ditka
Danny Wuerffel
Alex Hawkins
Tommy Lasorda
Roy Firestone
Joe Theismann
Joe Paterno
Terry Bradshaw
George Plimpton
Lewis Grizzard
Dick Butkus
George Blanda
Ara Parsegian
Lou Holtz
Herb Score
Justin Wilson
Jerry Clower
Dutch Van Buskirk
Don Meredith
Paul “Bear” Bryant

An event that celebrates the area’s best and brightest prep, collegiate, amateur and pro stars with player of the year honors in the months preceding the banquet.
A showcase that celebrates the legends through the Hall-of-Fame Luncheon, and also the youth with an FCA breakfast and the community with its Thursday night fish fry.
And also a venue for big names like Herm, who was picked among a slew of finalists that included Julius Irving, Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Strahan, Dabo Swinney, Tony Dungy and other great sports minds.

“His natural passion and zeal for life will translate in his words of inspiration for all,” said ASA President Bernard Johnson, who also praised the military background of Herm’s family. “The Association does many things to invest in the community and into the lives of our youth. Coach Herm’s efforts aligns with our vision and we are honored to share our event with him.

Herm, a military brat whose father served over two decades in the Army, needs no introduction. His résumé is world-renowned.
From player to coach to ESPN analyst, he’s shined in every phase of the game.
He played cornerback for 10 seasons (1977–1986) with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons. He was most synonymous as the player who recovered a fumble by Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik in the “Miracle at the Meadowlands.”

The implementation of the victory formation was dubbed the “Herman Edwards play.”
He spent the bulk of his career in Philadelphia, making a championship appearance with the team in Super Bowl XV. His 33 career interceptions is one short of the franchise record.
In 2001, Herm took over the New York Jets and went 39-41 over five years, highlighted by a 2-3 playoff record and two trips to the AFC Divisional game in 2002 and 2004.

He then went to Kansas City from 2006-2008, leading the Chiefs to the playoffs in 2006 before finishing 15-33 over his three-year tenure.
He’s now an ESPN analyst known for his “Herminisms,” his voice fully integrated into all of the network’s platforms from radio to digital to television. He also wrote a book.

The title? “You Play to Win the Game: Leadership Lessons for Success On and Off the Field.”

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