Taliaferro, Chappell to be honored

By Rex Kirts

George Taliaferro and Ben Chappell, representing the past and present of Bloomington football, will be honored by the central Indiana chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Taliaferro, who played at Indiana in the 1940s, will receive the organization's Distinguished American award. Chappell, the South product who just completed his college career at IU, will receive the Collegiate award, which goes to a former NFF honoree who had an outstanding college career.
Chappell received the NFF high school award five years ago. And last month he won the college NFF award and an $18,000 grant for graduate study. Both the NFF high school and college awards to to players who have outstanding academic and community service credentials.
The awards to Taliaferro and Chappell will be presented at the annual banquet Feb. 26 at the Colts complex in Indianapolis. That is the same night at the NFL combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, and Chappell may be there.
Fourteen seniors from central Indiana high schools will receive NFF honors at the banquet. Also, Josh Bleill of Greenfield, works with the Colts, will receive the Courage award. And Akinfemiwa Akinribade of Brownsburg will receive special recognition.