Dothan’s Northcutt to receive Auburn award

When Dothan’s Glenn Northcutt opened the letter and learned of the honor from Auburn University, he says it “just blew me out of the water.”

Then his thoughts quickly turned to his family.

“First I thought about my mom and dad, and then I thought of my dad’s dad,” Northcutt said. “He (grandfather) played football here a long time ago.”

Northcutt, a former Auburn golfer, will be honored today as the Cliff Hare Award recipient at Jordan-Hare Stadium during pre-game ceremonies of the Auburn-Furman football game. Gymnast A.J. Mills will also be honored with the Leah Rawls Atkins Award.

Both awards are given annually to senior student-athletes “who, in addition to athletic and scholarship achievement, exhibit in great degree the qualities of leadership, integrity and courage.”

Northcutt finished an outstanding college golf career at Auburn last spring, and he remains enrolled in the university as he continues to pursue a degree is Business.

“We congratulate Glenn and A.J. for their accomplishments at Auburn, not only in athletic competition, but in the classroom and in the community,” Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs said through a media release. “Both have left an indelible mark as student-athletes, and their contributions to society will stretch far beyond their experiences at Auburn. They embody what every Auburn student-athlete should strive to achieve.”

Northcutt’s grandfather who played at Auburn — Flowers Glenn “Red” Northcutt — died before his grandson was born.

After Glenn received his letter from Auburn, he made the call home and spoke to his father.

“He called me on a Friday and said, ‘I want to read you something,’’’ Glenn’s father, Glenn Northcutt said. “Nobody loved Auburn more than my daddy did.
“I started crying and I had to hang up the phone.”

Northcutt was an All-Southeastern Conference golf performer in 2007 and 2008, finishing with a 73.18 scoring average, the eighth best in school history. He had 13 top-10 finishes at Auburn and carded 38 sub-par rounds. He competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship in Tulsa, Okla., this past summer.

Northcutt is a four-time Academic All-SEC recipient, a 2009 SEC Community Service team member and a two-time Golf Coaches Association of America All-America scholar.

As a high school standout, Northcutt helped the Houston Academy golf team to five Class 1A-2A state championships (2001-2005). He also won the prestigious Press Thornton Future Masters overall championship in 2003.

Northcutt carries a 3.51 grade point average and is scheduled to graduate in May 2010 with a degree in Business (marketing).

“Coming up here, I was fortunate in that I kind of had a family with coaches and teammates,” Northcutt says of his Auburn career. “They are like brothers, and I’m most thankful for that.”

Northcutt’s parents, Glenn and Sally, will accompany him to midfield for today’s presentation.

“I hope I don’t trip,” Northcutt quipped. “I have a lot of family and friends coming up for the game.”