DALLAS — Beano Cook, the influential and always colorful college football commentator, will be jointly honored July 16 by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFF) and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) when he is presented the FWAA’s Bert McGrane Award during the NFF’s Annual Enshrinement Festival in South Bend, Ind.

“The National Football Foundation is proud to partner with the FWAA to present the Bert McGrane Award to Beano Cook whose folksy coverage has been a staple of the college football world for the past quarter of a century,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The award’s past recipients include some of the most passionate contributors to the game, and it is fitting that we annually provide our national stage to acknowledge their significant work in enhancing the enjoyment of our sport for millions of fans nationwide.”

Cook becomes the 38th recipient of the award, which is symbolic of the association’s Hall of Fame and is presented to an FWAA member who has performed great service to the organization and/or the writing profession. The announcement of Cook being named the 2011 recipient occurred Jan. 10, 2011 at the association’s annual awards breakfast in Phoenix, Ariz., before this year’s BCS National Championship.

“I’m shocked,” Cook said at the time of the announcement in January. “The only person more shocked in recent years over getting picked was Sarah Palin. I’ve come to the conclusion that if you live long enough, you’re going to get some type of award whether you deserve it or not.”

Cook, 79, a college football commentator for ESPN since 1986, worked as a sports information director at Pittsburgh from 1956 to 1966 and publicized college football for ABC from 1966 to 1974. He did the same for CBS from 1977 to 1982. He returned to ABC in 1982 to work in front of the camera as a college football commentator before joining ESPN. Cook has been an FWAA member since 1956. He became part of the FWAA’s 50-plus club in 2005 when, for the first time, the organization honored members of 50 years or more.

“Beano has always been an institution of passion and knowledge for the sport,” said Mark Blaudschun of the Boston Globe, who became chair of the McGrane Award after winning it in 2007. “College football has great stories, and we need Beano to tell them. He has no agenda, just his passion for the sport.”

The award is named after Bert McGrane, a Des Moines, Iowa sports writer, who was the executive secretary of the FWAA from the early 1940s until 1973. Mobile Press-Register columnist and FWAA President Tommy Hicks will give remarks regarding Cook’s selection as the 2011 Bert McGrane Award recipient during the NFF’s Annual Enshrinement Dinner and Show, which will start at 7:30 p.m. on July 16. A taped message from Cook will be played at the event as he is unable to attend. Cook’s name will be placed in the College Football Hall of Fame’s rotunda on a special plaque that includes the names of the previous McGrane winners.

Thousands of college football fans from across the country are expected to attend the 2011 Enshrinement Festival, which will pay tribute to the storied careers of 20 of the game’s greatest stars and takes place July 15-16. Fans have a variety of opportunities to meet and mingle with the enshrinees during this spectacular event. The jam-packed weekend will include a celebrity golf tournament, a fan festival, a grand parade, a youth football clinic and fireworks spectacular. The celebration will culminate with the Enshrinement Dinner and Show on Saturday evening, which will include the presentation of the McGrane Award and will be streamed live on the web at www.footballfoundation.org. Tickets for all events are on sale now. Space is limited for certain events. For events, pricing, times or to order tickets visit www.enshrinementfestival.org or call (574)235-5714.