McDonald Tabbed As Bushnell Cup Finalist
12/3/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
McDonald is the first Lion to be named a finalist for the Ivy League’s top honor
PRINCETON, N.J. & IRVING, Texas — Columbia football senior defensive back Hayden McDonald has been selected as a finalist for the Bushnell Cup, given to the Ivy League's top offensive and defensive players. McDonald is the first Lion to be named a finalist since the conference began to announce finalists in 2010.
The National Football Foundation (NFF) and Ivy League will co-host the Asa S. Bushnell Cup announcement, presented by Bruin Capital, on Dec. 16 in the iconic Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center.
McDonald anchored the Lions' defense that led the program to its first Ivy League title since 1961. Columbia ranked third nationally in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 16.1 points per game. The Seattle native posted a league-high five picks, good to rank second nationally in interceptions per game. He was second on the team in tackles with 68 and had seven pass breakups.
He was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after picking off two passes in a win over Princeton on October 5. Columbia was 7-0 when McDonald posted at least seven tackles and 4-0 when he intercepted a pass. His final interception helped the Lions seal a victory against Cornell on their way to a share of the conference crown.
This season, the Ivy League expanded finalists to three student-athletes on offense and defense. Dartmouth senior defensive lineman Ejike Adele and Harvard junior defensive back Ty Bartrum will join McDonald at the event.
The Coaching Staff of the Year will also be announced at the ceremony. College GameDay host and longtime ESPN on-air personality Rece Davis will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The event is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET with doors opening at that time. Business attire is required. For information on attending, please email Debbie Okle at dokle@footballfoundation.com.
Presented annually since 1970, the Asa S. Bushnell Cup honors its namesake, a 1921 Princeton alumnus and the commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference from 1938 to 1970. The Bushnell Cup is awarded by a vote of the Ivy League's eight head football coaches to the players who display outstanding qualities of leadership, competitive spirit, contribution to the team and accomplishments on the field.
From 1970 to 2010, the Bushnell Cup recognized an Ivy League Player of the Year (or co-Players of the Year if there was a tie in voting). In 2011, the Ivy League began recognizing both an offensive and a defensive player of the year. Beginning with the 2010 season, the Ivy League and the NFF partnered at the season's end to present the award. Click here for more information about the award and its connection to the National Football Foundation, including a list of past winners.
