Chris Norton named a finalist for the "Courage in Sports Award"

Luther College football player Chris Norton has been named one of six finalists for the 2011 America's Choice Honoree for Courage in Sports award.

Chris was a semifinalist during week five of voting in the contest and won that contest.   The 2011 America's Choice Honoree is wholly determined by fan voting on the Courage in Sports Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CourageInSports.  The honoree will be revealed during the Courage in Sports television special November 13th on CBS.

On October 16, 2010 while playing in his sixth game of his freshman year, Norton suffered a career ending injury to his neck and spinal cord while making a tackle on a kickoff return against Central College.  He was airlifted by helicopter to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, where he was given only a three-percent chance of ever having movement below the neck. The next morning, he was able to move both arms.

Earlier this month, Norton led the Norse onto the football field in his wheel chair as the honorary captain and stood for the national anthem and the coin toss at midfield.