The Edwin Pope Orange Bowl Vanguard Media Award was first presented in 2007. The annual Award honors a 
member of the sports media who has made significant contributions to college football and impacted the Orange Bowl and/or the South Florida community.
The award is named for the legendary Miami Herald writer and columnist who reported on everything significant that happened in South Florida sports for more than half a century. Pope, who joined the Herald in 1956, covered the Miami Dolphins franchise from the start (recommending in 1970 that the team hire Don Shula as head coach), reported on the first 47 Super Bowls and was an unabashed supporter of the Orange Bowl. The press box in Hard Rock Stadium is named in his honor.