The IHSAA Executive Committee awards the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award to an outstanding senior participant in the Football State Finals of each classification. The award is named in honor of the late Phil N. Eskew, third commissioner of the IHSAA, who guided the Association from 1962 to 1976. Under his direction, the IHSAA football tournament was initiated in 1973. The recipients of this award, nominated by their principal and coach, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in football. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, awards a $1,000 scholarship to the school in the name of the recipient.
  Class 5A |
| Year |
Name |
School |
| 1985-86 |
Jeff George |
Warren Central |
| 1986-87 |
Brock Rohrbacher |
Fort Wayne Snider |
| 1987-88 |
Mike Stuckert |
Highland |
| 1988-89 |
Brian Murphy |
Ben Davis |
| 1989-90 |
Eric Kline |
Penn |
| 1990-91 |
Kasey Clevenger |
Marion |
| 1991-92 |
Chris Ings |
Ben Davis |
| 1992-93 |
Chris Rickenbach |
Ben Davis |
| 1993-94 |
Eli Stoddard |
Bloomington South |
| 1994-95 |
Vince Lidy |
Castle |
| 1995-96 |
Matt Geesman |
Penn |
| 1996-97 |
Scott Becker |
Penn |
| 1997-98 |
Brad Monhaut |
Penn |
| 1998-99 |
Manley Glick |
Homestead |
| 1999-00 |
Jeremy Chandler |
Ben Davis |
| 2000-01 |
Justin Smith |
Penn |
| 2001-02 |
Matt Handlon |
Valparaiso |
| 2002-03 |
Marcus Heminger |
Fort Wayne Snider |
| 2003-04 |
Wade Iams |
Penn |
| 2004-05 |
Andrew Gregory |
Fort Wayne Snider |
| 2005-06 |
Chris Summers |
Hamilton Southeastern |
| 2006-07 |
Ryan Murray |
Carmel |
| 2007-08 |
Cameron Lowry |
Pike |
| 2008-09 |
Luke Swift |
Center Grove |
| 2009-10 |
Adam Shaffer |
Carmel |
| 2010-11 |
Koby Orris |
Fishers |
|
| Class 4A |
| Year |
Name |
School |
| 1983-84 |
Mark Plencner |
Penn |
| 1984-85 |
Antonino Maggio |
Hobart |
| 1985-86 |
Patrick McEuen |
Hobart |
| 1986-87 |
Tom Reasoner |
Franklin Central |
| 1987-88 |
Mike Golarz |
Hobart |
| 1988-89 |
Rick Mirer |
Goshen |
| 1989-90 |
Tim Back |
Franklin Central |
| 1990-91 |
LaRon Moore |
Franklin Central |
| 1991-92 |
Frank Maggio |
Hobart |
| 1992-93 |
Chad Welch |
Harrison (West Lafayette) |
| 1993-94 |
Kevin Hammonds |
Hobart |
| 1994-95 |
Brad Weber |
DeKalb |
| 1995-96 |
Wes Gillman |
Franklin County |
| 1996-97 |
Durriell Brown |
Indianapolis Cathedral |
| 1997-98 |
Adam Clements |
Hamilton Southeastern |
| 1998-99 |
Russ Mann |
Concord |
| 1999-00 |
Matt Hasbrook |
Indianapolis Cathedral |
| 2000-01 |
Cory Partlow |
Plainfield |
| 2001-02 |
Alex Hensley |
Jasper |
| 2002-03 |
Tyler Warner |
Roncalli |
| 2003-04 |
Jeff Wedding |
East Noble |
| 2004-05 |
Kory Lantz |
Wawasee |
| 2005-06 |
Nick Banich |
Roncalli |
| 2006-07 |
Bobby Powers |
Indianapolis Cathedral |
| 2007-08 |
Zakary Kissel |
Evansville Reitz |
| 2008-09 |
Joe Colone |
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger |
| 2009-10 |
Erik Bryant |
Evansville Reitz |
| 2010-11 |
Connor Barthel |
Indianapolis Cathedral |
|
| Class 3A |
| Year |
Name |
School |
| 1973-74 |
Dave Zapp |
Indianapolis Cathedral |
| 1974-75 |
Scot Shaw |
Mishawaka |
| 1975-76 |
Tom Smith |
Valparaiso |
| 1976-77 |
Randall Shuman |
Merrillville |
| 1977-78 |
Bob Stephenson |
Evansville Reitz |
| 1978-79 |
David Broecker |
Carmel |
| 1979-80 |
Blair Kiel |
Columbus East |
| 1980-81 |
Scott Freckelton |
Hobart |
| 1981-82 |
Mark Sarno |
Carmel |
| 1982-83 |
Patrick Lockyear |
Castle |
| 1983-84 |
Pat Spencer |
Roncalli |
| 1984-85 |
Steve Gordon |
Concord |
| 1985-86 |
Brad Traviolia |
Wawasee |
| 1986-87 |
Phil Wilson |
NorthWood |
| 1987-88 |
Rob Schein |
Zionsville |
| 1988-89 |
Jeff Beck |
Tipton |
| 1989-90 |
Stan Lawrie |
Roncalli |
| 1990-91 |
Brian Baker |
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger |
| 1991-92 |
Marcus Thorne |
Indianapolis Cathedral |
| 1992-93 |
Jeremy VanKley |
Northwestern |
| 1993-94 |
Ryan Hartman |
NorthWood |
| 1994-95 |
Brian Winkleman |
Tipton |
| 1995-96 |
Greg Schnarr |
Jasper |
| 1996-97 |
Wesley Kendall |
Zionsville |
| 1997-98 |
Robert Finn |
Andrean |
| 1998-99 |
Brad Greenlee |
NorthWood |
| 1999-00 |
Nicholas Worden |
Norwell |
| 2000-01 |
Adam Kress |
Heritage Hills |
| 2001-02 |
Casey Nowinski |
Andrean |
| 2002-03 |
Michael Dury |
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard |
| 2003-04 |
Josh Sabo |
Northwood |
| 2004-05 |
Bryce Pund |
Heritage Hills |
| 2005-06 |
Kevin Ball |
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard |
| 2006-07 |
Chandler Harnish |
Norwell |
| 2007-08 |
Mitchell Speer |
South Bend St. Joseph’s |
| 2008-09 |
Andrew Theising |
Evansville Memorial |
| 2009-10 |
Daniel Wodicka |
West Lafayette |
| 2010-11 |
Joe Fehribach |
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard |
|
| Class 2A |
| Year |
Name |
School |
| 1973-74 |
Leroy Robbins |
Blackford |
| 1974-75 |
Richard Goings |
Boonville |
| 1975-76 |
David O’Connor |
Mishawaka Marian |
| 1976-77 |
Kevin Altman |
Jasper |
| 1977-78 |
Pete Buchanan |
Plymouth |
| 1978-79 |
Tom Bailey |
Goshen |
| 1979-80 |
Kent Shelby |
Noblesville |
| 1980-81 |
Kevin Mullet |
NorthWood |
| 1981-82 |
Kent Yoder |
Goshen |
| 1982-83 |
Burt Austin |
Franklin Central |
| 1983-84 |
Mike Hackman |
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard |
| 1984-85 |
Michael Funk |
West Lafayette |
| 1985-86 |
Cal Miller |
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers |
| 1986-87 |
Gene Smith |
Tell City |
| 1987-88 |
Tim Walker |
Rochester |
| 1988-89 |
David McClain |
Western Boone |
| 1989-90 |
Rori Chaney |
Tri-West Hendricks |
| 1990-91 |
Anthony Alfano |
River Forest |
| 1991-92 |
Toby Jacobs |
Indianapolis Scecina |
| 1992-93 |
Jeff Goeglein |
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers |
| 1993-94 |
Daniel Provonsha |
West Lafayette |
| 1994-95 |
Jim Schroeder |
Evansville Mater Dei |
| 1995-96 |
Jason Guinn |
North Montgomery |
| 1996-97 |
Tim Flagg |
North Montgomery |
| 1997-98 |
Matt Lewinski |
Jimtown |
| 1998-99 |
Craig Hisey |
Jimtown |
| 1999-00 |
Jeremiah Lane |
Danville |
| 2000-01 |
Dominic Faraone |
Evansville Mater Dei |
| 2001-02 |
Kyle Lindsay |
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers |
| 2002-03 |
Brett Bueltel |
Southridge |
| 2003-04 |
T.J. Siple |
Tri-West Hendricks |
| 2004-05 |
Rob Bragg |
Eastbrook |
| 2005-06 |
Ryan Kerney |
North Posey |
| 2006-07 |
Jacob Kahle |
Southridge |
| 2007-08 |
Josh Mills |
Heritage Christian |
| 2008-09 |
Brady Tolle |
Cass |
| 2009-10 |
Timothy Connor |
Monrovia |
| 2010-11 |
Travis Franklin |
North Putnam |
|
| Class A |
| Year |
Name |
School |
| 1973-74 |
John Davis |
Mishawaka Marian |
| 1974-75 |
Paul Rassell |
Garrett |
| 1975-76 |
Kevin Keller |
Wes-Del |
| 1976-77 |
Thomas Weber |
Lafayette Central Catholic |
| 1977-78 |
Ray Rockhill |
Tippecanoe Valley |
| 1978-79 |
Brian Way |
Lawrenceburg |
| 1979-80 |
Mark Shireman |
Tippecanoe Valley |
| 1980-81 |
Jeff Greer |
Sheridan |
| 1981-82 |
Jeffrey Berning |
Woodlan |
| 1982-83 |
Joel Martin |
Oak Hill |
| 1983-84 |
Brian Nehrig |
Fountain Central |
| 1984-85 |
Derry Zachery |
Sheridan |
| 1985-86 |
Cary Starnal |
Jimtown |
| 1986-87 |
Matt Vessely |
North Judson |
| 1987-88 |
Jeff Durham |
Sheridan |
| 1988-89 |
Brad Shields |
Sheridan |
| 1989-90 |
Joe Clark |
Springs Valley |
| 1990-91 |
Shawn Blaich |
South Decatur |
| 1991-92 |
Mark Franco |
Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter |
| 1992-93 |
Shelly Zachery |
Sheridan |
| 1993-94 |
Matthew Roland |
North Miami |
| 1994-95 |
Doug Morris |
North White |
| 1995-96 |
James Hanlin |
Tri-West Hendricks |
| 1996-97 |
Michael Lowe |
Carroll (Flora) |
| 1997-98 |
Tayt Odom |
Pioneer |
| 1998-99 |
Travis Delph |
Sheridan |
| 1999-00 |
Zachary Wagner |
Perry Central |
| 2000-01 |
Josh Smith |
Attica |
| 2001-02 |
Peter Wagner |
Southern Wells |
| 2002-03 |
Kole Ames |
South Putnam |
| 2003-04 |
Thomas Marshall |
Seeger |
| 2004-05 |
Spencer King |
Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter |
| 2005-06 |
Matt Cox |
Knightstown |
| 2006-07 |
Taylor Scott |
Sheridan |
| 2007-08 |
Zachary Clapp |
Rockville |
| 2008-09 |
Brent Hume |
Sheridan |
| 2009-10 |
Greg Burns |
Lafayette Central Catholic |
| 2010-11 |
Cody Christopher |
Lafayette Central Catholic |
|