Big 11 Football Conference sportsmanship awards to honor longtime official
The Big 11 Football Conference, Class C/D of which Foxcroft Academy is a member, recently voted to name its sportsmanship award in honor of Allan Snell, a longtime area school administrator and football official.
A post on the Foxcroft Academy Facebook page said, “For those who have watched any high school football games over the years, Mr. Snell is a friendly face who was a referee all coaches wanted to see on the field. The Big 11 is proud to name this award after one of the good people involved in the game of high school football.”
A post on the Brewer Witches Athletics Facebook page said the unanimous vote will honor the longtime (retired) regional superintendent of schools and football referee with the creation of two separate team sportsmanship awards that will be presented at the Big 11 awards banquet in December of each year beginning this season. The Allan Snell Sportsmanship Award will be presented to one Class C team and one Class D squad annually beginning with the conclusion of the 2026 season and will be voted by each divisions’ coaches.
Snell retired from work as a superintendent in 2020 where he last served as interim superintendent of schools in Brewer. Snell worked in the Brewer School Department from 1977 until 2001 before transitioning to Orrington where he led that district until 2014. He served two stints as interim superintendent in Brewer in 2015 and 2020.
At the same time Snell was serving the Bangor Area Board of Football Officials, having officiated for over 40 years, including serving the MPA as its officials liaison. Snell has also been serving as co-site director for the Maine Principals Association at the Bangor basketball tournament venue for 50 years, with the last six being as the director of the tournament.
Snell’s children grew up in and graduated from Brewer High School (Jeff Meader, Yvonne Dunn and Ryan Snell). Ryan Snell currently is head coach for Medomak Valley High School, a member of the Big 11 Conference.
The Big 11 Conference is a combination of northern Class C and Class D football schools. The Class C division of the Big 11 includes; Brewer, Foxcroft Academy, Gardiner, Hampden Academy, Hermon, Medomak Valley, Nokomis and Oceanside. The Class D division includes Belfast, John Bapst, Madison, Mattanawcook Academy, Maine Central Institute and Winslow. League President is Fred Lower and Secretary/Treasurer is Rick Sinclair.