NFF News

The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the slate of speakers scheduled to appear during the 13th Annual KeyBank Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., over the next couple months. The list of speakers includes:

•August 12– Former Notre Dame QB and San Francisco 49er Joe Montana
•August 27- Former Auburn RB and Los Angeles Raider Bo Jackson
•September 22- Former Ohio State RB and Tennessee Titan Eddie George
•October TBA- Former Mississippi Valley State WR and San Francsisco 49er Jerry Rice

“The Hall has attracted another top-flight list of speakers for the KeyBank Gridiron Luncheon Series,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “They all have great stories to tell, and I know that they’ll produce sellout crowds of passionate fans who will be thrilled to have a chance to hear from them in person. And I especially want to thank KeyBank for recognizing the value of this series and for their incredible support during the past 13 years.”

Luncheons consist of a discussion or question and answer session with the featured speaker, a video presentation and lunch at the College Football Hall of Fame. Attendees also have the opportunity to win various prizes and will receive a unique commemorative gift.

NFF Board Member Jack Ford made a guest appearance this morning on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike Morning” show.

Oregon State has joined as an NFF academic member.


NFF Information

SAVE THE DATE: The 2009 NFF Annual Awards Dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, at New York City's Waldorf=Astoria. For more information, please contact NFF Director of National Events Will Rudd at 800-486-1865 or via email at wrudd@footballfoundation.com. Invitations to the dinner have been mailed.

Advertising in NFF publications such as the quarterly Footballetter and the prestigious NFF Annual Awards Dinner Program will put your organization in front of key decision makers in football including coaches, players, former players, as well as NFL and college football administrators throughout the year. To inquire about the print advertising opportunities available to your organization, please contact Bret Krift with IMG College at 859-226-4406 or bret.krift@imgworld.com.

Become a fan of the National Football Foundation on Facebook - Upload your game day photos, check out pictures of the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, and chat with other college football fans.

All former NFF National Scholar-Athletes (collegiate) are encouraged to become members of the National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, please contact NFF Director of Special Projects Hillary Jeffries at 800-486-1865 or via email at hjeffries@footballfoundation.com.

To become an NFF member, please contact NFF Director of Membership Ron Dilatush at 800-486-1865 or via email at rdilatush@footballfoundation.com. Worldwide membership now is at 12,000-plus in 119 chapters.


NFF Chapter Notes

The NFF Nehlen Chapter (W. Va.) will hold a rally on Aug. 11 to drum up support for Van High School who almost lost their football two months ago. Spearheading the effort is College Football Hall of Fame coach and chapter namesake Don Nehlen (West Virginia) and former Marshall coach Bob Pruett.


Two-Minute Drill


Hirings

Georgia State hired Todd Reeser as senior associate director of athletics for development… Missouri director of athletics Mike Alden had his contract extended through June 30, 2017.

Scheduling

The Big South Conference announced it football TV package for the 2009 season which has the conference appearing on television nine of the 12 weeks this season… Oklahoma and Army announced a two-game football beginning in 2018.

Stadium Upgrades

Indiana State installed artificial turf at Memorial Stadium for the 2009 season.

Community Service

Florida held the second annual Gator Charity Challenge on July 31 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Six charities were the beneficiaries of the event… Former Utah All-American Jordan Gross and his wife Dana made a $500,000 contribution to endow the Jordan and Dana Gross Offensive Lineman Scholarship as well as the Utah football enhancement fund.

Miscellaneous

The 2009 Doak Walker Award and Ray Guy Award watch lists have been announced… Appalachian State unveiled an alternate jersey to be worn on Oct. 10 as a part of homecoming weekend. Following the game the jerseys will be auctioned off… The Southwestern Athletic Conference is college football’s latest tweeter… UAB and ISP Sports extended their partnership through June 2019… Arizona’s game vs. NAU on Sept. 12 will be Hispanic Heritage Day… The Big Ten Network is televising a practice from each Big Ten school this month in anticipation of the 2009 season… Florida State athletics has donated $100,000 to the FSU libraries… The Valero Alamo Bowl is gearing up for its Rudy's Bar-B-Q Pigskin Preview Luncheon at the San Antonio Alamodome on Aug. 26 with special kicking and passing skills’ contests and an EA Sports NCAA Football tournament on Playstation 3 on the stadium surface. ESPN analyst Todd Blackledge will give his insight on the 2009 season – with special emphasis on the Big 12 and Big Ten Conferences… Texas A&M has designated Collegiate Licensing Co. to handle its trademark licensing programs… Cincinnati season ticket sales increased 8.4 percent this year… Ex-Colorado fullback Keith Miller was the subject of an article in the New York Times… Syracuse sold more than 20,000 season tickets… Mississippi State set a new season-ticket record, exceeding the previous mark of 38,440.

Obituaries

George Olsen, executive director emeritus of the Gator Bowl Association, died at age 82… Ann Campbell, 85, mother of College Football Hall of Famer and 1977 Heisman Trophy recipient Earl Campbell, died in Tyler, Texas… David Kelton, 19, brother of TCU punter Anson Kelton and a former football standout at Arlington (Texas) Martin HS, died last week.

Key NFF Dates for 2009

Thursday, Sept. 3- Opening night for FBS College Football Season
Tuesday, Dec. 8 – 52nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner, Waldorf=Astoria, New York, N.Y.

2010 BCS Schedule

Jan. 1- Rose Bowl presented by Citi, Pasadena, Calif., ABC
Jan. 1 - Allstate Sugar Bowl, FOX
Jan. 4 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, FOX
Jan. 5 - FedEx Orange Bowl, FOX
Jan. 7 - Citi BCS National Championship Game, Pasadena, Calif., ABC


-NFF-