NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 8, 2010 - The National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame (NFF) today presented the MacArthur Trophy to the Alabama Crimson Tide (14-0) as their prize for beating, 37-21, the Texas Longhorns (13-1) yesterday in the Citi BCS National Championship before a sellout crowd of 94,906 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell handed the national championship trophy to Head Coach Nick Saban who accepted the prize on behalf of his team at today's 10 a.m. (PST) press conference at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel.

"On behalf of the National Football Foundation, our 12,000 members, our chairman Archie Manning and our board of directors, we are really proud to present this trophy to Coach Saban and the Crimson Tide, for the school's fifth time, which is really special," said Hatchell. "This trophy was started in 1959 by General Douglas MacArthur, Grantland Rice, the great sports writer and legendary coach Red Blaik, and etched on the side of this stadium replica in all silver are all of the subsequent national champions. As the keepers of the history and the legacy of the sport of football, we are exceptionally pleased to again etch another Alabama team on its walls and are really proud to give it to Nick, who is not only a super coach and a great leader but has done such wonderful things for our sport."

Alabama, the 2009 SEC Champions, defeated Texas, the 2009 Big 12 Champions, marking the Crimson Tide's first national title since 1992. The 1992 Alabama team, coached by Gene Stallings, finished undefeated (13-0) after a 34-13 victory against the Miami Hurricanes in the Sugar Bowl. In addition to the 2009 and 1992 championships, Alabama claimed the MacArthur Trophy in 1961, 1978 and 1979 under Hall of Fame Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The national title is the first for Alabama during the BCS era, which began in 1998, and the second for Coach Nick Saban who led the LSU Tigers to the BCS crown in 2003. Saban becomes the first coach in the AP Poll era, which began in 1936, to win national titles with two different schools, and the second coach to win two titles during the BCS era along with Florida Coach Urban Meyer.

Representing the pinnacle of team achievement in college sports, the trophy was the gift of an anonymous donor, who commissioned Tiffany & Co. to craft it from 400 ounces of silver, in honor of NFF founder General Douglas A. MacArthur. It took eight months to make, and the trophy features MacArthur's famous quote: "There is no substitute for victory." The 2009 Alabama team will now have its name etched on the silver trophy, which will visit Tuscaloosa, Ala., until the 2010 champions claim it. Last year, more than 500,000 people saw the trophy while it was on display in Gainesville, Fla., after the Florida Gators' victory in the title game.

With the advent of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998, the national championship game now determines which team will be presented the MacArthur Trophy and have their named engraved on the sparkling archways aside the greatest teams of all time. The National Football Foundation, as an impartial arbiter, tabulates and releases the weekly BCS standings during the college football season.

First presented in 1959, previous NFF National Champions and MacArthur Trophy recipients include: Syracuse 1959, Minnesota 1960, Alabama 1961, Southern California 1962, Texas 1963, Notre Dame 1964, Michigan State 1965, Michigan State/Notre Dame 1966, Southern California 1967, Ohio State 1968, Texas 1969, Ohio State/Texas 1970, Nebraska 1971, Southern California 1972, Notre Dame 1973, Southern California 1974, Oklahoma 1975, Pittsburgh 1976, Notre Dame 1977, Alabama 1978, Alabama 1979, Georgia 1980, Clemson 1981, Penn State 1982, Miami (FL) 1983, Brigham Young 1984, Oklahoma 1985, Penn State 1986, Miami (FL) 1987, Notre Dame 1988, Miami (FL) 1989, Colorado 1990, Washington 1991, Alabama 1992, Florida State 1993, Nebraska 1994, Nebraska 1995, Florida 1996, Michigan 1997, Tennessee 1998, Florida State 1999, Oklahoma 2000, Miami (FL) 2001, Ohio State 2002, Louisiana State 2003, Southern California 2004; Texas 2005; Florida in 2006; LSU in 2007; and Florida in 2008.

About The National Football Foundation:
Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, Play It Smart, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.