New Class of Football’s Finest Enters History Books at 55^th NFF Annual Awards Dinner

The historic Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom in New York City witnessed an all-star cast of history's greatest football players at the 55th Annual National Football Foundation (NFF) Awards Dinner December 4.

With more than 75 current collegiate head coaches and 40 returning members of the College Football Hall of Fame in attendance, the fabled spectacle lived up to the historic expectations. Many well-known football luminaries were in attendance, adding to the magnitude of the much-anticipated event.

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Click here to watch a replay of the morning press conference.

Click here to watch a replay of the dinner ceremonies.

Alabama Center Barrett Jones Claims NFF’s 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy

University of Alabama center Barrett Jones was named the 23rd recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, at the 55th National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner December 4 in New York City.

"Barrett is perhaps one of the greatest scholar-athletes to have ever played the game, and we are so proud to honor him tonight," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "The 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athlete class is one of the best ever, and for Barrett to stand above them all really says a lot about his accomplishments. He has a perfect 4.0 GPA and an All-American football career while still significantly giving back to the community - he was the clear choice as the best scholar-athlete in college football."

Click here for the full announcement.

Special Guests Attend VIP Reception for 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, 
presented by Fidelity Investments

More than 150 people attended a special reception on Monday, Dec. 3 for the 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The members of the class heard welcoming remarks from NFF board members Archie Manning (Chairman), Steve Hatchell (President & CEO) and Bill Campbell (namesake of the William V. Campbell Trophy). Fidelity Investments President for Personal Investing Kathy Murphy, the presenting sponsor of the program, also addressed the class. NFF board members in attendance included Murry Bowden (Vice Chairman), Jack Lengyel, and George Weiss (Vice Chairman). Other VIPs in the room included Chris Anderson, Charles Davis, Eddie George, Kirby Holcutt, Joey Harrington, Joel Klatt, Jeremy Langer, Doug Marrone, Don McPherson, Malcolm Moran, Chuck Pool, Jeff Puritan, John Ragnoni, Homer Rice, Steve Robinson, John Stephenson, Steve Richardson, and Tommy Tuberville.

Asa Bushnell Cup Presentation Attracts Record Crowd

Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple and Princeton defensive lineman Mike Catapano were crowned the 2012 recipients of The Asa S. Bushnell Cup, which honors the Ivy League Football Players of Year. Chapple was unveiled as the League's Offensive Player of the Year, and Catapano was announced as the League's Defensive Player of the Year for the 2012 season at a special reception and press conference in the famed Waldorf=Astoria Hotel as part of the festivities surrounding the 55th National Football Foundation (NFF) Annual Awards Dinner.

NFF Board Member and IMG President George Pyne emceed the event while Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris announced the winners. NFF board members Murry Bowden (Vice Chairman), Jack Ford, Archie Manning (Chairman), Scott McKibben, and George Weiss (Vice Chairman) attended with more than 200 other people, including Bob Casciola, Courtney Hall, Chris Kesicke, Don McPherson, Malcolm Moran, Chuck Pool, Dennis Thomas, Jon Taylor, Jeane Willis, and the Ivy League athletics directors and coaches. Click here to read more details.

Discover BCS National Championship Head Coaches Introductory Press Conference

The Orange Bowl held the head coaches introductory press conference for the 2012 BCS National Championship at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City. BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock, Orange Bowl Committee President & Chair Ford Gibson and Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms joined Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly at the event. ESPN commentator and host Wendi Nix emceed the announcement.  Click here to see photos of the event and here for a transcript.

2012 Army-Navy Game

Navy beat Army, 17-13, in the 113th edition of the fabled classic. NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell and NFF COO Matthew Sign joined NFF Board members Gene Corrigan, Jack Ford, Roger Staubach, and George Weiss at the game. College Football Hall of Fame inductee Pete Dawkins also attended, and Hall of Fame Coach Terry Donahue handled the color commentary of the game on Dial Global Radio. The game was called on CBS by 2011 NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award recipient Verne Lundquist and produced by 2012 NFF Legacy Award recipient Craig Silver. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was among the sellout crowd in attendance for the historic matchup.

In the NCAA Division I FCS semifinal games this weekend, North Dakota State will face Georgia Southern on Friday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. ET with the game televised on ESPN2, and Eastern Washington will battle Sam Houston State at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The national championship game will take place at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 5 at 1 p.m. ET.

Winston-Salem State (NC) will meet Valdosta State (GA) Saturday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. in the NCAA Division II Championship game, which will be televised live on ESPN2 from Florence, Alabama.

St. Thomas (MN) will square off against Mount Union (OH) in Salem, Va., on Friday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. ET in the Division III Championship Game (The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl). The game will be televised on ESPNU.

The 2012 NAIA Football National Championship will feature Morningside (IA) against Marian (IN) on Thursday, Dec. 13. The game will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network with the kick-off from Rome, Ga., scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET.

The NFF will release on Thursday a comprehensive TV schedule for the upcoming college football games, including the announcing crews.

 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Manti Te’o (Notre Dame) became one of the most decorated players in college football history this past week, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting and collecting seven major honors, including: the Maxwell, Walter Camp, the Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski, and Dick Butkus awards, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Te’o, the recipient of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award endowed by the National Football League, toured the NFL offices on Park Avenue, including a photo op with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

2012 NFF Campbell Trophy recipient and Alabama Center Barrett Jones claimed the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, which he took home last year, and the Lombardi Award.

Barrett Jones (Alabama) and Manti Te’o (Notre Dame) headline and NFF National Scholar-Athletes appearing in bowl games with their teams squaring off in the Discover BCS Championship Game January 7 in Miami Lakes, Fla. Other 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athletes appearing in bowl games include Southern California QB Matt Barkley in the Hyundai Sun Bowl; Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead in the Capital One Bowl; Texas Tech Safety Cody Davis in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas; Baylor QB Nick Florence in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl; Northern Illinois DT Nabal Jefferson in the Discover Orange Bowl; Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl; Duke QB Sean Renfree, who will lead the Blue Devils in their first post-season appearance in 18 years, with a berth in the Belk Bowl; and Northwestern OT Patrick Ward in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl. Mount Union Safety Nick Driskill will appear in the Division III Championship Game this Friday.

CoSIDA announced its Capital One Academic All-America teams, including NFF Campbell Trophy recipient Barrett Jones (Alabama) being named the 2012 Academic All-America of the Year for Division I football and NFF National Scholar-Athlete Nick Driskill (Mount Union) claiming the same honor for Division III. The other 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athletes making the First Team included Nick Florence (Baylor), Rex Burkhead (Nebraska), Patrick Ward (Northwestern), Cody Davis (Texas Tech), Manti Te’o (Notre Dame), and Nolan Nearhoof (Robert Morris, Pa.). Nabal Jefferson (Northern Illinois) was a Second Team selection for Division I. Shane Zackery (Saint Xavier, Ill.) earned First Team Divisional honors, and Ethan Peterson (MIT) made the First Team for Division III.

The Tournament of Roses announced that former Michigan QB Brian Griese (a 1997 NFF National Scholar-Athlete), former Tulsa, Arizona State and Ohio State coach John Cooper (a 2008 College Football Hall of Fame inductee) and former USC tackle Ron Yary (a 1987 College Football Hall of Fame inductee) will headline its Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2012 on Saturday, Dec. 30, at the Pasadena Convention Center.

College Football Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin) will assume the head coaching responsibilities for the Badgers as they prepare to face Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

College Football Hall of Famer Eddie George (Ohio State) will return to his alma mater to serve as assistant vice president for business advancement.

NFF National Scholar-Athlete Rex Burkhead (Nebraska) has been named the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain.

NFF National Scholar-Athlete Sean Renfree (2012) has been named the recipient of the 2012 Jim Tatum Award, given annually to the top senior student-athlete among the league's football players.

College Football Hall of Famer and NFF Board Member Lynn Swann (Southern California) will be inducted Dec. 14 into the Junipero High School Hall of Fame in San Mateo, Calif.

College Football Hall of Famer Pat Richter (Wisconsin) will deliver the charge to graduates at the university's winter commencement ceremony Dec. 16.

College Football Hall of Famers Tim Brown (Notre Dame) and Terry Baker (Oregon State) were honored during the Heisman Dinner on Monday night, respectively celebrating their 25^th and 50^th anniversaries of their Heisman moments.  

Texas A&M assistant coach Kliff Kingsbury, a 2002 NFF National Scholar-Athlete, was named the 2012 Offensive Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.com

Hall of Fame coach Terry Donahue (UCLA) is joining forces with the NFF to stage the California Showcase, a free one-day event for high school seniors to display their skills to Division II, III and NAIA football programs. The event will be held Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Learn more.

College Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett (Pitt) will be the guest speaker at the 2012 New Mexico Bowl Kickoff Luncheon on Dec. 14.

As part of an ongoing series throughout the fall, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame posts This Week in College Football History, which takes a look back at some of college football's landmark moments over the last 144 years. Click here to see this week’s video of the Dec. 13, 1969 Liberty Bowl, which featured a high scoring contest between Colorado and Alabama.

Check out the latest edition of the NCAA Football Insider.

The NFF Wyoming Chapter has added new lifetime members: Tad Herz, Justin & Courtney Hopkin, and Vince Siren… The NFF St. Louis/Tom Lombardo Chapter will host a luncheon tomorrow with former St. Louis Rams VP of Player Personnel Tony Softli as the guest speaker... The NFF Portland (OR) Chapter will hold their 52^nd annual scholar-athlete banquet tomorrow…

The NFF Valley of the Sun Chapter (Phoenix) will hold their 20^th annual Arizona State High School Champions Luncheon on Jan.  11 at the Scottsdale Hilton….The NFF Passaic County (NJ) Chapter will hold their Sports Nut Night fundraiser on Jan. 22 at the Totowa American Legion… The NFF New York City Chapter will hold their Elite Eleven Dinner on Feb. 7 at the Down Town Association… The NFF Columbus (OH) Chapter will hold their 52^nd Scholar-Athlete Banquet on Feb. 12 in the Archie Griffin Ballroom at the Ohio State Union… The NFF Chicago Metro Chapter will hold its Annual Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall on Feb. 18, distributing $20,000 to local student-athletes… The NFF Greater Baltimore Chapter will hold their 50^th annual banquet on March 6…

Scheduling 

Oklahoma and Nebraska announced a home-and-home football series in 2021 and 2022… Colorado State will play Alabama on 21, 2013 in Tuscaloosa... Cal announced that it will play Portland State Sept. 7, 2013 in Berkeley. The Big East announced its 2013 football schedule, including a championship game at the end of the season… Georgia Tech will play Alabama A&M at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 23, 2013… Old Dominion and Virginia Tech have scheduled a 3-game series in 2016, 2018, and 2019… UTEP will travel to Kyle Field to play Texas A&M on Nov. 2, 2013… Penn State and Pittsburgh, already meeting in 2016 and 2017, have added another home and home series in 2018 and 2019... Miami (Fla.) will play Savannah State at home in 2013... Memphis will play UCLA in a home-and-home series in 2014 and 2017... Southern Miss will host Texas State in 2013… NC State will host Louisiana Tech Aug. 31, 2013.

Media

Oklahoma State fans will benefit from a new multi-year agreement between FOX Sports and Learfield Sports that will expand the number of Cowboy televised games…  The NBC Sports Network will feature 10 hours of Notre Dame programming beginning at noon ET on Tues., Jan. 1, 2013.

Community Service 

The Western Kentucky Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) collected money to buy canned and other food items which were donated to the Salvation Army for the holidays… Duke held its annual gift-wrapping initiative to benefit Durham Parks & Recreation on Dec. 7... Michigan announced a community service relationship with the Special Olympics… Miami (OH) QB Zac Dysert donated his hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces to disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair loss.

Facilities 

Buffalo has announced a plan to add premium heated and covered seating to its stadium.  Kansas State will demolish the Dev Nelson Press Box Dec. 15 to make way for the new West Stadium Center.

Awards and Honors

The winners of multiple major college football awards were announced Dec. 6 during The Home Depot College Football Awards at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla… The Associated Press announced its All-America Teams… The Walter Camp Football Foundation announced its All-American Team… SI.com announced its All-American Teams… The Sporting News announced its All-American Team… The Football Writers Association of America All-America Team will be announced exclusively on SiriusXM's College Sports Nation channel on Friday at 10 a.m. ET… The Sports Network announced its FCS All-America Team… AFCA announced its Football Championship Subdivision Coaches’ All-America Team, its Division II Coaches’ All-America Team, and its Division III Coaches’ All-America Team, …Fans can click here to watch the Gagliardi Trophy presentation live at 7:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday to the top player in Division III.

Toledo announced its 2013 Hall of Fame inductees, including football players Jim Harding (1997-2000), John Wesley Saunders (1969-71) and Tom Ward (1999-2002).The class will be inducted Feb. 8…. Stanford OG David Yankey and Arizona State DT Will Sutton have been named winners of the 33rd annual Morris Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding linemen in the Pac-12 Conference… Western Michigan Athletics Director Kathy Beauregard was honored Dec. 8 by her alma mater Hope College with the "Hope for Humanity Award," which honors consistent service to others...

The NFF Chicago Chapter has announced the finalists for the 2012 Fred Mitchell Award, which is provided to the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, NAIA or NJCAA place-kicker that excels on the football field and in the community…

Bowl Games

Victory Motorcycles has signed on as an official sponsor of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl for the 2012 postseason bowl game… An anonymous Notre Dame alumnus has donated enough money to cut the price of BCS championship game tickets for Notre Dame students in half... Several anonymous individuals have donated discounted tickets for UCLA students to attend the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl against Baylor… The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) announced renewed agreements with 16 bowl partners to continue managing the bowls’ respective trademark licensing programs.

Miscellaneous 

Notre Dame jerseys will display players’ name for title game… Kent State alumnus Bob Milliken has made a $1 million commitment to the school's athletics department.  

Obituaries

Former Notre Dame guard Dean Brown died Nov. 29. He was 44. Former Illinois DL Jerry Brown passed away Dec. 8. He was 25. Jim Harper, a lifetime member of the NFF Los Angeles chapter and the namesake of his father who was the Hall of Fame coach from Notre Dame, passed away. He was 94 years old.

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Jan. 2, 2013 - National Hall of Fame Salute at the Allstate Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, La. 

Jan. 7, 2013 - Presentation of the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 

Jan. 8, 2013 - MacArthur Bowl Presentation to the BCS National Champion - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
 


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Notes 

For his contributions to this report the NFF would like to thank NFF correspondents Bo Carter.

NFF Chalktalk items are welcome, and should be submitted to news@footballfoundation.com.