(Pictured above: 2009 Campbell Trophy winner Tim Tebow (Florida) was awarded the Great Floridian designation by Gov. Rick Scott)
Hall of Fame Coach Frosty Westering Passes Away
Frosty Westering, a 2005 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who headed programs at Parsons (Iowa), Lea (Minn.) and Pacific Lutheran (Wash.), died April 12. He was 85 years old.
Under Westering’s direction, Pacific Lutheran won National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II national titles in 1980, 1987 and 1993 and finished as NAIA national runner-up in 1983, 1985, 1991 and 1994. After the school transitioned to NCAA membership in the fall of 1998, Westering led the Lutes to the 1999 NCAA Division III championship, which it won by becoming the first-and-only team to win five straight road games.
Westering's overall record in 32 seasons at Pacific Lutheran was a staggering 261-70-5 (.784 winning percentage), and no PLU team under his guidance suffered a losing record. He coached 26 NAIA and NCAA First Team All-Americans, and with him at the helm Pacific Lutheran appeared in 15 NAIA Division II national playoffs from 1979-97. In addition, his teams advanced to the Division III playoffs in each of the school's first four years as a NCAA member.
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005, Westering is one of only 11 college football coaches who have won at least 300 games. Westering picked up his 300th career victory in the second game of the 2003 season - his final one at PLU - and finished his 40-year college coaching career with an incredible 305-96-7 overall record (.756 winning percentage).
To read more about Westering’s life, click here.
Construction Continues on the new College Football Hall of Fame
Visitors to Atlanta for the NCAA Division I Final Four Basketball Tournament on April 6-8 had the opportunity to check out the latest progress on the construction of the new College Football Hall of Fame.
Continual construction began Jan. 28 on the 94,256 square foot facility after Atlanta Hall Management, the nonprofit corporation established to build and operate the Hall, announced that they had secured the full $66.5 million to complete the project in December. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2014, the new Hall will provide fans a one-of-a-kind interactive experience with a full slate of events and exhibits that will make the destination a centerpiece for all of college football. The site is across from Centennial Olympic Park. Nearby attractions include the Georgia World Congress, CNN Center, the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, the Philips Arena, the Georgia Dome and the future National Center for Civil and Human Rights. For more information, please visit http://cfbhall.com/.
The estate of Walter J. Zable donated $23.9 million to William & Mary for student-athlete scholarships as well as renovations to Zable Stadium. Zable served on the NFF Board for many years, and he claimed the NFF Gold Medal in 1980. He founded the Cubic Corporation, a multi-billion dollar defense and technology company, and he passed away June 23, 2012 at 97. The NFF San Diego Chapter bears his name in honor of his many contributions to the organization’s efforts at the grassroots level in Southern California.
1982 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee Les Richter (California), who passed away in 2010, appears on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Ballot.
2012 NFF National Scholar-Athletes Matt Barkley (Southern California), Ryan Nassib (Syracuse) and Manti Te’o (Notre Dame) each appeared in their own episodes of Gruden’s QB Camp, ranking as top NFL Draft prospects.
Hall of Famers Roger Staubach (Navy) and Doug Williams (Grambling), and former Navy wide receiver Skip Orr teamed up for a flag football game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., to raise money for the Heart Health Foundation. Staubach has served on the NFF Board of Directors since 2011.
2009 Campbell Trophy winner Tim Tebow (Florida) was awarded the Great Floridian designation by Gov. Rick Scott at Tebow’s charity golf classic, benefitting the Tim Tebow Foundation, at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse on April 13.
NFF Board Member, College Football Hall of Fame coach and AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff will deliver a lecture at San Marcos [Texas] Baptist Academy on April 18. Teaff will discuss the leadership knowledge and techniques that he gained as a coach at McMurry, Angelo State and Baylor.
NFF Board Member Jack Lengyel will attend Marshall’s Green-White spring game on April 27 as a guest speaker.
2012 Campbell Trophy semifinalist Ty Frix (Georgia) received recognition as one of four Bulldog student-athletes initiated into the Blue Key Honor Society, which identifies individuals with great character, leadership, service and academic distinction.
2002 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Bradie James (LSU) will participate as one of the 21 current and former NFL players attending the NFL’s Franchising Boot Camp April 26-29 at the University of Michigan.
NFF Board Member and Texas women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky delivered the keynote speech at the school’s 13th annual Dine with a Coach event, a fundraiser for the Neighborhood Longhorns Program that provides incentives and services to disadvantaged students in 30 area schools.
The 9th Annual Pat’s Run, named in honor of 2010 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Pat Tillman (Arizona State) who also claimed the NFF Distinguished American Award in 2006, will take place April 20 in Tempe, Ariz. Click to register.
The NFF Scholar-Athlete of the Day, presented by Fidelity Investments, is a daily segment honoring the 2012 National Scholar-Athlete candidates. Today’s honoree is Ross Walthall, a defensive tackle at Brown who holds a 3.53 GPA in political science and economics.
The Atlantic Coast Conference, Auburn, Kansas State, Illinois State, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Old Dominion, Oregon, the Southeastern Conference and Tennessee have joined the NFF as an NFF Institutional Academic Member. Coming off an impressive year of support, the Institutional Academic Membership Program allows the NFF to greatly enhance the power of football's collective voice while actively building a stronger national platform for the game with community leaders, educators, and the media. The program is open to all football-playing institutions at every level of college football. Email Ron Dilatush at rdilatush@footballfoundation.com to learn how your school can get involved.
The NFF Rochester (N.Y.) Chapter hosted a clinic for coaches April 13 at Saint John Fisher College… Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel will deliver the featured speech at the NFF St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter luncheon April 24 at Lombardo’s Airport Restaurant…
Purdue, alum Ryan Kerrigan and the NFF Joe Tiller Chapter will host the Ryan Kerrigan/12th Boiler Golf Outing May 3 at the Ackerman Hills Course of the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind., to raise money for scholarships…
The NFF Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter held its Scholar-Athlete Banquet on April 10 in Gulfport… The NFF Casey/O’Brien New Haven [Conn.] Chapter, renamed to include chapter president and NFF Board Member Bill O’Brien, honored 26 high school scholar-athletes along with Jim Bell, a former Harvard All-Ivy defensive end and executive producer of NBC Universal’s Olympic Game coverage, at its 53rd Anniversary Dinner on April 12… The Bill Denny/Central Jersey Chapter held its 45th Annual Scholar-Athlete Luncheon on April 14, distributing $10,000 in scholarships…
The NFF East Tennessee Chapter will honor Texas coach Mack Brown with its General Robert Neyland Award and 2006 NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award recipient Lee Corso with the Lindsey Nelson Award at its scholar-athlete banquet April 20 prior to the Tennessee spring game… The NFF Wisconsin Chapter will hold its 20th annual scholar-athlete banquet April 20 prior to the Badgers’ spring game…
ESPN’s Mike Tirico will deliver the keynote speech, and Georgia coach Mark Richt and Hall of Fame coach Vince Dooley are among the participants at the NFF University of Georgia Chapter’s banquet April 22 at the Athens Country Club… Hall of Famer LaVell Edwards (BYU), Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State head coach Matt Wells, Weber State head coach Jody Sears and Southern Utah head coach Ed Lamb will attend the NFF Utah Chapter’s Student-Athlete Banquet April 23… 2002 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and current Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury and his staff will attend the NFF Texas Tech Chapter’s annual banquet April 24 at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center… The NFF Southern Idaho Chapter will hold its 17th Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet April 27, honoring eight high school and two college student-athletes…
Hall of Famers Bobby Bell (Minnesota), Jim Christopherson (Concordia, Minn.), Mike Favor (North Dakota State), John Gagliardi (Carroll, Mont.; St. John’s, Minn.), Randall McDaniel (Arizona State), John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Jeff Siemon (Stanford), Gene Washington (Michigan State) and Paul Wiggin (Stanford) will attend the NFF Minnesota Chapter’s Scholar-Athlete Banquet April 28 at the University of St. Thomas. Former Gopher wide receiver Conner Cosgrove will be presented with the group’s Courage Award, after his 2010 leukemia diagnosis ended his football career at Minnesota. The 1963 St. John’s football team will be awarded the Murray Warmath Legendary Team Award after going 10-0 and winning the NAIA national championship…
The NFF Southeastern Connecticut Chapter will honor 16 scholar-athletes April 28… Liberty Mutual Division II Coach of the Year Peter Rossomondo (Univ. of New Haven (Conn.)) will deliver the keynote speech at the NFF DeSantis/McDougall Fairfield (Conn.) County Chapter Banquet April 28… Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield will give the keynote speech at the NFF Corrigan-Faircloth Chapter’s 22nd Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet April 30 at Old Town Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. The top student-athlete award will be given in memory of Bradley Faircloth. The chapter will distribute $33,000 at the event, bringing its all-time total to more than $500,000… The NFF Hawaii Chapter will honor 12 student-athletes at its April 28 banquet, held at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki…
The NFF Lehigh Valley Chapter will honor six area coaches at its banquet on May 3 at the Northampton Community Center…
The NFF St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter will hold its 21st Annual Awards Banquet May 5 at the Orlando Gardens, honoring the region's top scholar-athletes and high school football programs. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun will deliver the keynote speech…. The NFF Joe Tiller/Northeast Indiana Chapter will honor 24 scholar-athletes June 10, who will also be introduced at the Indiana Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame Dinner May 5…
Hall of Famer Randy Cross (UCLA) will deliver the keynote speech at the NFF Greater Atlanta Chapter’s Scholar-Athlete Banquet May 5… The NFF Rhode Island Chapter will host its 26th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner May 6 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, R.I., honoring 24 football players and presenting Terrence Murray with the Distinguished American Award, Robert “Bob” Wylie with the Contribution to Football Award and John Pagano with the Officials Award… New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell will be awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Football Award at the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter’s scholar-athlete banquet May 7…
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam will provide the keynote speech at the NFF Mike Cleary/Northeast Ohio Chapter Scholar-Athlete Banquet May 7 in Westlake, Ohio. NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame president Stephen Perry will be awarded the Distinguished American Award, WKYC Channel 3’s Jim Donovan will take home the Dino Lucarelli Award and retired Cleveland Plain Dealer high school sports writer Eddie Dwyer will accept the Dick Zunt Ohio Sportswriter of the Year Award. Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and Mount Union’s Larry Kehres will receive the Lee Tressel Ohio College Coach of the Year Award, presented by Jim Tressel…
Longtime Conard High School head coach Rob Cersosimo will receive the Distinguished American Award from the NFF Northern Connecticut Chapter’s 47th Scholar-Athlete Banquet May 19 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, Conn…
The NFF Oklahoma Chapter’s banquet has been moved to June 6.
Scheduling
Follow the action this spring with the NFF’s Spring Game Schedule… The Mountain West Conference announced its 2013 slate… Houston Baptist will kick off its inaugural football season at Sam Houston State on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. CT… The Boise State-BYU matchup has been moved to Friday, Oct. 25, for a 7 p.m. CT ESPN telecast… The Egg Bowl, featuring Mississippi and Mississippi State, has been moved to Thanksgiving Day for a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. CT… The Poinsettia Bowl will be played Dec. 26 at 8:30 p.m. CT and the Holiday Bowl is set for 9:15 p.m. CT on Dec. 30, with both events being nationally televised on ESPN from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego… The 2013 Independence Bowl will kick off at11:30 a.m. CT on Dec. 31 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La… Arizona and BYU agreed to a three-game series with a game in 2016 in Glendale, Ariz., 2018 in Tucson, Ariz., and 2020 in Provo, Utah… The Belk Bowl will be played Dec. 28 with a 3:20 p.m. CT kickoff…
Media
ESPN will launch a Southeastern Conference television channel, set to begin airing coverage in August 2014… Veteran NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks will become the next television voice of Notre Dame football, succeeding Tom Hammond, who has been NBC's lead voice for Notre Dame football since 1992…
Community Service
Temple sports medicine graduate extern Marc Schaffer, who participated in the Temple football bone marrow donor registration program five years ago, recently produced a match for a young male with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma… The Brown football team hosted its fourth annual “Be the Match” Bone Marrow Donor Testing Drive on April 9… The Miami (Fla.) football team also recruited bone marrow donors during the school’s Third Annual Marrow Donor Drive on April 10…
Toledo football players Zac Kerin, Vince Penza, Greg Mancz, Josh Hendershot and Rob Lisowski shaved their heads after football practice last week in support of former Rockets basketball player Ashlee Barrett’s fight against leukemia. To make a donation to Barrett’s fund, click here… The Rutgers football team visited the Embrace Kids Foundation in New Brunswick, N.J., to encourage and support young patients… Rutgers will select 22 children who were affected by Hurricane Sandy to play flag football during the Scarlet-White spring game… Fordham student-athletes participated in the school’s Sandy Solidarity Project, assisting Habitat for Humanity of Westchester with rebuilding efforts related to Hurricane Sandy…
LSU student-athletes welcomed local children in the Big Buddy Program for “Touring with the Tigers,” a four-day behind-the-scenes look at life as an LSU student-athlete… Tennessee-Chattanooga student-athletes volunteered in the Clean and Green program, picking up trash around the Fortwood neighborhood next to the UTC campus… Proceeds from Wingate’s (N.C.) spring football game on April 13 benefited The Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County…
The Western Michigan football team has partnered with the Bronson Children’s hospital for a toy drive during the Broncos’ spring game… The Big South Conference donated 30,435 pounds of food to local food banks as part of the Conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s community service initiative…
Facilities
Lawrence University (Wisc.) approved plans for a $5 million upgrade the Banta Bowl football stadium…
Awards and Honors
The Alabama football team was honored at the White House today for its 2013 National Championship… Miami (Fla.) inducted former football players Ken Dorsey and Brett Romberg, and former assistant coach Don Soldinger into the UM Sports Hall of Fame’s 45th annual induction banquet April 11… The Navy football team was presented the 2012 Commander in Chief’s Trophy April 12 at the White House… Football players Dan Burke and Don Jonas headlined the 2013 Central Florida Athletics Hall of Fame Class induction April 12… Former Brown and Hofstra head coach Mickey Kwiatkowski will receive the “First and Goal Award” as part of the Philadelphia High School Football All-Star Football game sponsored by the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Stadium on May 14...
Marketing
After rebranding itself last week, UConn unveiled a new Husky Dog logo on April 11… California released an updated set of logos and uniforms… UNC unveiled new uniforms for the 2013 season… Ole Miss unveiled new uniforms…
Miscellaneous
Auburn trustees approved a makeover for Toomer's Corner…
Obituaries
Hall of Fame coach Frosty Westering passed away on April 12 at the age of 85.
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May 2, 2013 – Announcement of 2013 Hampshire Honor Society members – Dallas, Texas
May 7, 2013 – Announcement of 2013 Football Bowl Subdivision Inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame – NASDAQ MarketSite, New York City
May 16, 2013 – Announcement of 2013 Divisional Inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame – Dallas, Texas
Oct. 3, 2013 – Announcement of 2013 Campbell Trophy Semifinalists – Dallas, Texas
Oct. 31, 2013 – Announcement of 2013 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments – Dallas, Texas
Dec. 10, 2013 – 56th NFF Annual Awards Dinner – Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City
Dec. 10, 2013 – 24th Presentation of Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, to the nation's top scholar-athlete at the Waldorf=Astoria – New York, N.Y.
Jan. 2, 2014 – National Hall of Fame Salute at the Allstate Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, La.
Jan. 7, 2014 – MacArthur Bowl Presentation to the BCS National Champion – Newport Beach, Calif.
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The 56th NFF Annual Awards Dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, at New York City's Waldorf=Astoria. For more ticket information, please contact NFF Director of External Relations Will Rudd at 1-800-486-1865 or via email at wrudd@footballfoundation.com.
Notes
The NFF would like to thank NFF correspondent Bo Carter for his contributions to this report.
NFF Chalktalk items are welcome, and should be submitted to news@footballfoundation.com.
