IRVING, Texas (Feb. 27, 2014) – Spanning more than 4,800 high schools and 500,000 student-athletes, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today that its Chapter Network will distribute more than $1 million in scholarships during its 2014 banquet season, selecting 3,300 student-athletes for recognition as the best and the brightest for their combined achievements on the gridiron, in the classroom and as leaders in the community.
"The NFF Chapter Network stands as one of the most valuable forces in all of amateur sports,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “The passion of our members knows no bounds, and their efforts have a dramatic impact on inspiring leadership and lifting the academic performance of high school football players nationwide. It’s a privilege to shine a light on their collective efforts and play a role in facilitating their impact at the grassroots level.”
The NFF Chapter Network, spread across 120 outposts in 48 states, serves as the backbone of a nationwide effort to encourage academic excellence, leadership and sportsmanship among young football players. Each year the chapters combine to stage more than 1,000 events, including all-star games, coaching clinics, college nights, leadership conferences and more than 100 scholarship banquets.
Annually drawing more than 33,000 people and serving as the centerpiece of the chapter’s efforts, the NFF banquets stand as an important milestone for the honorees as they claim a portion of more than $1 million in scholarships to advance their educations. The all-time amount raised and disbursed by the chapters will exceed $18 million this year. Coupled with the cumulative amount of $10.4 million awarded by the national office, the all-time amount distributed by the NFF will approach $29 million this year.
“The scholar-athlete banquet season plays a crucial role in the NFF’s mission of exposing as many young people as possible to football’s special ability to build leaders,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “The banquet season holds out the best of today for their peers to emulate. I always stand in awe at the chapter banquets as I listen to the emcees read the accomplishments of our honorees.”
Dozens of big names across the world of college football are expected to support their respective local chapters. NFF Board Members expected to attend chapter banquets include NFF Chairman Archie Manning (Allstate Sugar Bowl [La.] Chapter), Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma Chapter), Gamble Jones Investment Council Principal Dave Davis (Pasadena/San Gabriel Chapter), Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany (Chicago Metro Chapter), former Marshall head coach and Navy Athletics Director Jack Lengyel (Valley of the Sun [Ariz.] Chapter), Bill O’Brien (Casey-O’Brien/New Haven County [Conn.] Chapter) and Texas Women’s Athletics Director Chris Plonsky (Greater Austin [Texas] Chapter).
Members of the College Football Hall of Fame anticipated to attend include: USC’s Brad Budde (Orange County [Calif.] Chapter), Pittsburgh’s Jim Covert (Chicago Metro Chapter), UCLA coach Terry Donahue (Newport Beach [Calif.] Chapter), Middle Tennessee State coach Boots Donnelly (Middle Tennessee Chapter), Georgia coach Vince Dooley (University of Georgia Chapter), Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald (Chicago Metro Chapter), Miami, Fla.’s Ted Hendricks (Chicago Metro Chapter) Air Force’s Chad Hennings (NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter), Ohio State’s John Hicks (Columbus [Ohio] Chapter), Coach Lou Holtz (Little Rock Touchdown Club Chapter), Dayton coach Mike Kelly (Springfield [Ohio] Chapter), Arizona State coach Frank Kush (Valley of the Sun [Ariz.] Chapter), Colorado coach Bill McCartney (Michigan Chapter), North Carolina’s Don McCauley (Bill Dooley/Triangle East [N.C.] Chapter), Arizona State’s Randall McDaniel (Valley of the Sun [Ariz.] Chapter), Colorado State’s Greg Myers (Colorado Chapter), Ohio State’s Orlando Pace (Columbus [Ohio] Chapter), Arizona State’s Ron Pritchard (Valley of the Sun [Ariz.] Chapter), Northwestern State’s Gary Reasons (NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter), Occidental (Calif.)’s Bill Redell (Pasasdena/San Gabriel Valley [Calif.] Chapter), Missouri’s Johnny Roland (St. Louis/Tom Lombardo Chapter), Baylor’s Don Trull (Touchdown Club of Houston Chapter), Oklahoma’s Joe Washington (Oklahoma Chapter) and Arizona State’s Danny White (Valley of the Sun [Ariz.] Chapter).
The current FBS head coaches expected to attend a chapter banquet include: Illinois’ Tim Beckman (Chicago Metro Chapter), Wyoming’s Craig Bohl (Wyoming Chapter), Duke’s David Cutcliffe (East Tennessee Chapter), North Carolina State’s Dave Doeren (Corrigan/Faircloth [N.C.] Chapter), Maryland’s Randy Edsall (National Capital [D.C.] Chapter), North Carolina’s Larry Fedora (Bill Dooley/Triangle East [N.C.] Chapter), Rutgers’ Kyle Flood (Central Jersey Chapter), Penn State’s James Franklin (Central Pennsylvania Chapter), Tennessee’s Butch Jones (East Tennessee Chapter), SMU’s June Jones (NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter), Minnesota’s Jerry Kill (Chicago Metro Chapter), 2002 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech Chapter), Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre (Colorado Chapter), Miami (Ohio)’s Chuck Martin (Greater Cincinnati Chapter), Colorado State’s Jim McElwain (Colorado Chapter), East Carolina’s Ruffin McNeill (Bill Dooley/Triangle East [N.C.] Chapter), Ohio State’s Urban Meyer (Columbus [Ohio] Chapter), Georgia’s Mark Richt (University of Georgia Chapter), Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez (Southern Arizona Chapter), Texas’ Charlie Strong (Greater Austin [Texas] Chapter), Utah State’s Matt Wells (Utah Chapter) and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham (Utah Chapter).
Other prominent names across the world of football that will be in attendance include Deloitte Tax Chairman and CEO Carl Allegretti (Chicago Metro Chapter), 2000 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and current New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter), Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett (NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter), Coordinator of Officials for the Collegiate Officiating Consortium Bill Carollo (Chicago Metro Chapter); Lehigh head coach Andy Coen (Lehigh Valley [Pa.] Chapter), 2013 Jim Thorpe Award recipient and Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard (Oklahoma Chapter), 1983 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Dan DeRose (Colorado Chapter), former Texas Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds (NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter), former Heavyweight Champion boxer Buster Douglas (Columbus [Ohio] Chapter), Indianapolis Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson (Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter), Delaware Valley (N.J.) Chapter President and longtime head coach at the College of New Jersey Eric Hamilton (South Jersey Chapter), former Stanford and current San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh (University of Georgia Chapter), Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (University of Georgia Chapter), 2011 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Chandler Harnish (Chicago Metro Chapter), Texas Tech Athletics Director Kirby Hocutt (Texas Tech Chapter), Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan (Allstate Sugar Bowl [La.] Chapter), WAC Associate Commissioner Jeff Hurd (Colorado Chapter), Chicago Bears play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak (Chicago Metro Chapter), former Pacific and 12-year NFL quarterback Bob Lee (Northern California Chapter), 2011 BCS National Championship referee Bill LeMonnier (Chicago Metro Chapter), former Oregon State All-American Roger Levasa (Portland [Ore.] Chapter), Northern Illinois quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch (Chicago Metro Chapter), grandson of Hall of Fame coach Dick Macpherson and Syracuse offensive lineman Macky MacPherson (Central New York Chapter), Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey (Chicago Metro Chapter), New England broadcaster Jon Meterparel (Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter), Washington State Athletics Director Bill Moos (Clark County [Wash.] Chapter), 2014 BCS National Championship referee John O'Neill (Chicago Metro Chapter), former UCLA head coach and quarterback Rick Neuheisel (Newport Beach [Calif.] Chapter), television broadcaster and former Southern Californian football player Petros Papadakis (Pasadena [Calif.] Chapter), former Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa (Chicago Metro Chapter), radio personality and former BYU and NFL player Jason Scukanec (Clark County [Wash.] Chapter), former Utah and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (Utah Chapter), Illinois State head coach Brock Spack (Chicago Metro Chapter), former Ohio State and Youngstown State head coach Jim Tressel (Columbus [Ohio] Chapter), 2013 William V. Campbell Trophy winner John Urschel (Central Pennsylvania Chapter), former Colgate and NFL running back Mark van Eeghen (Emo DiNitto/Rhode Island Chapter), former Ohio State and current NFL running back Beanie Wells (Columbus [Ohio] Chapter), 2006 NFF National Scholar-Athlete John Wendling (Wyoming Chapter) and 2009 NFF Chris Schenkel Award winner Larry Zimmer (Colorado Chapter).
The chapters distributing more than $20,000 in annual scholarships include: Allstate Sugar Bowl (La.) Chapter, $40,000; Valley of the Sun (Ariz.) Chapter, $40,000; Central New York Chapter, $38,000; Delaware Valley (N.J.) Chapter, $35,000; Middle Tennessee Chapter, $31,000; Walter J. Zable/San Diego Chapter, $31,000; Corrigan/Faircloth (N.C.) Chapter, $30,000; Westchester (N.Y.) Chapter, $30,000; Texas Tech Chapter, $27,500; Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter, $26,500; Northern California Chapter, $24,000; Greater Baltimore Chapter, $22,500; Portland (Ore.) Chapter, $22,000; Wyoming Chapter, $22,000; Moose/Krause (Ind.) Chapter, $20,000; and Toledo (Ohio) Chapter, $20,000. The Greater Baltimore Chapter paces all scholar-athlete banquets with attendance topping 1,300 guests.
Chapters celebrating significant milestones in 2014 include the Morris County (N.J.) Chapter and the Central Indiana Chapter celebrating their 20th anniversaries, while the Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
NFF CHAPTER BANQUETS 2013-14
Arizona
Southern Arizona Chapter – Tucson, Ariz. – March 30, 2014
Valley of the Sun Chapter – Scottsdale, Ariz. – March 1, 2014
Arkansas
Little Rock Touchdown Club Chapter – Little Rock, Ark. – Feb. 13, 2014
California
Los Angeles Chapter – Culver City, Calif. – March 14, 2014
Newport Beach Chapter – Carson, Calif. – Feb. 22, 2014 (High School Senior Showcase)
Northern California Chapter – Burlingame, Calif. – Feb. 28, 2014
Orange County Chapter – Anaheim, Calif. – March 10, 2014
Pasadena Chapter – Pasadena, Calif. – March 25, 2014
Riverside Chapter – Corona, Calif. – March 16, 2014
Sacramento Valley Chapter – Sacramento, Calif. – March 13, 2014
San Fernando Valley Chapter – Studio City, Calif. – March 24, 2014
Walter J. Zable/San Diego Chapter – San Diego, Calif. – March 28, 2014
Colorado
Colorado Chapter – Denver, Colo. – April 21, 2014
Connecticut
Casey-O’Brien/New Haven County Chapter – North Haven, Conn. – April 11, 2014
Desantis/McDougall Fairfield County Chapter – Trumbull, Conn. – April 27, 2014
Northern Connecticut Chapter – Southington, Conn. – May 18, 2014
Southeast Connecticut Chapter – Uncasville, Conn. – April 27, 2014
Florida
Tampa Chapter – Tampa, Fla. – April 9, 2014
Georgia
Middle Georgia Chapter – Macon, Ga. – May 8, 2014
Touchdown Club of Atlanta Chapter – Atlanta, Ga. – April 27, 2014
University of Georgia Chapter – Athens, Ga. – April 20, 2014 (Golf Tournament)
University of Georgia Chapter – Athens, Ga. – April 21, 2014
Hawaii
Hawaii Chapter – Honolulu, Hawaii – April 27, 2014
Idaho
Southern Idaho Chapter – Boise, Idaho – April 26, 2014
Illinois
Chicago Metro Chapter – Lake Forest, Ill. – Feb. 17, 2014
Indiana
Central Indiana Chapter – Indianapolis, Ind. – April 12, 2014
Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter – West Lafayette, Ind. – June 25, 2014
Moose Krause Chapter – Mishawaka, Ind. – April 24, 2014
Southern Indiana Chapter – Evansville, Ind. – April 13, 2014
Louisiana
Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter – New Orleans, La. – April 9, 2014
S.M. McNaughton Chapter – Shreveport, La. – Feb. 20, 2014
Maine
State of Maine Chapter – Brunswick, Maine – May 18, 2014
Maryland
Greater Baltimore Chapter – Baltimore, Md. – March 12, 2014
Massachusetts
Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter – Newton, Mass. – May 4, 2014
Joe Mewhiney/Central Massachusetts Chapter – Marlborough, Mass. – May 18, 2014
Western Massachusetts Chapter – Amherst, Mass. – April 6, 2014
Michigan
Michigan Chapter – Detroit, Mich. – Dec. 12, 2013
Minnesota
Minnesota Chapter – Minneapolis, Minn. – May 4, 2014
Mississippi
Miss/Lou Chapter – Natchez, Miss. – Feb. 27, 2014
Missouri
Tom Lombardo/St. Louis Chapter – St. Louis, Mo. – May 4, 2014
New Hampshire
Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter – Manchester, N.H. – May 6, 2014
New Jersey
Central Jersey Chapter – East Brunswick, N.J. – April 27, 2014
Delaware Valley Chapter – Princeton, N.J. – March 9, 2014
Essex County Chapter – West Orange, N.J. – March 5, 2014
Morris County Chapter – Morristown, N.J. – Feb. 6, 2014 (Sports Nut Night)\
Morris County Chapter – Morristown, N.J. – April 9, 2014
Passaic County Chapter – Totowa, N.J. – Feb. 14, 2014 (Sports Nut Night)
Passaic County Chapter – Wayne, N.J. – April 23, 2014
South Jersey Chapter – Galloway, N.J. – Feb. 23, 2014
New York
Capital District Chapter – Albany, N.Y. – May 6, 2014
Central New York Chapter – Syracuse, N.Y. – Jan. 26, 2014
Rochester Chapter – Rochester, N.Y. – Dec. 9, 2013
Westchester Chapter – Rye, N.Y. – Jan. 30, 2014
North Carolina
Bill Dooley/Triangle East Chapter – Durham, N.C. – April 30, 2014
Bill Dooley/Triangle East Chapter – Cary, N.C. – July 24, 2014 (Pigskin Preview)
Corrigan/Faircloth Chapter – High Point, N.C. – May 7, 2014
Ohio
Greater Cincinnati Chapter – Cincinnati, Ohio – Feb. 27, 2014
Columbus Chapter – Columbus, Ohio – Feb. 10, 2014
Mike Cleary/Northeast Ohio Chapter – Westlake, Ohio – March 4, 2014
Springfield Chapter – Springfield, Ohio – March 5, 2014
Toledo Chapter – Toledo, Ohio – March 10, 2014
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Chapter – Oklahoma City, Okla. – Feb. 4, 2014
Oregon
Portland Chapter – Portland, Ore. – Jan. 19, 2014
Pennsylvania
Central Pennsylvania Chapter – State College, Pa. – March 23, 2014
Lehigh Valley Chapter – Northampton, Pa. – March 2, 2014
Schuylkill/Pottsville Chapter – Pottsville, Pa. – April 6, 2014
Rhode Island
Emo DiNitto/Rhode Island Chapter – Warwick, R.I. – May 5, 2014
Tennessee
East Tennessee Chapter – Knoxville, Tenn. – April 12, 2014
Memphis Chapter – Memphis, Tenn. – May 5, 2014
Middle Tennessee Chapter – Nashville, Tenn. – March 5, 2014
Texas
Greater Austin Chapter – Austin, Texas – May 5, 2014
NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter – Dallas, Texas – April 14, 2014
Texas Tech Chapter – Lubbock, Texas – April 30, 2014
Touchdown Club of Houston Chapter – Houston, Texas – Feb. 15, 2014 (High School Senior Showcase)
Utah
Utah Chapter – Salt Lake City, Utah – April 22, 2014
Vermont
Vermont Chapter – Castleton, Vt. – April 27, 2014
Virginia
National Capital Chapter – Arlington, Va. – April 6, 2014
Washington
Clark County Chapter – Vancouver, Wash. – Jan. 15, 2014
King County/Seattle Chapter – Seattle, Wash. – Feb. 23, 2014
Wyoming
Wyoming Chapter – Laramie, Wyo. – March 22, 2014
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF Showcases, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF Faculty Salute Initiative presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF also presents the William V. Campbell Trophy endowed by HealthSouth and hosted at the New York Athletic Club as well as bestowing several other major awards at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City. NFF corporate partners include the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, Liberty Mutual Insurance, the Sports Business Journal, and Under Armour. For more information, please visit www.footballfoundation.org.
