Inaugural event creates a powerful new platform to showcase the best of college football.
IRVING, Texas (Jan. 13, 2015) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) saluted today the College Football Playoff (CFP) and its staff for their exceptional efforts in staging the inaugural CFP National Championship, presented by AT&T.
“The new College Football Playoff has far exceeded everybody’s expectations,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “Executive Director Bill Hancock and his outstanding staff have created something from nothing, and it’s a huge credit to college football. Their attention to detail was truly impressive, transforming North Texas with countless events and utilizing the region as a national platform for promoting everything right with our great sport. It truly is great for the game.”
The game, which saw Ohio State notch an impressive 42-20 victory against Oregon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, produced the highest overnight rating in cable history, generating an 18.5 overnight score according to ESPN and Nielsen. An impressive crowd of 85,689 packed the stadium in person.
“All of our sport’s stakeholders are thrilled, and the NFF was honored and ecstatic to be a part of it,” said Manning. “The interest in college football continues to soar, and we are extremely grateful to Bill and his staff for setting the bar at the highest of levels. We know that they sacrificed incalculable hours with their families while enduring many sleep-shortened nights to bring a first-class product to the fans.”
The NFF would like to congratulate Bill Hancock and his staff on their accomplishments, including Chief Operating Officer Michael Kelly, Chief Financial Officer Reid Sigmon, senior directors Ken Elder and Gina Lehe; directors Laila Brock, Allison Doughty, Nikki Epley, Wes Gentry, Shawn Moore and Jason Sabatino; coordinators Toni Gockel and Lauren Lanier; and interns Ella Forrest, Ben Habern, Kristen Pugh and Ali Rogers.
The NFF worked with the CFP staff to stage several major events during the days leading up to the inaugural CFP title game. The events included the induction of Dr. Kenneth H.Cooper into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame on Jan. 8; the announcement of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame Class on Jan. 9 at the CFP media hotel; the participation of several members of the newly announced Hall of Famers in the coin toss at the title game on Jan. 12; and the recognition of the 2014 William V. Campbell Trophy recipient David Helton, an All-ACC linebacker from Duke, on the field between the 1st and 2nd quarters of the title game.
