IRVING, Texas (Jan. 15, 2015) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) today saluted all of the North Texas region for its outstanding execution as the host of the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship on Jan. 12 and the NCAA FCS National Championship Game in Frisco on Jan. 10.

“The celebration in North Texas was enormous the past seven days, and the region rolled out the red carpet in style for the college football nation, staging the inaugural CFP title game and the region’s fifth consecutive FCS national championship game,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “Both games included multiple events, which set a new standard for excellence. The region’s leadership utilized its immense resources, moving people with ease and without delay to their destinations. We thank everybody for their leadership and the thousands of people and volunteers who worked hard to make these events a reality. The whole seven days were a spectacular show piece for college football with the eyes of the nation focused on the region’s efforts."

The CFP National Championship, which saw Ohio State notch an impressive 42-20 victory against Oregon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was organized locally by the Stadium Events Organizing Committee (SEOC). NFF Board Member and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones worked tirelessly with former Cotton Bowl Athletic Association chairman Tommy Bain, who served as SEOC chairman, and Cotton Bowl President & CEO Rick Baker, who worked as SEOC president, leading the regional effort. The SEOC headed the fundraising effort to bring the title game to North Texas, and their efforts culminated with the game on Monday night. An impressive crowd of 85,689 packed the stadium in person, and another 33.4 million viewers watched the telecast on ESPN, delivering the largest audience and highest rated show in cable television history.

“Coupled with the work of the SEOC, the new College Football Playoff has far exceeded all expectations, creating a highly memorable inaugural experience for everybody,” said Manning. “CFP 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 and utilizing the region as a national platform for promoting everything right with our great sport. It truly is great for the game.”

The FCS game crowned North Dakota State national champions for a record fourth consecutive year, following their 29-27 victory against Illinois State. The event attracted a sellout crowd for the third consecutive year with 20,918 fans packing the house at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, located just north of Dallas, and the event marked the fifth consecutive year that the venue has hosted the FCS title game.\

“The NCAA, the City of Frisco, and local officials, led by Commissioner Tom Burnett of the Southland Conference, did an awesome job of staging the FCS championship game,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The City of Frisco has created a really special event, attracting overflow crowds the past few years who have witnessed some of the most exciting games in the history of college football. It is truly special what they have accomplished for our sport.”

The entire North Texas metroplex got in on the action with the games played in Arlington and Frisco, and multiple pregame events taking place in downtown Dallas, downtown Fort Worth and Irving. During the week leading up to the game, ESPN made Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth its broadcast home with thousands of fans flocking to the square to watch the ESPN talent analyze the upcoming game. Musical acts Sting and Lenny Kravitz performed at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas as part of the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live concert series.

Five members of the newly announced Hall of Fame class [Brian Bosworth (Oklahoma), Bob Breunig (Arizona State), Thom Gatewood (Notre Dame) and coaches Bill Snyder (Kansas State) and Jim Tressel (Youngstown State, Ohio State)] participated in the Playoff Fan Central, which was a multi-day festival that took place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Downtown Dallas. The festival included a concert headlined by Toby Keith; the Ohio State and Oregon bands, cheerleaders and mascots at mini pep rallies; interactive games; sponsor activities; and exhibits celebrating college football. The inductees also interacted with fans at the Taste of the Championship, featuring 18 celebrity chefs from around the country, at the Irving Convention Center in Irving and pregame activities at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

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 at the Omni Dallas Hotel; the announcement of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame Class on Jan. 9 at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel; the participation of the five members of the newly announced Hall of Famers in the coin toss at the title game; and the recognition of the 2014 William V. Campbell Trophy recipient David Helton, an All-ACC linebacker from Duke, on the field between the 1^st and 2^nd quarters of the title game.

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 would also like to salute Tom Burnett and the Southland Conference staff for their hard work in staging the FCS title game.

“The events in North Texas the past several days have been a marvelous showpiece for our sport,” said Hatchell. “The bar has been set really high, and college football is the beneficiary of all of this hard work by the countless people who poured their hearts and souls into delivering a first-class series of events. We are exceedingly grateful for their efforts.”


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 in Atlanta, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF High School 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 collaborates with the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) to release the FWAA-NFF Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll; awards The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments and prominently displayed at its official home inside the New York Athletic Club; and bestows several other major awards at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner. NFF corporate partners include the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Sports Business Journal and Under Armour. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.