IRVING, Texas (Jan. 7, 2015) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) will stage several major events during the events leading up to the inaugural College Football Playoff  (CFP) National Championship between No. 2 Oregon (13-1) and No. 4 Ohio State (13-1) on Monday, Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The events will include the newest class of College Football Hall of Fame inductees, the 2014 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy recipient David Helton (Duke) and 2015 NFF Leadership Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Kenneth Cooper.

“We are really thrilled about having access to the CFP national stage to shine a light on several NFF honorees,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “They represent everything right with our great game and its ability to instill leadership in the next generation. We would like to extend a big thanks to Bill Hancock and the College Football Playoff Management Committee for helping us to make this possible. We truly appreciate their efforts.”

The NFF events begin Thursday, Jan. 8 when Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a pioneer in the medical profession who is known as the “father of aerobics,” will be inducted into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame during a reception and dinner at the Omni Dallas Hotel. The induction ceremony will serve as the kickoff event for the CFP National Championship weekend, and it marks the launch of a new tradition where the NFF will stage an NFF Leadership Hall of Fame event in the host city of the title game each year.

The following day on Friday, Jan. 9, the NFF will announce the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductees in front of the national media who will be assembled at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel to cover the title game. NFF Chairman Archie Manning will join ESPN studio host Rece Davis to make the announcement, which will be produced by BMG and streamed live by Volar Video at www.footballfoundation.org.

At least three to four new inductees from the class will be present at the hotel to represent the 15 players and two coaches who have been selected as members of this year’s class. (Click here for a complete list of the players and coaches on the 2015 ballot.) The announcement also marks a new tradition, and the NFF will annually unveil the newest inductees before the title game at the media hotel in the host city, which will take place in Glendale, Ariz., in 2016 and Tampa, Fla., in 2017.

Several of the inductees will be in town for the championship game between Oregon and Ohio State on Monday, Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium, and they will assist on the field during the coin toss before the 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN.

The NFF will also claim the national spotlight between the 1^st and 2^nd quarters of the game to honor 2014 NFF Campbell Trophy recipient David Helton, a First Team Academic All-American and First Team All-ACC selection at linebacker from Duke. Helton was named the winner of the 25^th Campbell Trophy as college football’s top scholar-athlete at the 57^th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City on Dec. 9. Helton will be introduced during the break to the sold out crowd at AT&T Stadium, and he will be joined on the field by NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell.

Thursday, Jan. 8
NFF Leadership Hall of Fame Induction of Dr. Kenneth Cooper
6:30 p.m. CT Reception and 7 p.m. Dinner
Omni Dallas Hotel

Friday, Jan. 9
NFF College Football Hall of Fame Announcement
10 a.m. CT
Renaissance Dallas Hotel

Monday, Jan. 12
Title Game Coin Toss with 2015 College Football Hall of Fame Inductees
7:28 p.m. CT (3:00 minute pregame mark)
Several Members of the Newly Announced Hall of Fame Class
AT&T Stadium

Monday, Jan. 12
Recognition of Campbell Trophy recipient Duke LB David Helton
Between the 1^st and 2^nd quarters (approximately 8 p.m. CT)
AT&T Stadium


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.