|
 |
In front of more than 1,500 coaches at the American Football Coaches Association Annual Convention held in Louisville, KY,, Bob Casciola, outgoing president of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, and incoming president Steve Hatchell, presented the National Championship Trophies to the winning college teams from Divisions I-AA, II, III, and NAIA. “Each year at this convention, The National Football Foundation presents the championship trophies to the coaches who have taken their teams to the pinnacle of success,” said Casciola. “It is fitting that we present the trophies in front of their peers, the very people who know the commitment, dedication, and effort that goes into winning a national championship.” NCAA Division I-AA – John F. Kennedy Trophy – James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) – Coach Mickey Matthews Completing an improbable run to the title, James Madison defeated Montana, 31-21, to become the first team in Division I-AA history to win four playoff games on the road. The title is the program’s first in its 33-year history. JMU won despite playing a very experienced opponent, as Montana was making their fifth championship game appearance. The victory improved them to 13-2 on the memorable season. NCAA Division II – Asa S. Bushnell Trophy – Valdosta State University (Valdosta, GA) – Coach Chris Hatcher Rallying from a 14-0 first quarter hole, Valdosta State edged Pittsburg State, 36-31, for their 13th consecutive victory following a season-opening loss and the program’s first-ever Division II National Championship. The national title is the school’s first in any sport since 1979 and comes over a Pittsburg State team that was previously unbeaten, ranked #1 in the nation and had been averaging over 600 yards of total offense this season. NCAA Division III - Amos Alonzo Stagg Trophy – Linfield College (McMinnville, OR) - Coach Jay Locey Capping a magical season, Linfield College defeated Mary-Hardin Baylor, 28-21, to complete their perfect 13-0 record and take home the program’s first Division III National Championship in school history. Linfield’s 13 victories set a team single-season record while junior quarterback Brett Elliott set NCAA Division III single-season records with 4,695 passing yards and 61 touchdowns in 2004 alone. NAIA – Dwight D. Eisenhower Trophy – Carroll College (Helena, MT) – Coach Mike Van Diest This year’s NAIA title game was significantly closer than in the prior two, but the outcome was the same. Carroll College’s Marcus Miller kicked a 32-yard field goal with just 10.8 seconds remaining to vault the Fighting Saints to a 15-13 victory over previously unbeaten St. Francis for their third consecutive National Championship. The NFF also presents the MacArthur Trophy to the Division I-A Champion each year to the winner of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) title game. (The National Football Foundation, as an impartial arbiter, tabulates and releases the weekly BCS standings during the college football season.) All the accomplishments of the championship teams will be highlighted during the coming year as part of the National Champions’ Exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. The Valley of the Sun Chapter was chartered in 1971 and is today one of the National Football Foundation’s largest and most active chapters. Our stated mission is “to honor the traditions of the game of football at the amateur level; to recognize academic and athletic excellence as well as community-school achievements at the college, high school and youth levels; and to conduct programs that further the character-building qualities of the game and fulfill a demonstrated need, especially to the underserved population.” As a 501©(3) non-profit organization, we place great emphasis on education as it relates to effective, sports-based programming. We have been able to develop collaborative partnerships with other groups committed to promoting amateur football in Arizona where our combined efforts result in greater impact and a higher level of success. In a single sentence, our purpose is “Making athletics better for kids, and making kids better through athletics. For the past 23 years, the Scholar-Athlete Awards Program has been our signature event when we honor Arizona college and high school football players for their academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments. We have recognized 265 student-athletes from 91 high schools and six colleges, and since 1988, have awarded more than $183,000 in college scholarships. In addition, each year we honor three adults who have made significant contributions to the game and have distinguished themselves in later life. At the national level, four individuals who have served as officers of the Chapter have received the Foundation’s prestigious Chapter Leadership Award. Over the past decade, we have promoted the candidacies of deserving retired coaches and former All-American players for the College Football Hall of Fame. During this period, two coaches and five players with strong Arizona ties have been inducted. The Chapter has been actively involved in the Play-It-Smart Program for the past four years at two inner city high schools and will be bringing the program to two more schools over the next two years. Play-It-Smart capitalizes on the power of the football experience to enhance the personal and academic development of young athletes. The program introduces the participants to the value of community service, boasts a 95 per cent graduation rate and sends 87 per cent of the seniors on to higher education. Beginning in 2001, the Chapter has joined with the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Football Coaches Association and the Arizona Youth Football Federation (Pop Warner) in sponsoring five NFL-NFF Coaching Academies for high school and youth coaches. TOPS Physicals is a program in which the Chapter is involved in conjunction with the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association and a group of local doctors who provide free annual physical examinations at no charge to more than 1,900 high school boys and girls in all sports. The physicals are performed in a single day and include EKGs that help identify potentially serious medical problems if not treated at an early stage. The Chapter in partnership with the Arizona Football Coaches Association has undertaken a pilot program that involves compiling a packet of information on 250 of the better Arizona players who will be Seniors in the 2004-2005 academic year and who hope to continue playing football at some level when they enroll in college. This service especially benefits those players who may be overlooked by Division I-A recruiters, but who would be excellent prospects for Division I-AA, II, III and NAIA colleges. A two-page questionnaire was prepared and circulated to coaches throughout the State. The player provides personal data, while the coach is asked to give his assessment as to the level each player will most likely be successful in college. Because our mission is to promote amateur football at all levels, the Chapter has assisted the Arizona Youth Football Federation, the largest Pop Warner organization in the country with 9-10,000 participants, in raising more than $20,000 to help cover operational expenses, purchase needed equipment and underwrite their mandatory coaches clinic. The Chapter holds an annual luncheon to honor the coaches of the State high school football champions, maintains its own website, publishes a quarterly Chapter newsletter and has a 20-minute segment on a weekly radio sports talk show. Lew Shaw, Executive Director 14211 N. 57th Way Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: (602) 996-7678 Email: Footballhoff@cox.net Website: www.azfootballhoff.org Why these Hall of Famers believe in the National Football Foundation
If you love football... You should be a member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame |