To honor the distinguished group of college football players who stand
out for the positive influence they have in their communities, Allstate
Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
announced the 112 student-athletes nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works
Team®. It is the most ever in the 19-year history of the award.
In the areas of giving back and volunteerism, the Allstate AFCA Good
Works Team® represents the “best of the best” among more than 50,000
student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year institutions. The total eclipses the 106 nominees
achieved last season, demonstrating the continued growth of a platform that is
widely recognized as the most prestigious community service award in college
football.
While glory and praise may be traditionally reserved for the most athletically
skilled college football players on the field, it is the student-athletes
committed to serving others who make the most important impact off the field. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
exists to tell their stories and acknowledge their impact beyond the game.
“In the
third year of our partnership with the AFCA, Allstate, our employees and our
agents continue to be inspired by the stories of class and character displayed
by these young men,” said Guy Hill, vice president of sales and service for
Allstate, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
voting panel. “We applaud the
commitment of these 112 student-athletes to positively impact their communities
with innovation, creativity and passion that reflects so well on their sport,
and their respective institutions.”
This year’s class of nominations includes student-athletes with a wide
range of accomplishments, including developing programs to support Haitian
relief efforts, working with rural and minority students to help them reach
their goal of attending medical school, and organizing a campus fundraiser to
incentivize students to shave their heads to raise money for pediatric cancer
research.
From the nominees submitted by sports information directors on behalf of
their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team®
members and prominent college football media members is responsible for selecting
two 11-player Good Works Teams® – one comprising of players from the
NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA
Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA – to be
announced in September. College
Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz is returning for a third
year to serve as spokesperson for the program and raise awareness for the
stories of the nominees and team members.
“For the third straight year, the AFCA is pleased to partner with
Allstate in highlighting football student-athletes who have achieved outstanding
success, both on and off the football,” said Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive
Director. “From the record total of nominees that were submitted from colleges
and universities around the country, it is apparent that collegiate football is
producing some of the best and brightest that our country has to offer.”
ESPN.com will launch a customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® web site
featuring profiles and images of the final 22 award recipients, as well as
unique and interactive content for college football fans. For the first time in the program’s
history, fans will be able to vote for a Team Captain on ESPN.com.
The 2010
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good
Works Team® members Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams),
Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team), Mewelde Moore (Tulane, 2003 team), Brian
Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); media
members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Pat Forde (ESPN.com), Tom O’Toole (USA Today), Gary Shelton (St. Petersburg Times), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President
and Mount Union College Head Coach Larry Kehres; 1996 AFCA President Fisher DeBerry,
former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy; and Allstate Vice
President, Guy Hill.
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named
to the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®: