Allstate, American Football Coaches Association Announce Record 132 Nominees for Prestigious College Football Community Service Award
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® celebrates 20th year honoring student-athletes for their commitment to serving others
NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced a record 132 nominees for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The award recognizes the selfless contributions to volunteerism and community service made by college football student-athletes across the nation.
This year marks the program's 20th year honoring college football players at all levels of competition who stand out for their "good works" in the community. Since 1992, selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has become the gold standard for off-the-field character and leadership for college football players. The honor is widely considered the sport's pre-eminent community service award.
"This program has grown dramatically throughout the years due to the volunteerism and commitment of these great student-athletes to their communities," said Mark LaNeve, Allstate Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales Operations, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "To be associated with an award that reflects so positively on college football is an inspiration for Allstate, our employees and our agents, especially as the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® celebrates its 20th year."
While it is often college football players' on-field exploits that receive the most attention from fans and media, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® award shines a spotlight on student-athletes' efforts away from the playing field by sharing their stories of serving others.
From creating mentorship programs at local schools, to traveling on mission trips around the world, to donating bone marrow to a cancer patient, this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees boast some of the most impressive community service resumes in the program's history.
"The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most important awards in college football because it highlights some of the best and brightest student-athletes in the country," said Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director. "With this being the 20th year of this outstanding award, it's great to see a record number of nominees sent in from some of the leading football programs in the nation. The AFCA is proud to share in this anniversary year with our partners at Allstate."
From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select 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. The 22 student-athletes named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be announced in late September.
After a successful first-year partnership with ESPN.com, Allstate and the AFCA will re-launch its customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website featuring profiles and images of the final team members, as well as an opportunity for fans to vote for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.
The 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Alex Van Pelt (Pittsburgh, 1992 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Grant Irons (Notre Dame, 1999 team), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Rece Davis (ESPN), Tom O'Toole (USA Today), Gary Shelton (St. Petersburg Times), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Montana State University Head Coach Rob Ash; 1987 AFCA President LaVell Edwards, former head coach at Brigham Young University; and Allstate Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales Operations, Mark LaNeve.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing.
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
Football Bowl Subdivision |
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Air Force Academy – A.J. Wallerstein |
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Arizona State University – Aaron Pflugrad |
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Auburn University – T'Sharvan Bell |
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Baylor University – Robert Griffin |
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Boise State University – Chris Potter |
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Bowling Green State University – Ronnie Goble |
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Central Michigan University – Cody Wilson |
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Clemson University – Dwayne Allen |
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Colorado State University – Ivory Herd |
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Georgia Institute of Technology – Roddy Jones |
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Indiana University – Leon Beckum |
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Iowa State University – Jake Knott |
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Kansas State University – Tysyn Hartman |
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Middle Tennessee State University – Alan Gendreau |
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North Carolina State University – Asa Watson |
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Northwestern University – Alexander Netter |
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Oklahoma State University – Brandon Weeden |
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Oregon State University – Johnny Hekker |
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Purdue University – Rob Henry |
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Rice University – Kyle Martens |
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Rutgers University – Scott Vallone |
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Southern Methodist University – Kelvin Beachum |
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Syracuse University – Adam Harris |
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Temple University – Wayne Tribue |
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Texas A&M University – Ryan Tannehill |
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Texas Christian University – Jeff Olson |
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University of Arizona – Nick Foles |
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University of Central Florida – Ronnie Weaver |
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University of Cincinnati – J.K. Schaffer |
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University of Colorado – Brian Lockridge |
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University of Florida – Jeff Demps |
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University of Georgia – Aron White |
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University of Iowa – Eric Guthrie |
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University of Kentucky – Jacob Lewellen |
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University of Louisville – Greg Scruggs |
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University of Memphis – Michael Antonescu |
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University of Michigan – Patrick Omameh |
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University of Minnesota – Donald Wilhite |
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University of Mississippi – Jason Jones |
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University of Missouri – Michael Egnew |
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University of Nebraska – Jared Crick |
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University of Nevada - Las Vegas – Nate Carter |
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University of North Carolina – Matt Merletti |
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University of Notre Dame – Dayne Crist |
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University of Pittsburgh – Andrew Taglianetti |
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University of South Carolina – Kenny Miles |
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University of South Florida – Chaz Hine |
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University of Southern California - Matt Barkley |
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University of Texas – Emmanuel Acho |
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University of Toledo – Eric Page |
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University of Utah – Tony Bergstrom |
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University of Virginia – Chase Minnifield |
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Utah State University – Eric Moats |
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West Virginia University – Keith Tandy |
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Western Kentucky University – Jack Doyle |
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Western Michigan University – John Potter |
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Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA) |
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Angelo State University – Alvin Johnson |
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Campbell University – Branden Burt |
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Campbellsville University – William Warf |
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Capital University – Troy Spiker |
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Carroll College (Mont.) – Nick Petrusha |
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Carson-Newman College – Byron Bell |
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Central College (Iowa) – Cory Nikkel |
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Central Methodist University – Jacob Heppner |
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Charleston Southern University – Chris Kuzdale |
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Dakota Wesleyan University – Anthony Muilenburg |
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Drake University – Stoy Hall |
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Duquesne University – Zach Richert |
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Elmhurst College – Chris Kirkpatrick |
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Elon University – Dale Riley |
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Ferris State University – Tom Schneider |
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Florida A&M University – Padric Scott |
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Frostburg State University – Josh Volpe |
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Georgia Southern University – Andrew Boyd Sasser |
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Grinnell College – Mike Bogard |
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Heidelberg University – Derrick Arbogast |
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Henderson State University – Nick Johnson |
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Hobart College – Jarrid Blades |
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Illinois State University – Matt Lancaster |
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Indiana State University – Alex Sewall |
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Johns Hopkins University – Doug Drummond |
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Macalester College – David Melms |
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McNeese State University – Ben Bourgeois |
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Millsaps College – Garrett Pinciotti |
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Missouri Southern State University – Kellen Cox |
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Montana State University – Rick Haluszka |
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Morningside College – Colby Rohde |
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North Dakota State University – Coulter Boyer |
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North Park University – Casey Smagala |
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Northern Arizona University – Matt Myers |
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Northwest Missouri State University – Jake Soy |
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Northwestern College (Iowa) – Chris Butler |
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Northwestern State University (La.) – Yaser Elqutub |
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Old Dominion University – Ronnie Cameron |
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Samford University – Jeremy Towns |
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Shenandoah University – Kyle Feldman |
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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology – Andy Smith |
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South Dakota State University – Jake Steffen |
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Southern Illinois University – Mike McElroy |
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St. Cloud State University – Matt Theis |
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St. John's University (Minn.) – Andrew Rotschafer |
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St. Olaf College – Leon Clark |
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St. Xavier University – Michael Prosser |
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SUNY Maritime College – Ricky McClain |
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Tarleton State University – Levi Kirkland |
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Thiel College – Tim Taylor |
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Thomas More College – Jay Volker |
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Towson University – Marcus Valentine |
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Trinity University (Texas) – Markham Stayton |
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Tusculum College – Bo Cordell |
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Union College – Jonathan Stidd |
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University of California - Davis – Bobby Erskine |
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University of Dubuque – Michael Zweifel |
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University of Montana – Alex Shaw |
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University of New Hampshire – Chris Zarkoskie |
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University of North Dakota – Justin Belotti |
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University of Northern Iowa – Ben Boothby |
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University of Redlands – Tyler Aubrey |
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University of Rhode Island – Matt Greenhalgh |
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University of San Diego – Al-Rilwan Adeyemi |
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University of Sioux Falls – Braden Wieking |
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University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Fritz Waldvogel |
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University of Tennessee - Chattanooga – B.J. Coleman |
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University of the Incarnate Word – Jacob Love |
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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Kris Rosholt |
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Wartburg College – Logan Hansen |
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Washington University in St. Louis – Kyle Larkin |
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Wayne State College (Neb.) – Joe Bundy |
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Wayne State University (Mich.) – Josh Renel |
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Wheaton College – Jordan Chapman |
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Williams College – William Hamrick |
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Winona State University – Alex Kautza |
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About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams® were established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate partnered to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
Since 1992, the Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 52 selections to the Good Works Teams®, followed by the Big 12 with 38 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 29 selections. In 2009, St. Thomas defensive back Jeffrey Hilliard became the 12th Tommie, and Georgia defensive lineman Jeff Owens became the 12th Bulldog to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, tying both schools for the most selections of all time. Super Bowl XLII and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams®, respectively.
About AFCA
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."
SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company
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