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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Bowl donation helps Atlanta schools 'play it smart'
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By Leilana McKindra
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
The Chick-fil-A Bowl will provide $180,000 annually to implement and maintain the National Football Foundation’s Play It Smart program in each of Atlanta’s public high schools.
The donation is the first to cover an entire city.
The Play it Smart program places an “academic coach” in a high school specifically for football student-athletes. The academic coach provides a blend of traditional academic advising with counseling and mentoring for at-risk students. Research shows program participants are 10 percent more likely to graduate from high school than non-participant peers, and they are more likely to take college preparatory tests and enroll in college.
“This is an incredible program that matches perfectly with our commitment to be a positive impact in our community, and we hope that other bowls will follow our lead in their own cities,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president. “Play It Smart is significant. And for us, it’s just the right thing to do for the student-athletes in Atlanta. Our mission is to support football at all levels, and we can think of no better initiative than this one to deliver on that promise.”
The program began in 1998 and is sponsored by the National Football Foundation in 140 schools in 85 cities. Play It Smart has financial support from the National Football League and its players association, as well as from other corporations and organizations.
Austin Peay State University, the University of Tennessee at Martin, Tennessee State University and Tennessee Technological University will begin competing annually for the Sergeant York Trophy, which will be awarded to the institution with the best head-to-head record in match-ups against the other Tennessee schools.
Award namesake Alvin C. York was a decorated World War I soldier and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who returned to his native Tennessee after the war and dedicated his life to improving education for children in the state. He also established the Alvin C. York Institute in 1927, which remains in operation today.
The York Trophy is the second traveling trophy involving more than two teams. The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Military and the U.S. Naval Academies have been vying for the Commander in Chief’s Trophy since 1972.
Ohio Valley Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher came up with the idea. A history buff who was familiar with York’s connection to education and to the state of Tennessee, Steinbrecher also suggested the war hero as the honor’s namesake after discussions with league members, the Nashville Sports Council and York’s family.
“Alvin York is a hero, not only for his distinguished service in the military in World War I, but also for the passion and energy he brought to facilitating educational opportunities and championing the cause of education. He is a tremendous role model for our student-athletes,” Steinbrecher said.
Gallaudet University requested interpreters so faculty athletics representative Andrew Brinks and former director of athletics James Stefano, both of whom are deaf, could participate in the May 13-18 seminar in Denver. The NCAA arranged with independent contractors to interpret for every Division III session and the reception.
“The NCAA was fabulous in meeting our needs,” Stefano said. “The interpreters were fantastic.”
Wendy Walters, NCAA director of membership services, said in the future participants will be able to request the service during registration.
The donation is the first to cover an entire city.
The Play it Smart program places an “academic coach” in a high school specifically for football student-athletes. The academic coach provides a blend of traditional academic advising with counseling and mentoring for at-risk students. Research shows program participants are 10 percent more likely to graduate from high school than non-participant peers, and they are more likely to take college preparatory tests and enroll in college.
“This is an incredible program that matches perfectly with our commitment to be a positive impact in our community, and we hope that other bowls will follow our lead in their own cities,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president. “Play It Smart is significant. And for us, it’s just the right thing to do for the student-athletes in Atlanta. Our mission is to support football at all levels, and we can think of no better initiative than this one to deliver on that promise.”
The program began in 1998 and is sponsored by the National Football Foundation in 140 schools in 85 cities. Play It Smart has financial support from the National Football League and its players association, as well as from other corporations and organizations.
OVC traveling trophy adds to grid rivalries
Conference and intrastate rivalries are traditionally heated affairs. More than pride and bragging rights will be on the line for the four Tennessee-based members of the Ohio Valley Conference this year after the league and the Nashville Sports Council announced the creation of a traveling trophy to recognize the winner of the quadrangular season football series.Austin Peay State University, the University of Tennessee at Martin, Tennessee State University and Tennessee Technological University will begin competing annually for the Sergeant York Trophy, which will be awarded to the institution with the best head-to-head record in match-ups against the other Tennessee schools.
Award namesake Alvin C. York was a decorated World War I soldier and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who returned to his native Tennessee after the war and dedicated his life to improving education for children in the state. He also established the Alvin C. York Institute in 1927, which remains in operation today.
The York Trophy is the second traveling trophy involving more than two teams. The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Military and the U.S. Naval Academies have been vying for the Commander in Chief’s Trophy since 1972.
Ohio Valley Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher came up with the idea. A history buff who was familiar with York’s connection to education and to the state of Tennessee, Steinbrecher also suggested the war hero as the honor’s namesake after discussions with league members, the Nashville Sports Council and York’s family.
“Alvin York is a hero, not only for his distinguished service in the military in World War I, but also for the passion and energy he brought to facilitating educational opportunities and championing the cause of education. He is a tremendous role model for our student-athletes,” Steinbrecher said.
Service at seminars signals sign of times
In a reminder of just how diverse the NCAA membership has grown, the most recent Regional Rules Seminars featured a new service to participants: sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired.Gallaudet University requested interpreters so faculty athletics representative Andrew Brinks and former director of athletics James Stefano, both of whom are deaf, could participate in the May 13-18 seminar in Denver. The NCAA arranged with independent contractors to interpret for every Division III session and the reception.
“The NCAA was fabulous in meeting our needs,” Stefano said. “The interpreters were fantastic.”
Wendy Walters, NCAA director of membership services, said in the future participants will be able to request the service during registration.
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