NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision coaches Kevin Sumlin (Houston), Randy Shannon [Miami (Florida)], Mario Cristobal (Florida International) and Tyrone Willingham (Washington) will appear in public service announcements promoting heart health during the 2008 season.

The 30- and 60-second video announcements will air on stadium scoreboard screens and on university Web sites across the country.

The coaches are appearing as part of the “Close the Gap” campaign, an educational initiative sponsored by the Black Coaches and Administrators and Boston Scientific Corporation. It is designed to increase heart-health awareness among various constituents, including sports fans.

As part of an ongoing effort to educate people about the risk factors associated with heart disease, coaches are volunteering to participate in this campaign that encourages individuals to become more aware of heart-health issues.

The announcements will be augmented by heart-health information booths at a series of college football games. A similar campaign took place during the 2007-08 college basketball season.

Heart-health information booths will appear at the following sites this season:

• Houston vs. Southern, August 30
• Washington vs. Brigham Young, September 6
• Florida International vs. Middle Tennessee, October 11
• Miami (Florida) vs. Wake Forest, October 25
• UCF vs. East Carolina, November 2