The Conference USA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee collected 15 tons of food for its “Let’s SAAC Hunger” program, a conference-wide community service initiative that conducted food drives for one week at each campus last semester.

The total collected, more than 15 tons, equates to more than 25,000 meals. Tulsa collected the most of any league school, gathering 8,381.52 pounds of food for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Rice and Memphis came in second and third place, respectively. Each school selected a local agency to receive its donations.

Several schools promoted their campaign creatively, including UTEP, where fans were allowed free admission to several events with a donation. The SAAC created a slogan, “Bring Rice Down” when the football team played Rice, asking fans to bring canned foods and rice.

Tulsa men’s track and field student-athlete Tom Stoltz and Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham will receive the 2008 Conference USA SAAC Cup this spring.