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The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) and the Ivy League announced that the organizations are partnering for the eighth consecutive year to co-host a press conference and reception, presented by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®, to bestow the Asa S. Bushnell Cup to the League's Football Players of the Year.

Part of the festivities surrounding the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City, the event will take place Monday, Dec. 4, at 12:30 p.m. ET in the Mercury Ballroom of the New York Hilton Midtown, the site of the NFF gala on Dec. 5. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses returns for a fourth consecutive year as the presenting sponsor of the event. The presentation will be carried live on The Ivy League Network (ILN) at IvyLeague.tv.
The NFF announced the names of the 35 finalists for the 2017 NFF Chapter Scholar-Athlete Awards, which will honor one young man from each of the country's five regions as the best and the brightest for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars and citizens at the high school level. The finalists all graduated from high school in 2017 and are now playing college football. A national committee will select the five honorees, who will be announced Oct. 4.

The five NFF Chapter Scholar-Athletes selected from the finalists will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the New York Hilton Midtown.

Pictured above are the 2016 NFF Chapter Scholar-Athletes, who were honored last December at the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour. Now in college, L-R: Phoenix College (Ariz.) WR Matthew Mitchell, Michigan OL Stephen Spanellis, Princeton LB John Orr, Princeton WR Andrew Griffin and Stanford TE Scooter Harrington.
2017 College Football Hall of Fame electee Coach Steve Spurrier was honored Sept. 16 withan NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during Florida's home game against Tennessee. The winningest head coach in Florida history, Spurrier led the Gators to a 122-27-1 record over 12 seasons and the 1996 national title. He becomes just the fourth person ever to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and coach. Click here to read more about Spurrier.
 
During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each inductee returns to his alma mater or school where they coached to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will remain on permanent display at the institution. Coach Spurrier will officially be inducted during the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on Tuesday, Dec. 5. He will also be honored with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute at Duke on Oct. 21.

The NFF would like to thank Fidelity Investments Dedicated Retirement Planner Wade Checketts and NFF Board Member and Orange Bowl Committee past president Bob Epling for taking part in the presentation. Pictured above, L-R, are Spurrier, Epling and Checketts. (Photo via @SusieCassensArt on Twitter.)
2017 College Football Hall of Fame electee Matt Leinart (Southern California) was honored Sept. 16 with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the Trojans' game against Texas. A two-time First Team All-American, Leinart earned consensus honors in 2004 when he claimed the Heisman Trophy, and he led USC to consecutive AP national titles. Click here to read more about Leinart.
 
During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each inductee returns to his alma mater or school where they coached to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will remain on permanent display at the institution. Leinart will officially be inducted during the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The NFF would like to thank Fidelity Investments Executive Vice President Roger Hobby; NFF Board Member and Pasadena Tournament of Roses past president Rick Jackson; NFF Board Member, USC athletics director and College Football Hall of Famer Lynn SwannNFF COO Matthew Signand members of Leinart's family for taking part in the presentation. Pictured above are Hobby, Sign, Leinart, Swann and Matt's father, Bob(Photo via @CFBONFOX on Twitter.)
2017 NFF Chris Schenkel Award recipient and Voice of the UTEP Miners Jon Teicher was honored Sept. 15 with an NFF On-Campus Salute during the Miners' game against Arizona. In May, the NFF named Teicher the 2017 recipient of the Schenkel Award, which has been presented annually since  1996 to individuals who have had long, distinguished careers broadcasting college football with direct ties to a specific university. Click here for more on Teicher.
 
The NFF On-Campus Salutes are a special tradition, providing the NFF honorees a coveted opportunity to be recognized on the field during a home game. Teicher will officially be honored during the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The NFF would like to thank NFF Director of External Relations Will Rudd for taking part in the presentation. Pictured above, L-R, are Rudd; Teicher; Teicher's wife, Pam; and Teicher's son, Ethan. (Photo by UTEP Athletics.) 

I'm A Football Player
As part of its "I'm A Football Player®" initiative, the NFF will produce a series of graphics to be distributed through social media and email campaigns this fall, highlighting former college football players that have experienced success off the field. From Fortune 500 CEOs, to lawyers and doctors, to coaches and teachers and all other walks of life, our goal is to showcase everyone who has benefited from the game of football, sharing their stories across the nation.

If you, or someone you know, would like to take part and share a football story, please email us at: FBMatters@FootballFoundation.com.
Alabama remained No. 1 with 37 first-place votes in the Week 3 FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll. Clemson, Oklahoma, Penn State and USC round out the top five in the poll, in which voters rank the top 16 FBS teams.
 
The results of the poll will be released every Sunday of the 2017 season and the individual votes of all members will also be made public. The final poll will be released Dec. 3. The pollsters consist of FWAA writers and College Football Hall of Famers.
The entrance to the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Tailgate Saturdays Built by The Home Depot:  Join the Hall every Saturday this season from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. for Tailgate Saturdays Built by The Home Depot. Watch the top matchups of the week on the Hall's 36-foot HD video board while you enjoy beverages and tailgate games on the field. Participate in the GameDay Desk contest for a chance to win prizes. Visit the Hall's Twitter page @cfbhall  each week and vote for the matchups you want to see on Saturday! There's no better way to spend your Saturday's this Fall than at the Hall.

September, Curing Kids Cancer Promotion: All month long, the Hall will donate $1 of every adult ticket sold to Curing Kids Cancer to help aid them in an effort to find cures for all childhood cancers in our lifetime.
 
About the College Football Hall of Fame: The College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience opened its doors Aug. 23, 2014, in the heart of Atlanta's sports, entertainment and tourism district. Adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park, the new Hall provides visitors with a highly immersive, interactive and engaging experience using a blend of historic college football artifacts and state-of-the-art, interactive multimedia exhibits. To plan your visit and purchase tickets, visit www.cfbhall.com.
The Blitz
Arkansas will wear Dallas Cowboys replica uniforms Saturday for the Southwest Classic against Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The alternative uniforms are being worn to honor NFF Board Member and Cowboys Owner, President & General Manager Jerry Jones for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month.

NFF Board Member and Tulco Founder, Chairman & CEO Thomas Tull will be one of the featured interviews during the SportsBusiness Daily / Journal's  2017 NeuLion Sports Media & Technology Conference Nov. 7-8 in Marina del Rey, Calif.

2017 College Football Hall of Fame electee and 1997 Campbell Trophy ® winner Peyton Manning will be delivering a speech on leadership Sept. 22 in Cox Auditorium on the University of Tennessee campus.

2017 College Football Hall of Fame electee Brian Urlacher (New Mexico) is among the 108 players and coaches announced as Modern-Era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Other nominees include College Football Hall of Famers Cornelius Bennett (Alabama), Ruben Brown (Pittsburgh), Tedy Bruschi (Arizona), Randall Cunningham (UNLV), Bill Fralic (Pittsburgh), Eddie George (Ohio State), Wilber Marshall (Florida), Sam Mills (Montclair State [N.J.]), Jay Novacek (Wyoming), Sterling Sharpe (South Carolina), Rod Smith (Missouri Southern State), Darryl Talley (West Virginia), Zach Thomas (Texas Tech) and Herschel Walker (Georgia); College Football Hall of Fame coaches Don CoryellJimmy Johnson and Clark Shaughnessy; College Football Hall of Famer and NFF National Scholar-Athlete Tony Boselli (Southern California); 2000 Campbell Trophy® winner Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska); and NFF National Scholar-Athlete Tiki Barber (Virginia). 

The Detroit Tigers and Third Man Records are teaming up for a special ticket package for the Tigers-Minnesota Twins game on Sept. 24. The package includes a ticket to the game and a limited-edition vinyl record. One side features a song while the other features an interview between Third Man Records founder and musician Jack White and 2017 College Football Hall of Fame electee Kirk Gibson (Michigan State), a member of the Tigers' 1984 World Series championship team.

2017 College Football Hall of Fame electee Bob McKay (Texas) had his No. 83 jersey retired by his secondary school, Crane High School, in Crane, Texas.

ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, the 2006 NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award recipient, is headed to New York City for the first time Saturday, Sept. 23, originating from Times Square.

NFF-partner VICIS' CEO  Dave Marver  discusses  the safety technology behind the company's ZERO1 helmet on CNBC.


Weekly TV Schedule:
Each week during the season, the NFF produces a comprehensive television schedule for all Division I (FBS and FCS) games complete with date, time, teams and on-air talent listings. Email news@footballfoundation.com to sign up for the weekly schedule.
Over The Middle

The  NFF Arkansas Chapter/Little Rock Touchdown Club 's  2017 speaker series continued today f ormer Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville. College Football Hall of Fame coach and current Wisconsin athletics director Barry Alvarez will speak on Sept. 25.

The Touchdown Club of Atlanta-NFF Chapter held an Awards Luncheon today in Atlanta. NFF Board Member and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey spoke at the event.

The NFF Tom Lombardo/St. Louis Chapter will kick off its 2017-18 luncheon series Sept. 20 at Lombardo's Restaurant (airport location). The guest speaker will be Missouri athletics director Jim Sterk.

The NFF Western Massachusetts Chapter will host the Annual College Press-Coach Luncheon on Sept. 20 at the  Student Prince restaurant in Springfield, Mass. Area college coaches will discuss their teams at the event.
Two-Minute Drill
Obituaries

Longtime Monday Night Football produce Don Ohlmeyer passed away Sept. 10. He was 72... Former Western Carolina wide receiver Jerry Gaines passed away Sept. 5. He was 65... Former LSU football player and assistant coach Mel Didier passed away Sept. 10. He was 91... Former Michigan State All-America center Dan Currie passed away Sept. 11. He was 82...  Former South Carolina great  Alex Hawkins passed away Sept. 12. He was 80... Miles (Ala.) assistant football coach Tony Oglesby passed away Sept. 12 at the age of 53. He played linebacker at West Alabama and previously coached at West Georgia and West Alabama... Former Purdue football player David Hoehnen passed away Sept. 12. He was 77... Former Cornell football player Charles Knight passed away. He was 81... Sports Radio host and former California football player Sean Adams passed away Sept. 14. He was 46... Wooster (Ohio) offensive lineman Clayton Geib passed away Sept. 17. He was 21...

More News of Interest

The College Football Playoff Foundation is celebrating the third-annual Extra Yard for Teachers Week Sept. 16-23. Over these two weekends of action, the college football community will honor teachers (grades K-12) on college campuses and in stadiums across the country...  Fordham announced a new, multi-year partnership with NFF-partner Under Armour... The FWAA announced the winners of its 25th Annual Best Writing Contest...
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NFF Key Dates
Sept. 27, 2017 - Announcement of the 2017 semifinalists for The William V. Campbell Trophy®, presented by Fidelity Investments - Via Press Release
 
Nov. 1, 2017  -  Announcement of the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy® finalists, who comprise the 2017 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments - Via Press Release

Dec. 3, 2017 - Release of the Final FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll for the 2017 season - Via Press Release
 
Dec. 4, 2017  - Ivy League's Asa S. Bushnell Cup Announcement, presented by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, at the New York Hilton Midtown - New  York City
 
Dec. 5, 2017  - NFF Annual Awards Press Conference at the New York Hilton Midtown - New York City
 
Dec. 5, 2017  - NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, at the New York Hilton Midtown - New York City
 
Dec. 5, 2017  - 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown - New York City, including the induction of the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame Class and the 28th presentation of The William V. Campbell Trophy®, presented by Fidelity Investments and prominently displayed at the New York Athletic Club.
 
Dec. 6, 2017 - Campbell Trophy® Luncheon at the New York Athletic Club - New York City
 
Jan. 1, 2018 The 13th Annual NFF National Hall of Fame Salute during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Atlanta, Ga.
 
Jan. 8, 2018 - Announcement of the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class during festivities prior to College Football Playoff National Championship - Atlanta, Ga.
 
Jan. 8, 2018 - College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta, Ga. 
NFF Information
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To inquire about the print advertising opportunities available, please contact Clerrinda Queen at 704-987-4089 or Clerrinda.Queen@img.com.
 
The NFF would like to thank NFF correspondent Bo Carter for his contributions to this report.
 
NFF Chalktalk items are welcome and should be sent to news@footballfoundation.com.
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