On The Sidelines

Monday's Chalktalk

News and Notes

From Around College Football

for December 7, 2009

NFF News

2009 NFF Annual Awards Dinner Edition

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Annual Awards Dinner, which will take place tomorrow at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, promises to be one of the most memorable in history. The 2009 banquet marks the 52nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner, and the event has become the one night of the year that brings together all entities of college football, even bitter rivals, to celebrate the game.

The night will feature several well-known football glitterati. ESPN's Chris Fowler will emcee the event. NFF Board Member and TV personality Jack Ford will present Nike Co-Founder & Chairman Phil Knight with the Gold Medal while Billy Payne, the Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and a 1968 NFF National Scholar- Athlete, will accept the NFF Distinguished American Award. NFF Board Member and Dallas Cowboy Owner Jerry Jones will introduce the more than 50 head coaches slated to attend.

Syracuse All-American Tim Green, who is one of only 22 people to both earn induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and claim an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award, returns to present the 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Two-time Heisman winner and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Archie Griffin will present the Hall of Fame plaques while Penn State inductee Curt Warner will deliver the response for the Hall of Fame class. Hall of Fame Coach Vince Dooley, who coached at Georgia from 1964-1988, will conduct the Hall of Fame Ring Ceremony.

Celebrated sports writer and NFF Historian Dan Jenkins will accept the NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award for his contributions to the game while Virginia Tech's Jim Weaver will take home the John L. Toner Award for his superior administrative abilities as an athletics administrator. Tim Millis, the recipient of the Outstanding Football Official Award, and Larry Zimmer, the recipient of the Chris Schenkel Award for excellence in broadcasting, round out the 2009 NFF Major Awards honorees.

The NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Sprinturf, which will honor the five high school scholar- athletes and the winners of the 2009 chapter leadership awards, will be emceed by esteemed coach Dick Vermeil with Sprinturf CEO Stanley Green and ACC Associate Commissioner Amy Yakola assisting with the presentation of the awards. Columbia Athletics Director Dianne Murphy will welcome the honorees to the New York City during the NFF Gridiron Club of NYC Morning Social, which will be followed by a press conference conducted by longtime Texas sports information legend Bill Little. Sponsors involved with the day's events include HealthSouth, Sprinturf, Liberty Mutual, Schutt Sports, the NASDAQ OMX, XOS Digital, Collegiate Images, and the New England Patriots.

The 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Class stands among the greatest of all-time, encompassing two Heisman Trophy winners; seven unanimous First Team All-Americas; five consensus First Team All- Americas; one Maxwell Award winner; two Walter Camp Players of the Year; two Lombardi Award winners; one Davey O'Brien Award winner; seven multiple-year First Team All- America honorees; four members of National Championship teams; five Academic All-Americans, and two NFF National Scholar-Athletes.

The class includes Pervis Atkins (New Mexico State), Tim Brown (Notre Dame), Chuck Cecil (Arizona), Ed Dyas (Auburn), Major Harris (West Virginia), Gordon Hudson (Brigham Young), William Lewis (Harvard), Woodrow Lowe (Alabama), Ken Margerum (Stanford), Steve McMichael (Texas), Chris Spielman (Ohio State), Larry Station (Iowa), Pat Swilling (Georgia Tech), Gino Torretta (Miami, Fla.), Curt Warner (Penn State), Grant Wistrom (Nebraska) ; and coaches Dick MacPherson and John Robinson.

NFF Board Member Robert Kraft is sponsoring "A Night on the Town" for the 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, including a trip to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular show and dinner at Mickey Mantle's on Central Park. The 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, who comprise the class, boast a composite 3.77 grade point average. With each finalist serving as his team's captain, the class includes one Heisman Trophy winner, six All-Americans, 14 All-Conference picks, 14 Academic All-Conference honorees, and eight ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American selections.

Members of the 2009 class of NFF National Scholar- Athletes include Jon Asamoah (Illinois); Matt Bauman (Brigham Young); Eric Decker (Minnesota); Moses Harris (Fresno State); Tim Hiller (Western Michigan); Paul Jasinowski (Brown); Beau Kildow (Morningside, Iowa); Josh Mahoney (Northern Iowa); Colt McCoy (Texas); Jarrell NeSmith (Tusculum, Tenn.); Joe Pawelek (Baylor); Todd Reesing (Kansas); ZaVious Robbins (Hardin- Simmons, Texas); Tim Tebow (Florida); Blaine Westemeyer (Augustana, Ill.) ; and Reed Williams (West Virginia). Each receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship with the Campbell Trophy honoree claiming a grand total of $25,000.

2009 Press Conference Information

Tomorrow, Dec. 8, the press conference for the 2009 NFF Annual Awards Dinner will take place in the Empire Room at the Waldorf=Astoria from 9:30-11:30 a.m. ET. The 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Class, 2009 Scholar-Athlete Class and major award winners will be on-hand for the event. NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell as well as NFF Chairman Archie Manning will make remarks as well.

WHO:

* The 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Class for the Football Bowl Subdivision (See list below)

* The 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, including Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy (See full list below)

* Billy Payne, 2009 NFF Distinguished American Award recipient & Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club

* Archie Manning, NFF Chairman

* Steve Hatchell, NFF President & CEO

WHAT:

Press conference with access to the honorees.

WHERE:

The Empire Room at the Waldorf-Astoria, 301 Park Ave., New York, NY, 10022

WHEN:

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST

NFF Information

SAVE THE DATE: The 2009 NFF Annual Awards Dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, at New York City's Waldorf=Astoria. For more information, please contact NFF Director of National Events Will Rudd at 800-486-1865 or via email at wrudd@footballfoundation.com. Invitations to the dinner have been mailed.

Advertising in NFF publications will put your organization in front of key decision makers in football including coaches, players, former players, as well as NFL and college football administrators throughout the year. To inquire about the print advertising opportunities available to your organization, please contact Bret Krift with IMG College at 859-226- 4406 or bret.krift@imgworld.com.

Become a fan of the National Football Foundation on Facebook - Upload your game day photos, check out pictures of the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, and chat with other college football fans.

To become an NFF member, please contact NFF Director of Membership Ron Dilatush at 800- 486-1865 or via email at rdilatush@footballfoundation.com. Worldwide membership now is at 12,000-plus in 119 chapters. Visit www.footballfoundation.org/membership/index.php to join online.

For more information on the NFF and college football, including announcements from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and NCAA Football, please visit www.footballfoundation.com.

Sign up for "This Week in NCAA Football" at ncaafootball.com.

The FBS television schedule, including broadcast teams, will be posted every Thursday on the NFF website, www.footballfoun dation.com.

Look for the NFF's "This Week in College Football History" posted and released every Friday on our website at www.footballfoundation.com.

Two-Minute Drill

Business

Gary Patterson signed an extension that will keep him the head coach of TCU through 2016... Pittsburgh State (Kan.) coach Chuck Broyles retired effective immediately... South Carolina administrators have requested a one-year contract extension for College Football Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner coach Steve Spurrier... Houston is seeking to restructure and elongate the contract of successful coach Kevin Sumlin... Boston College and Under Armour have completed a new apparel agreement.

Community Service

A fund has been established in lieu of flowers for Eastern Illinois assistant coach Jeff Hoover who died tragically following a playoff game on Nov. 28. People looking to donate can send money to the EIU Football Office, attention Hoover/Cash Family Donations... College Football Hall of Fame coach Barry Switzer and Tommy Bowden will coach opposing flag football teams of U.S. soldiers in Iraq. The time and date of the game are being kept secret for security purposes.

Awards and Honors

NFF National Scholar-Athlete Colt McCoy (Texas) was the unanimous choice as AP Big 12 quarterback and offensive player of the year.

Miscellaneous

The SEC and XOS Digital streamed the SEC Championship live on SECsports.com... The Big Ten Network increased ratings across the board in 2009.

Obituaries

Foge Fazio, former Pittsburgh coach, died Dec. 2 at age 71.

Key NFF Dates for 2009

Tuesday, Dec. 8- Annual Awards Dinner Press Conference, Waldorf=Astoria, New York, N.Y.

Tuesday, Dec. 8 - 52nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner, Waldorf=Astoria, New York, N.Y.

Tuesday, Dec. 8- Announcement of the William V. Campbell Trophy Winner

Friday, January 9- Presentation of the MacArthur Trophy, Newport Beach, California

2010 BCS Schedule

Jan. 1- Rose Bowl presented by Citi, Pasadena, Calif., ABC

Jan. 1 - Allstate Sugar Bowl, FOX

Jan. 4 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, FOX

Jan. 5 - FedEx Orange Bowl, FOX

Jan. 7 - Citi BCS National Championship Game, Pasadena, Calif., ABC

2009-10 Bowl Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Sat., Dec. 19- 2:30 p.m. ESPN New Mexico, Fresno State vs. Wyoming, Albuquerque, N.M.

Sat., Dec. 19- 8 p.m. ESPN magicJack St. Petersburg, UCF vs. Rutgers, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sun., Dec. 20- 8 p.m. ESPN R+L Carriers New Orleans, Southern Miss vs. Middle Tennessee, New Orleans, La.

Tue., Dec. 22- 8 p.m. ESPN Maaco Bowl Las Vegas, Oregon State vs. Brigham Young, Las Vegas, Nev.

Wed., Dec. 23- 8 p.m. ESPN San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia, California vs. Utah, San Diego, Calif.

Thu., Dec. 24- 8 p.m. ESPN Sheraton Hawai'i, Nevada vs. SMU, Honolulu, Hawai'i

Sat,. Dec. 26- 1 p.m. ESPN Little Caesars Pizza, Marshall vs. Ohio, Detroit, Mich.

Sat,. Dec. 26- 4:30 p.m. ESPN Meineke Car Care, Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina, Charlotte, N.C.

Sat,. Dec. 26- 8 p.m. ESPN Emerald, Boston College vs. Southern California, San Francisco, Calif.

Sun., Dec. 27- 8:15 p.m. ESPN Gaylord Hotels Music City, Clemson vs. Kentucky, Nashville, Tenn.

Mon., Dec. 28- 5 p.m. ESPN Advocare V100 Independence, Georgia vs. Texas A&M, Shreveport, La.

Tue., Dec. 29- 4:30 p.m. ESPN Eagle Bank, Army or UCLA vs. Temple, Washington, D.C.

Tue., Dec. 29- 8 p.m. ESPN Champs Sports, Miami (Fla.) vs. Wisconsin, Orlando, Fla.

Wed., Dec. 30- 4:30 p.m. ESPN Roady's Humanitarian, Bowling Green vs. Idaho, Boise, Idaho

Wed., Dec. 30- 8 p.m. ESPN Pacific Life Holiday, Arizona vs. Nebraska, San Diego, Calif.

Thu., Dec. 31- Noon ESPN Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, Air Force vs. Houston, Fort Worth, Texas

Thu., Dec. 31- Noon CBS Brut Sun, Oklahoma vs. Stanford, El Paso, Texas

Thu., Dec. 31- 4:30 p.m. ESPN Texas, Missouri vs. Navy, Houston, Texas

Thu., Dec. 31- 6 p.m. NFL Insight, Iowa State vs. Minnesota, Tempe. Ariz.

Thu., Dec. 31- 7:30 p.m. ESPN Chick-fil-A, Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech, Atlanta, Ga.

Fri., Jan. 1- 11 a.m. ESPN Outback, Auburn vs. Northwestern, Tampa, Fla.

Fri., Jan. 1- 1 p.m. ABC Capital One, LSU vs. Penn State, Orlando, Fla.

Fri., Jan. 1- 1 p.m. CBS Konica Minolta Gator, Florida State vs. West Virginia, Jacksonville, Fla.

Fri., Jan. 1- 5 p.m. ABC Rose presented by Citi, Ohio State vs. Oregon, Pasadena, Calif.

Fri., Jan. 1- 8:30 p.m. FOX Allstate Sugar, Cincinnati vs. Florida, New Orleans, La.

Sat., Jan. 2- Noon ESPN2 International, Northern Illinois vs. USF, Toronto, Canada

Sat., Jan. 2- 2 p.m. FOX AT&T Cotton, Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss, Arlington, Texas

Sat., Jan. 2- 2 p.m. ESPN PapaJohn's.com, Connecticut vs. South Carolina, Birmingham, Ala.

Sat., Jan. 2- 5:30 p.m. ESPN AutoZone Liberty, Arkansas vs. East Carolina, Memphis, Tenn.

Sat., Jan. 2- 9 p.m. ESPN Valero Alamo, Michigan State vs. Texas Tech, San Antonio, Texas

Mon., Jan. 4- 8 p.m. FOX Tostitos Fiesta, Boise State vs. TCU, Glendale, Ariz.

Tue., Jan. 5- 8 p.m. FOX FedEx Orange, Iowa vs. Georgia Tech, Miami, Fla.

Wed., Jan. 6- 7 p.m. ESPN GMAC, Central Michigan vs. Troy, Mobile, Ala.

Thu., Jan. 7- 8 p.m. ABC BCS Championship Game presented by Citi, Alabama vs. Texas, Pasadena, Calif.

NCAA Championship Schedule

Dec. 12- NCAA Div. II National Championship Game- Florence, Ala. (ESPN)

Dec. 18- NCAA FCS National Championship Game- Chattanooga, Tenn. (ESPN)

Dec. 19- NCAA Div. III National Championship Game- Salem, Va. (ESPN)

NAIA Championship Schedule

Dec. 19- NAIA National Championship- Rome, Ga. (CBS College)

NCAA FCS Semifinal Playoffs - Fri.-Sat., Dec. 11- 12

Fri. - William & Mary (11-2) at Villanova (12-1); Sat. - Appalachian State (11-2) at Montana (13-0).

NCAA Division III Semifinals - Dec. 12

Wesley (13-0) at Mount Union (12-0); Linfield (13-0) at UW-Whitewater (13-0).

NCAA, NAIA Championship Schedule (All Times EST)

Dec. 12 - NCAA Div. II Championship Game, Grand Valley State (13-1) vs. Northwest Missouri State (13- 1), Florence, Ala., Tom Braly Stadium, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 18 - NCAA FCS Championship, Chattanooga, Tenn., ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 19 - NCAA Div. III Championship, Salem, Va., ESPN, 4 p.m.

Dec. 19 - NAIA Championship, Lindenwood (13-0) vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.) (14-0); Rome, Ga., CBS College Sports Network, Noon

This Week in College Football History:

Dec. 7 - Dec. 13

As part of an ongoing series throughout the fall, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame posts This Week in College Football History, which takes a look back at some of college football's landmark moments over the last 140 years. During the season, many of these events are featured in a changing exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

FEATURED MOMENT:

December 12, 1987 - Eastern Michigan beat San Jose State 30-27 in the California Bowl played in Fresno. The bowl game remains the Eagles' lone post-season appearance.

OTHER NOTABLE DATES:

December 7, 2003 - Following a 52-28 win over Oregon State, USC began a record streak of 33 consecutive weeks atop the Associated Press poll. The Trojans were ranked No. 1 for the conclusion of the 2003 season, the entire 2004 season and the entire 2005 regular season until falling to No. 2 Texas in the Rose Bowl, 41-38, on January 4, 2006. The 33 weeks holds the record by a wide margin, with the second-longest streak belonging to Miami, who held the top spot for 20 weeks from October 14, 2001 to October 28, 2002.

December 8, 2001 - No. 2 Tennessee fell to No. 21 LSU in the SEC title game, 31-20 in Atlanta. Tiger back-up quarterback Matt Mauck led six scoring drives following the loss of starter Rohan Davey near the end of the second quarter. The loss cost the Vols a shot at the national championship game against Miami in the Rose Bowl.

December 9, 1989 - No. 23 Hawaii and Air Force tied 35-35 in Honolulu after the Falcons converted three Warrior turnovers into touchdowns. Hawaii kicker Jason Elam missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired to break his streak of 20-straight successful attempts.

December 10, 1983 - No. 16 Air Force beat Ole Miss 9-3 in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport. The game serves as the earliest date on which an Independence Bowl has ever been played.

December 11, 1993 - North Alabama wins its first of three consecutive Division II crowns with a 41- 24 triumph over Indiana (Pa.).

December 13, 1997 - Charles Woodson became the third Michigan Wolverine and the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. Woodson also saw time at wide receiver and punt returner, and used a key punt return for a touchdown in a win over No. 4 Ohio State to seal the award. No defensive player has won the award since Woodson.

This Week in College Football History provided by, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.

Football is an extraordinarily exclusive sport. It not only is the sport with the greatest number of team participants, but it also has the largest number of specialized roles, 11 players on offense, another 11 players on defense, people playing on special teams who are involved in kickoffs, punts, field goals and extra point attempts. It is a complicated and strategic game. It is like a giant chess match with 11 different pieces on both offense and defense moving simultaneously in an effort to out smart their opponents.

If a team is to be successful, each player must perform his assignments with total commitment, while trusting that his teammates will do the same. If one player does not fulfill his job, the whole team suffers the consequences.

All team sports require teamwork and reliance on others. So what is so special about football? There is no other team sport in which a person can be an all-star without ever having touched the ball or scored a point? The fact is that much of the workings of a successful football team go on unobserved by most fans. The intricate blocking or defensive schemes employed by football teams often get lost in the excitement of a running back breaking into the open or a safety making an interception or a punt returner going 80 yards for a touchdown. On every successful play there are players executing their job getting no recognition other than a pat on the back by a teammate or a high five from a coach.

Just like football, "The St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame", is an extraordinarily exclusive group. We are made up of many individuals working relentlessly together promoting amateur football in the St. Louis area. We seek no recognition, our love of the game of football keeps us committed. If you too love football, honor its traditions, thrill to its spectacle, believe in its positive role in developing America's youth, we invite you to join with us.

Penalty Flags' Roots Grew In Youngstown More Than 60 Years Ago
     In the game of football, a penalty flag is thrown when a rules infraction occurs during a game. The creation of that penalty flag was in Youngstown, Ohio 60 years ago this season.
     It was created by former Youngstown State University coach, Dwight Dike Beede on Oct. 17, 1941. The flag was first used in a game against Oklahoma City University at the Youngstown’s Rayen Stadium. Today the penalty flag is used in every competitive football game throughout the world.
     Before the introduction of the penalty flag, the officials used horns and whistles to signal a penalty. This made it difficult for fans and the media to know that there was an infraction on the field because they could not hear the signal.
     Beede said, "I always disliked the fish horn signal, figured it was a nuisance, irritating to the ears."
     Jack McPhee, who was an official during the first game the penalty flag was used said, "Through the use of the signal flag, everyone in the stadium knows that something is wrong. It’s been a big help."
     Beede came up with idea of the flag and had his wife sew it together. His wife, Irma Beede, later became known as the ‘Betsy Ross of Football’ because she sewed the first flags together. He asked her to make a flag that had a bright color (red) with white stripes. The flags were put together using pieces of the Beede’s daughter’s old Halloween costume for the red part of the flag and an old sheet for the white part. She used some lead sinkers from Beede’s fishing tackle box to weigh it down. It was 16 inches square with the weight all at one end of the flag. The flag has been modified over the years and today it is yellow cloth that has sand in it to weigh it down.
     Beede came to an agreement with Oklahoma City Coach Os Doenges to use the flags as an experiment. Beede proceeded to ask the game officials to use the flag.
     "Do me a favor boys, instead of using the horns, try dropping these flags on violations. The fans never hear the horns. Besides its just an experiment."
     The four game officials Hugh McPhee, Jack McPhee, Bill Renner, and Carl Rebele all agreed to use the flag.
     Jack McPhee later used the flag at the Ohio State-Iowa game which happened to have the league’s commissioner, Major John Griffith, as a spectator at the game. He became very curious why the officials were throwing "rags" in the air when a penalty was called. Griffith was impressed with the idea after McPhee explained what was going on after the game.
     The flag was officially introduced at the 1948 American Football Coaches rules session.
     McPhee carried the original flag for many contests including games of Princeton-Yale and various Ohio State games until it faded. He made his way to the Rose Bowl, where the flag was tossed in front of 100,000 fans.
     Two of the original flags are on display in Mosure Hall on the fourth level in Stambaugh Stadium.

A history and tradition more than 100 years old.
The leather football helmet has its origin more than100 years ago first worn in an 1893 Army-Navy game. An Annapolis shoemaker created the first helmet for Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves, who had been advised by a Navy doctor that he would be risking death or "instant insanity" if he took another kick to the head. Later in 1896 Lafayette College halfback George Barclay so feared the fabled cauliflower ear on his "hearing organs", which he felt was a direct cause of playing bare-headed, that he had a playing hat made. His design was a special headgear which was held to his head by three heavy leather straps fashioned by a harness maker, thus giving the first football helmets the nomenclature "head-harness". The Golden Era - The helmet as we know it today has undergone many changes in its 100 years. Helmets were not mandatory until the 30's. Most of the 1890--1915 games were actually played without helmets. It was not unusual to see half of the early players with helmets and half without. Around World War I the helmets were so flimsy that they were often mistaken for aviator caps. Year by year more padding was added and from the 1920's thru 1940's, considered the Golden Age of college, pro and high school football helmets always were strictly of leather construction. Flying wing, colors and targets - Another interesting fact was that nearly all of the games in this era were played in unadorned helmets —school logos colors and mascots were rarely used. As the great rivalries grew colleges and high schools began to hand-paint their helmets. The idea was that the simple colors, in the first days of the forward pass, allowed receivers to finally be distinguishable to the quarterback when they were heavily covered and far down the field. Not until 1948 was the first logo, the Rams horns, painted on a pro leather helmet. Soon after, practically every college, pro and high school team put their logos and mascots on their helmets. But the great old leather helmet was spared much of this "clutter" as its days faded into history before 1950.