83rd annual convention of the AFCA. JANUARY 8-11, 2006 * WYNDHAM ANATOLE * DALLAS, TEXAS President's Message Welcome, fellow coaches, to the 2006 American Football Coaches Association Convention. As President of the AFCA, I am very excited and honored to preside over this prestigious event. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I attended my first convention over 20 years ago and still remember feeling rather overwhelmed to see so many coaches from all different levels. Any first-time attendee will have similar feelings since attendance has at least doubled since then. I can also say that in no way, shape, or form, did I ever imagine that some day I would be elected to serve on the AFCA Board of Trustees and actually reach the position of President. Time has flown since the 2004 President, Ken Hatfield of Rice U., handed me the gavel at last year's convention in Louisville, KY. It has been an interesting and fun year. And I have to admit that I am sorry to see my term come to an end. Executive Director Grant Teaff and the AFCA staff have been fantastic. It is easy to see why this Association has become so strong as the voice of the coaching profession. Over the past year, the question I have been asked the most is, "How did a Division III coach become President of the AFCA?" I usually reply with some type of humorous quip. But when really pressed, I respond by saying that a number of years ago I made a decision to get involved and make my membership to the AFCA a truly active one. It is easy to take an event like our convention for granted, butwhen I began serving on various committees, I saw how much went onbehind the scenes and how much work it took to make the convention oneof the best. I also knew that as a Division III coach, we are oftenlooked upon as the runt of the litter and if there was a way to"outgrow" that perception, I wanted to make it happen. I have often joked that I am probably the least known President to ever serve the AFCA and I am not sure that will ever change. I do know, however, that from my first job as a junior high school head coach to my current position at Moravian College, I have been proud to be a part of this profession. I still remember the phone call from Coach Teaff back in late 1998. He had told me that I was a nominee for a vacancy on the AFCA Board of Trustees and wanted to know if I would serve if elected. I was a little uncertain about the validity of the call because it had never crossed my mind that I would ever have such an opportunity. After a few seconds of silence, I told Coach Teaff that I would be honored if chosen. Needless to say, my excitement grew upon learning at the 1999 convention that I was elected to serve on the Board. So here it is, some six years later, and following this convention I will assume the title of "Past President." I can honestly say that though my term ends, my efforts with this Association will not. There is so much we can do to make our game better and to make our profession stronger. I want to be a part of that. Though the spotlight will long remain on Division I, I am glad to see that Division III football is slowly coming out of the shadows. We all have different issues that confront us every year, but the one constant is that we all coach the same game. I am proud to have carried the title of AFCA President, but I have been equally proud ever since I took on the title of "Coach." Again, welcome to Dallas. Come and share time with your fellow coaches from all over the country. Who knows, maybe you, too, will decide to get involved, serve on one of our many committees, and then ... well, maybe one day you will be writing this letter to your AFCA brethren. Scot Dapp, Moravian College 2005 AFCA President 2005 AFCA Officers and Trustees [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AFCA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Scot Dapp, Moravian College District 2, Division III FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Missouri State University District 5, Division II SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Ken Sparks, Carson-Newman College District 2, Division II THIRD VICE PRESIDENT Tyrone Willingham, University of Washington At-Large, Division I-A AFCA TRUSTEES * Dick Tomey, San Jose State University, At-Large, Division I-A * Larry Kehres, Mount Union College, District 4, Division III * Rob Ash, Drake University, District 5, Division I-AA * Chuck Amato, North Carolina State University, District 3, Division I-A * Lloyd Carr, University of Michigan, District 5, Division I-A * Bill Snyder, Kansas State University, District 6, Division I-A * Mike Bellotti, University of Oregon, District 9, Division I-A * Tim Murphy, Harvard University District 1, Division I-AA * Joe Glenn, University of Wyoming, District 8, Division I-A * Joe Novak, Northern Illinois University, District 7, Division I-A * Tommy Tuberville, Auburn University, District 4, Division I-A * Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia University, District 2, Division I-A * Rob Ianello, University of Notre Dame, Chairman, Assistant Coaches Committee (ex officio) 2005 AFCA TRAILBLAZER AWARD WINNER Cleve Abbott, former Tuskegee University head football coach and athletic director, has been named the winner of the AFCA's 2005 Trailblazer Award, which will be presented posthumously, January 9, at the AFCA Kickoff Luncheon during the 2006 AFCA Convention in Dallas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Trailblazer Award was created by the AFCA to honor a historically significant minority coach who has had a profound impact on his institution, the coaching profession, student-athletes, and the game of football. For a five-year period, the Trailblazer Award will be presented to an individual who coached in a certain decade. Abbott coached from 1930 to 1939. The current five-year cycle will end in 2009 with the winner coming from the 1960-1969 decade. In 2010, the cycle will start over with the 1920- 1929 decade. "The Tuskegee University family is elated over Cleveland Leigh Abbott's selection as the 2005 AFCA Trailblazer Award winner," said Tuskegee University president Benjamin F. Payton. "Coach Abbott's work with students at Tuskegee met the demand for both academic and athletic excellence that led the Tuskegee Tigers through six undefeated seasons, six national championships, and 12 conference titles. The University has long recognized Coach Abbott's achievements and we are glad that the AFCA will now have the privilege of honoring him." Abbott was hired as the Director of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics and head football coach at Tuskegee in 1923, and continued those duties until the time of his death in 1955. He led the Golden Tiger football team to an overall record of 202-95-27 during his 32 years, including six Black College national championships and 12 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. Abbott also led Tuskegee to six undefeated seasons and rolled off 46 games without a loss between the years 1923-28. For the decade of 1930-39, Abbott led Tuskegee to a 66-34-7 record with five Southern IAC championships and one Black College national title in 1930. Abbott joined the AFCA in 1939 and remained a faithful member until his death. In addition, Abbott coached basketball, tennis, and women's track and field during his tenure. He led those teams, including football, to a staggering 61 conference or national titles. As head coach of the women's track and field team from 1936 to 1955, his Golden Tigers won 14 national outdoor titles, including eight in a row, and won 49 indoor and outdoor individual titles. Six of his athletes made the U.S. Olympic team, including two gold medalists. Abbott made many far-reaching contributions to the growth and development of athletics at Tuskegee U. and the SIAC, including the annual Tuskegee Relays and the SIAC Basketball tournament. Abbott was inducted into the South Dakota State Hall of Fame in 1968, the Tuskegee Hall of Fame in 1975, the SIAC Hall of Fame in 1992, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1996. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to athletics at Tuskegee, university officials in 1996 renamed the football stadium, Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium. 2005 POWER OF INFLUENCE AWARD Brainerd (MN) High School Head Coach Ron Stolski has been named the winner of the 2005 Power of Influence Award. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Minnesota H.S. Football Coaches Association nominated Stolski for the award. "It's really humbling when you think of all the candidates across the country," he said. "It's something I share with my parents (who are deceased), my family, everyone I've ever coached with, all the kids that ever played for me, and with my mentors in coaching who inspired me to try to give back to the game in every way I could." The award, which is presented jointly by the AFCA and the American Football Coaches Foundation[R], will be presented to Stolski at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner at the 2006 AFCA Convention in Dallas, on January 10. He will also receive a $1,000 stipend from the AFCF. The Power of Influence Award was created as a way for the AFCA and AFCF to honor a deserving high school football coach for his effect on his players, school and community.