2018 FBU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK Championship Week in Naples, FL has a hometown feel with numerous Collier County athletes & coaches

Youth football’s biggest event is back and taking over Florida’s Paradise Coast for the fourth year in a row. The best that southwest Florida has to offer will be on display, both suited up and on the sidelines.

WHAT The Football University National Championship is a one of a kind national tournament celebrating and promoting youth football. It unites all-star athletes of all backgrounds from across the United States in a true national tournament. The only national football tournament of its kind, the annual FBU National Championship crowns a national champion from brackets in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th.

In addition, Championship Week in Naples will once again feature the Football University Freshman All-American Bowl, the premier underclassman All-American game showcasing the best 70 freshman football players. It wouldn’t be an All-American game without Florida athletes, and rosters are covered with players from Florida - including four from Collier County.

The 9U and 10U National Invitational championship tournaments are back for their second year. Both will feature the top six teams in the 9U and 10U age divisions, with the champion being crowned the official No. 1 team in the nation. Three Florida teams are participating in the 9U National Invitational, and three Florida teams will be participating in the 10U National Invitational including the Cypress Lake Hornets from nearby Fort Myers.

WHO The FBU National Championship is owned and produced by Football University, America’s premier football training and showcase event company -- the same company that brings you the All-American Bowl on NBC and Football University camps and showcases in more than 25 cities.

There are three 32-team brackets in 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade divisions. More than 100 teams with an average of 30 players and eight coaches on each team. Teams are decided via tryout and not through league affiliation, meaning each team is represented by the very best talent in each region.

WHEN Saturday, December 15, 2018 – Thursday, December 20, 2018

More than 5,000 visitors in total will be coming to Collier County for Championship Week.

WATCH Eleven Sports, DirecTV channel 623

FOLLOW Twitter: @FBU_NC | Instagram: @nationalchampionship | Web: FBUNC.com

NAPLES CONNECTIONS FBU Freshman All-Americans Dominiq Ponder | Quarterback | Naples High School Andre Dollar | Tight End | Naples High School Devin Moore | Safety | Naples High School Dylan McNamara | Safety | Community School of Naples

In the ten years of the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl, this year marks the third straight and seventh overall that at least one southwest Florida athlete from Collier County will suit up in the prestigious game. With a total of four, this marks the most Collier County athletes ever in the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. Past Freshman All- Americans include Chez Mellusi (Naples High School, Clemson University) and Tyler Byrd (Naples High School, University of Tennessee). The FBU Freshman All-Americans receive star treatment throughout the week, similar to that of a college bowl experience. It is a glimpse into the future of college and professional football with the likes of Sony Michel, Dylan Moses, Trevor Lawrence, Will Grier and Christian McCaffrey having played.

FBU Freshman All-American Coaching Staff Spencer Adkins | Naples High School | University of Miami | Atlanta Falcons Jamelle Eugene | Naples High School | North Carolina State University Javarris James | Immokalee High School | University of Miami | New England Patriots

In addition to the star freshmen from Collier County, the coaching staff in the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl has a few star coaches with direct ties to Naples and Collier County. Three former high school greats -- Spencer Adkins, Jamelle Eugene, and Javarris James -- with college and professional experience will be patrolling the sidelines during Championship Week as FBU All-American coaches.

9U & 10U National Invitational 10U Cypress Lake Hornets | Fort Myers, Florida

Local 10-and-under youth football program, the Cypress Lake Hornets, are competing in the second annual National Invitational tournament at the 10U level. This event showcases some of the best 10U talent in the nation, providing a tremendous level of national exposure to national competition for the local Collier County squad.

CONTACT Mike Ulatoski Director of Marketing [email protected] | (203) 808-6601

KEY EVENTS Saturday, December 15, 2018 All times are local -FBU Freshman All-American Orientation – 6:00 PM-7:00 PM -Naples Beach Hotel Everglades Ballroom (851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North, Naples) -Players, coaches, and AAG executive staff available for media interviews and photos

Sunday, December 16, 2018 -Championship Week Kickoff – 9:00 AM-5:00 PM -Naples Beach Hotel (851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North, Naples) -9U, 10U, 6th-grade, 7th-grade, and 8th-grade players and coaches available for media interviews and photos throughout the day. Open sessions. -Collier County Gov’t. and FBU executives available for media by request.

Monday, December 17, 2018 -FBU Freshman All-American Practices – 11:00 AM-3:00 PM -North Collier Regional Park (15000 Livingston Road, Naples) -Players and coaches available for media interviews by request. Times will be determined with each request.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 -Beach Party – 1:30 PM-4:30 PM -Lowdermilk Beach Park (1301 Gulf Shore Blvd North, Naples) -FBU executive staff available for media throughout.

-Special Olympics Flag Football Game – 5:30 PM-6:00 PM -Gulf Coast High School (7878 Shark Way, Naples)

-Parade of Champions – 6:15 PM-6:45 PM -FBU National Championship finals participants -9U & 10U National Invitational participants -Gulf Coast High School (7878 Shark Way, Naples)

-FBU Freshman All-American Bowl – 7:00 PM-9:30 PM -Gulf Coast High School (7878 Shark Way, Naples)

All GAMES Monday, December 17, 2018 All times are local -6th-Grade FBU National Championship Quarterfinals | Fleischmann Park -1:00 PM-9:00 PM

-7th-Grade FBU National Championship Quarterfinals | Barron Collier High School and Palmetto Ridge High School -4:00 PM-10:00 PM

-8th-Grade FBU National Championship Quarterfinals | Gulf Coast High School -4:00 PM-10:00 PM

-9U National Quarterfinals | Fleischmann Park and North Collier Regional Park -9:00 AM-1:00 PM

-10U National Quarterfinals | and North Collier Regional Park -9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 -6th-Grade FBU National Championship Semifinals | Naples High School -6:00 PM-10:00 PM

-7th-Grade FBU National Championship Semifinals | Barron Collier High School -6:00 PM-10:00 PM

-8th-Grade FBU National Championship Semifinals | Gulf Coast High School -6:00 PM-10:00 PM

-9U National Semifinals | Fleischmann Park -4:00 PM-8:00 PM

-10U National Semifinals | Community School of Naples -4:00 PM-8:00 PM

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 -Special Olympics Flag Football | Gulf Coast High School -5:30 PM

-2018 FBU Freshman All-American Bowl | Gulf Coast High School -7:00 PM -Live on Eleven Sports -Four Collier County freshman football players. -Three former Collier County college and NFL players coaching.

Thursday, December 20, 2018 -9U National Championship Game | Naples High School -4:00 PM

-10U National Championship Game | Naples High School -6:00 PM

-6th-Grade FBU National Championship Game | Gulf Coast High School -Live on Eleven Sports -3:30 PM

-7th-Grade FBU National Championship Game | Gulf Coast High School -Live on Eleven Sports -6:00 PM

-8th-Grade FBU National Championship Game | Gulf Coast High School -Live on Eleven Sports -8:30 PM