Vol. 3, Issue 3 April 17, 2007 Building Leaders Through Football

The Rhode Island that Rhode Island Chapter Chapter will celebrate its 20th President Amelio “Emo” Di- Anniversary May 7. Harvard Nitto will be inducted as part The NFF Arkansas head coach Tim Murphy will of its 2007 class on May 2. ■ Chapter has named its Distin- be the featured speaker at the guished American Award in mem- event. Since its inception, the The NFF’s San Ber- ory of Paul Eells, the “Voice of the Chapter has awarded nardino County (Calif.) Razorbacks” who was known for over $100,000 in scholarship Chapter joined forces March his trademark phrase “Touchdown, grants and recognized over 19 with the San Bernardino Arkansas.” Eells died tragically in 500 scholar athletes while also County Schools and the Snap- an automobile accident on July 31, presenting a Distinguished Hold & Kick organization to 2006 at the age of 70. American, a Contribution to host a workshop for area stu- During the chapter’s 25th Amateur Football, and a Foot- dent-athletes on recent annual awards luncheon on April 7 “Touchdown Arkansas!” ball Official Awards each changes to the NCAA Clear- in Little Rock, Chapter President year. inghouse. Eddie Bradford made a special by-play announcer of Arkan- “It’s great to see peo- presentation to Vickie Eells, Paul’s sas Razorbacks football and ple who want to take a vested widow, presenting her with the basketball teams, was return- interest in actually learning 2007 Distinguished American ing home from a celebrity about the process it takes to Award and announcing that the golf tournament when the gain eligibility into a Division award will forever be recognized head-on collision occurred. I or Division II school,” said as the “Paul Eells Distinguished The universally loved Eells Michael Scarano, American Award.” also had served as sports di- the associate director of athlet- “He was probably one of rector of Little Rock televi- ics for compliance at the Uni- the most outstanding loving men, sion station KATV for nearly Harvard coach Tim Murphy versity of California at River- volunteering his services as master three decades. He earned This year, the chapter side. “It’s easy to assume that of ceremonies at our annual ban- Arkansas Sportscaster of the will honor 35 scholar-athletes being an athlete who is receiv- quet for 21 years without remu- Year honors 11 times and while distributing at total of ing letters of interest from a neration,” said Bradford. “He was claimed multiple Associated $7,000 to the members of its school that you don’t have to such an unbelievable professional. Press Awards for his play-by- Golden Dozen team. Joseph do anything on your own, and He’s one of the greatest people. I play calls. At the time of the MarcAurele, CEO of Citizens that couldn’t be farther from am not capable of saying enough accident, Gov. Mike Huck- Bank and former football cap- the truth.” nice things about somebody of his abee called for state flags to tain at Holy Cross, will re- character and esteem.” fly at half staff in recognition ceive the chapter’s Distin- Eells, the longtime play- of the respect he had earned throughout the state. guished American Award. A graduate of the Bill Stringfellow, former suc- University of Iowa, he be- cessful head football coach at gan his broadcast career at East Providence High School, radio stations in Iowa and will be presented the Contribu- then in Nashville as a radio tion to Amateur Football and television play-by-play Award. Raymond Beattie commentator for Vanderbilt. will accept a special football He arrived in Little Rock in award for his many out- 1978 en route to becoming a standing years as a football state icon and one of the official in Rhode Island. Presentations in- The Rhode Island cluded the eligibility require- Paul Eells & Oklahoma TE Keith pillars of the broadcasting High School Athletic Hall of ments for Division I and Divi- Jackson, a 2001 inductee into the community in collegiate Fame also recently announced sion II scholarships. Speakers College Football Hall of Fame. athletics. ■

www.footballfoundation.org highlighted that the number of Champion Colts Host Central Indiana Chapter core courses will increase from 14 to 16 classes in 2008, The Central Indiana stressing that failing to meet (Indianapolis) Chapter held its the requirements would mean annual banquet on Feb. 24 at the attending a junior college or a Colts facilities, honoring 12 indi- school with lower academic viduals as the region’s top scholar- standards. athletes. Each honoree received a “There are so many handsome 30-pound trophy and was kids who have the skills to introduced by Colts radio announcer play at the next level,” said Bob Lamey. Snap-Hold & Kick founder "It's good to know that my Hugo Castellanos. “It’s im- four years of hard work in the class- portant that these kids learn room and on the football field have that if that is ever going to paid off," said North Montgomery happen that they need to per- High School senior Jake German form in the classroom, stay out to the Paper of Montgomery of trouble and be attentive to County. "But the award didn't rec- teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime,'" said Ger- character issues…you better ognize me. It showed that I played man to the paper, who also spoke about the thrill of visiting the believe that schools are con- with great teammates and had great locker room of the Super Bowl Champion Colts and seeing the cerned with character issues. support.” lockers of , , and Marvin They are making an invest- Indiana head coach Terry Harrison. ment in that player.” Hoeppner, who has been battling a Founded in 1994, the chapter covers more than 120 reoccurring brain tumor, accepted high schools in central Indiana. ■ the chapter’s Terry Cole Courage Award, and President Bill Polian addressed the crowd as the keynote speaker. Marion coach Mark Surface was recognized with the Distinguished American Award and Mark Baltz claimed the Officials Award. The NFL Players' Association also rec- The more than 150 ognized two students for their schol- student-athletes in attendance arship efforts at the event. heard from compliance direc- “Bill Polian had a cool tors, associate athletics direc- quote. He said 'if you give a man a tors, head coaches, former fish, you feed him for a day. If you Bill Polian Terry Hoeppner Southern California players, regional recruiting specialists, current college scholarship South Jersey Chapter winners, representatives from Celebrates 15th the State Board of Education and the event’s organizers. Anniversary Banquet “I have a son who is going through the recruiting Over 300 people attended the process right now and there March 4 South Jersey Chapter ban- are so many things I’ve quet, which honored 21 scholar- learned in the last few months athletes for their accomplishments. alone,” Dwaine Radden, one The chapter distributed $15,750 with of the attendees. “It can be a each recipient winning a $750 scholar- very intimidating and frustrat- ship. ing process. Let’s hope that The Chapter also bestowed the audience leaves here real- awards for the Official of the Year, izing that there is a map to Contribution to Amateur Football, of the Year, which went to Rutgers TE Clark Harris. Scar- navigating how to make the Coach of the Year and Distinguished let Knights assistant coach Joseph Susan attended to make recruiting process a bit easier American, and for the first time the the presentation to Harris, who has made a pivotal contri- for everyone.” ■ chapter recognized a College Athlete bution in the Rutgers renaissance and played prep football at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, NJ. ■

The National Football Foundation 2 April 17, 2007