The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network The National Football Foundation’sPresented by Chapter Network Presented by May 28, 2008 - Vol. 4, Issue 11 Building Leaders Through Football Oklahoma Chapter Awards $21,000 in Scholarships Hall of Famers Mark May and Joe Washington Attend he Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City served as the Tsite of the 24th annual Oklahoma Chapter Banquet April 15, which honored a near flawless group of 14 scholar-athletes, who boasted an average GPA of 3.99. Each member of the class claimed a $1,500 schol- arship for a total distribution of $21,000 by the chapter. Mark May, ESPN College Football studio analyst and a 2006 College Hall of Fame inductee from Pitt, delivered the keynote address, and Mark Rodgers, a sportscaster at KOCO-TV, served as the master of ceremonies. Former Tulsa head coach Dave Radar accepted the Merv Johnson Integrity in Coaching Award. A native of Tulsa, Rader played football for the Hurricanes before graduating in 1980 with a degree in Mechanical Engi- Left: Hall of Famer Joe Washington led the Sooners to a 43-2-1 record and two National Championships in the 1970s. Right: Hall of Fame OL Mark May neering. He held the head coaching position from 1988 lever allowed a sack in his final two seasons, leading Pitt to a 22-2 record, . until 1999. He claimed NCAA District Coach of the Year honors in 1991, following a No. 22 final ranking in the national polls and a victory in the Freedom Bowl. The chapter also honored high school head coaches: Mark Little from Putnam City; Dennis Mil- lican from Grove High; and Greg Gothard from Velma- Alma HS for their outstanding success and commitment to amateur football. Joe Washington, former University of Oklahoma running back and another 2006 College Hall of Fame in- ductee, Joe Castiglione, the Oklahoma athletics director, and Bubba Cunningham, the Tulsa athletics director, attended. Castiglione serves on the national NFF Board, alongside Oklahoma native Clay Bennett, a vice chairman of Hall of Famer Joe Washington, Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione, the national board and strong supporter of the local chapter. ■ Hall of Famer Mark May and Tulsa Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham. Hall of Famer’s Joe Washington (middle front row) and Mark May (middle back row) OU Director of Football Operations Merv Johnson; emcee Mark Rodgers; Dave and OU AD Joe Castiglione (back row far right) with the chapter scholar-athletes. Radar, Merv Johnson Integrity Award recipient; & Tulsa AD Bubba Cunningham. www.footballfoundation.org Page 1 May 28, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Historic Western Mass. Chapter Notches 46th Banquet Former Spalding Worldwide Sports CEO Creelman Honored istory and tradition played an essential role dur- Hing the 46th Annual Western Massachusetts Chapter Banquet April 8 at the U. Mass. Campus Center with more than 450 people in attendance. Former Dartmouth Star and Spald- ing Worldwide Sports CEO Scott Creelman re- ceived the chapter’s prestigious Henry Butova Award, which honors a football player from the region who has distinguished himself after his playing career and remains devoted to the game. The chapter honored 13 high school, one prep Left: Longmeadow quarterback Pat Donlley won the chapter’s Angelo and one college scholar-athlete in addition to paying Betreilli Award as the top player in Western Mass. Right: Daniel Guariglia of tribute to the 2007 All-Western Mass squad and the Berk- Amherst was the recipient of the Tuss McLaughry Award. shire Eagles All-Star football team. Daniel Guariglia, from Amherst, won the chapter’s Tuss McLaughry Award, named for the 1962 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, as the top collegiate scholar-athlete. Chapter President Alex Rotsko and officersRon Abdow, Bo Reardon and many others continue to do an excellent job of leading this historic chapter. Rotsko, the highly successful coach at Longmeadow HS, had two players take home major awards. Senior defensive back Sam McGrath earned the Arthur Roberts, Sr. Award as the top scholar-athlete, and senior quarter- Scott Creelman, CEO of Spalding, received the chapter’s Henry Butova Award. He captained the 1963 undefeated Dartmouth, earning All-Ivy back Pat Donlley claimed the Angelo Betrelli Award. League honors at end during an Ivy League Championship effort. Named for Notre Dame’s Angelo Bertelli, an area native who claimed the 1943 Hesiman Trophy and earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972, the award is given to the best football player in Western Mass. MaGrath received his plaque from Dr. Arthur Roberts, Jr., an All-Ivy league player for Columbia, a 1964 NFF National Scholar- Athlete, and currently a prominent heart specialist. George Hargrove of Central HS won the Francis X Keating Award for overcoming adversity and excelling in the classroom and on the field. ■ Sam McGrath receives his Arthur Roberts, Sr. Award from Dr. Arthur Roberts, Jr. Chapter officer Tim Schmidt presents the Francis X. Keating Award to George Chapter president and Longmeadow HS Coach Alex Rotsko (C) stands Hargrove who lost his dad at age 11 and will attend UMass in the fall. proudly with two of his star players Pat Donlley (L) and Sam McGrath (R). www.footballfoundation.org Page 2 May 28, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Central Jersey/Bill Denny Chapter Honors 24 High School Seniors Chapter distributes $10,000 at its 40th Annual Banquet ne scholar-athlete from each of the 24 high schools Oin Middlesex County claimed honors at the 40th Annual Bill Denny/Central New Jersey Chapter Banquet April 6 in East Brunswick, N.J. Led by President Tom Bara and a strong board of directors, the chapter distributed a total of $10,000 in awards. Recipients included Adams Isska from Wood- bridge HS (the Alex Wojciechowicz Scholarship); Zach Tivald of Edison HS (the William Denny Scholarship); and Bobby Tocco of East Brunswick HS (the Ethel Distinguished American Award winner Frank Noppenberger (R) is congratulated Denny Award). The late Wojciechowicz, a Middlesex by Rutgers recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach Joe Susan. County native, earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 as a member of Fordham’s famed Seven Blocks of Granite. Jeremy Zuttah, a first-team all-Big East selec- tion as an offensive lineman from Rutgers, claimed the Outstanding Collegiate Scholar-Athlete Award. The 6’4” and 303 pound Zuttah started every game of his collegiate career while receiving numerous academic accolades. Frank Noppenberger, the athletic supervi- sor at East Brunswick HS, received the Distinguished Zach Tivald (L) for Edison HS receives the William Denney scholarship from American Award. Having served as a teacher, coach chapter secretary Fred Roselli. and administrator since 1977 at East Brunswick, Nop- penberger has played a leadership role in the Greater Middlesex Conference, including membership on the Executive Committee and a four-year reign as presi- dent from 1990-1994. A coach for 39 years at several area schools, Frank Zarro claimed the Career Coaching Achievement Award, and Matt Yascko of Carteret HS took home Coach of the Year honors. In only his second year as a head coach, Yascko led his squad to the Central Jersey East Brunswick’s Bobby Tocco (L) is presented the Ethel Denny Award by Fred Group II State Championship. ■ Roselli. Chapter scholar-athlete and Rutgers tackle Jeremy Zuttah (No. 71) was select- Hall of Famer and Middlesex native, Alex Wojciechowicz, played center with ed in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fordham’s famed Seven Blocks of Granite with Vince Lombardi, No. 40. www.footballfoundation.org Page 3 May 28, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Ralph DeSantis/Fairfield County Chapter Honors 30 Scholar-Athletes NFL Alumni Association provides $10,000 endowment he Ralph DeSantis/Fairfield County Chapter Theld its annual banquet April 10, honoring 30 high school scholar-athletes and several coaches and officials for their contributions to the game. Bob Simms, a member of the NFF’s national board of directors and a former NFL player, also announced at the event that the local NFL Alumni Association has provided $10,000 to endow an annual scholarship to be given out by the Ralph DeSantis Chapter each year. Jonathan Meyers, a multi-talented fullback and linebacker, from Greenwich HS, claimed rec- New England Player of the Year Jonathan Meyers heads to Princeton. ognition as a scholar-athlete. Named New England Player of the Year, Meyers declined offers from more than 20 Football Bowl Subdivision football schools, and he will attend Princeton, playing both football and lacrosse. Led by Chapter President Christy Hayes, the director of athletics at Wilton HS, the chapter distributed $1,500 in scholarship money at the event that was held at Continental Manor in Norwalk, Conn. The productive chapter works with their counterparts from New Haven, Conn., to stage Greenwich HS head coach Rich Albonizio, scholar-athlete Jonathan Meyers and chapter Assistant Coach Award recipient Carlos Carina. an annual summer all-star game between the best players from the two counties. Andy Buschbaum, the head football coach at New Fairfield HS, and Tim Eagen of Wilton HS, claimed the Coach of the Year Awards while John Periera of Pomperauge and Greenwich’s Carlos Carino were recognized as the Assistant Coach of the Year recipients. Bob Sierup and Bill Vasat- uro, both longtime officials, were honored with the Football Officials Award. ■ Bob Simms (R) announces the NFL Alumni $10,000 endowment with Chapter President Christy Hayes (C) and David Theis (L) of Wachovia Investments. More than 30 head coaches turned out to witness their top scholar-athletes accept recognition.