NFF MINNESOTA CHAPTER

News and notes from the chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame serving the state of Minnesota January 2009

Two-Minute Drill In the Huddle • Same team, different jerseys: Catching up with a notable NFF-MN member We have changed our name from the Twin Cities Chapter to the Hall of Famer and NFF-MN Member Minnesota Chapter (NFF-MN). Randall McDaniel Keeps Giving Back • Mark your calendar: The 2nd Annual NFF-MN Awards Dinner will take place Though best known locally McDaniel’s mission is to on Sunday, April 19, 2009, at the for playing for the Vikings help young people become University of St. Thomas. Watch for 12 seasons, Randall self-directed and embrace your inbox for further details McDaniel is now part of community service for because you won’t want to miss it. another influential team in a lifetime. the Twin Cities. Randall • Congratulations to member Randall The McDaniels have always and his wife, Marianne, are McDaniel for his induction into been involved with helping the sole leaders of Team the College Football Hall of Fame. area children. McDaniel, an after school Read about how he continues to “I like to work with students service-focused program for be a difference maker in our “In who are still learning, still middle school students. the Huddle” feature section. impressionable, especially • Not a member yet? Know someone Based out of Sandberg kids who struggle with their who wants to be? Join today by Middle School, the Team schoolwork,” says Randall. filling out the membership form on McDaniel program has “That was me in school.” been going strong since page 4. It requires five minutes of When he was with the These days, he spends his 2005. Randall and Marianne focus for a wealth of benefits. Vikings, Randall would use time at Hilltop Elementary organize groups of 6th, 7th, • Attention high school coaches: his Tuesday off-days to in West Tonka. and 8th graders to participate nominate your student-athletes to volunteer all day at an “I’m glad that Randall is in events 6-7 times a month. receive a Scholar Athlete Award elementary school. After his in the classroom [instead of Participants volunteer at and scholarship money at our days in the NFL, Randall coaching],” says Marianne. organizations relieving Awards Dinner in April. Contact began to volunteer at a few “There are so few minority hunger, visit assisted living Sean for a nomination form at schools in the Robbinsdale men in the classroom, facilities, attend events in [email protected]. district and then took a and he makes such an their community, and work position as a full-time impression on kids.” • Visit www.nffmn.org to see how with younger students classroom paraprofessional. ...continued on page 2 our chapter is growing and how as role models. Team you can become involved in this exciting venture • Carleton College head football coach GAME BALL and NFF-MN member Kurt Ramler This month’s game balls go to: for earning MIAC Coach of the The Play Caller Year honors • Wayzata High School head football Sean Gothier • Head coach Bob Nielson and the Minnesota Chapter President coach and NFF-MN member Brad Anderson for leading his team University of Minnesota Duluth football [email protected] to victory in the Class 5A State team for winning the NCAA Division II Championship in November national championship in December www.nffmn.org 1 ...continued from page 1 Hall of Famer and NFF-MN Member Box Score Randall McDaniel Keeps Giving Back A brief look at NFF-MN by the numbers

The students Randall works he was a two-time First for all. During their recent 4- Number of Hall of Famers with couldn’t agree more. Team All-American. trip to New York City for in attendance at last year’s During his career with the National Football At a recent service event, banquet: Jeff Siemon, Carl the Sun Devils he started Foundation and College one middle schooler was Eller, Bobby Bell, and Coach 39 consecutive games and Hall of Fame’s Annual disappointed to learn that Jim Christopherson won the Morris Trophy as Awards Dinner, Marianne Randall now teaches at a the Pac-10’s top offensive was impressed by the school outside the district. lineman in 1986. He was diversity among the 8- Number of scholar-athletes “No Mr. McDaniel? He was inducted into the College Draddy Trophy finalists. who received recognition at last the best ever!” he quipped. Football Hall of Fame this year’s banquet Randall is quick to remind past July. “Here was a panel of young his students that even if men being recognized for 12- Number of times NFF-MN their dreams include Though the McDaniels their scholarship, the best member Randall McDaniel playing professional sports, spent considerable time in and the brightest,” she says. was invited to play in the they need to be good Arizona and ended up in “Seldom are men of color prestigious Pro Bowl during students. He brings in thick Tampa at the end of put out there for academics, his 14-year career in the NFL playbooks from his NFL Randall’s pro football but here they were being career, they chose to come celebrated for it.” days to show young people 75- Number of members in the how much studying and back to the land of lakes NFF-MN chapter mental strength is involved and hotdish. Despite nicer The McDaniels hope that in being a good pro athlete. climates elsewhere, the the Minnesota Chapter decision was not difficult. will carry on the spirit of 87- Number of counties in the The McDaniels certainly celebrating diversity. In the state of Minnesota that the have practiced what they “Minnesota was home from meantime, they will continue NFF-MN serves preach. Each holds a degree the first day,” says Randall. to inspire their Team. from Arizona State Univer- 109- Number of days until sity—Randall’s in Physical Minnesota is lucky to have “We want people to know the chapter’s 2nd Annual Education and Marianne’s the McDaniels for many that there are 100 kids Awards Dinner (as of in Biomedical Engineering. reasons, including the who are out there doing January 1) effort they put forth to a lot of good work in While Randall played guide young people and the community.” 125- The size of the sold-out football at Arizona State, encourage opportunities crowd at the chapter’s 1st Annual Awards Dinner last year

254- Number of days until the Gophers play a game at the new TCF Bank Stadium (as of January 1)

Hall of famers Jeff Siemon, Jim Christopherson, emcee Frank Vascallero, Hall of Famers Bobby Bell and Carl Eller kick off the first annual chapter Awards Dinner. 2 Be a Playmaker: Encourage Others to Join

Though the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Remember that membership is not limited to those who played Foundation has the distinction of being the chapter that reached football or are diehard fans. This chapter is meant for anyone charter status faster than any other NFF chapter, we want to who wishes to connect with the Minnesota football community keep growing. and help young people achieve brighter futures.

Ask your colleagues, neighbors, and friends if they are Pass along this newsletter to someone you think might be interested in becoming part of an exciting network of interested. Be sure to point out the membership form on page 4 football fans and supporters. Not only will they enjoy the and the benefits of becoming a member that are listed below. company of Hall of Famers, coaches, former players, and other community leaders, members have the rare opportunity to help young student-athletes become college-bound scholars through their monetary support.

NFF-MN Membership Benefits End Zone

• Nominate and vote for candidates for induction into Mission Statement of NFF-MN the College Football Hall of Fame Our mission is to serve the nation by developing • Connect with Hall of Fame coaches, players, and leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and all those who are passionate about football academic excellence in America’s youth through promoting amateur football. • Honor local student-athletes through scholarships and recognize those who are outstanding contributors to Game plan for fulfilling our mission: the football community 1. Inspire excellence through Minnesota and College • Invitations to chapter events Football Hall of Fame player and coach role models. • Quarterly newsletters from the National Football 2. Highlight the educational and character-building Foundation and College Hall of Fame benefits of football through youth programs. 3. Honor, publicize, and financially support student- • Free admission into College Football Hall of Fame athlete football players. in South Bend, Indiana • Invitation to the chapter’s Annual Awards Banquet (this year: April 19, 2009) • Opportunity to support the “Play-It-Smart” Program, which strengthens the skills of high school football players from economically disadvantaged environments

Thank you to our featured sponsors and partners:

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National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Membership Application:

I am a: ! New Member ! Renewing Member

Chapter Name: Minnesota Chapter

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MEMBERSHIP LEVEL VARSITY CLUB ! One-Year Membership -- $40

ALL-CONFERENCE CLUB ! Three-Year Membership -- $99

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National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame Background: • Founded in 1947, 122 Chapters in the United States with more than 12,000 members • Mission is “to promote and develop the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academic excellence in America’s young people” • Membership proceeds are used for college scholarships for Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients and to support the College Football Hall of Fame • Nearly $1 million in college scholarships are awarded annually to student-athletes that excel on the football field, in the classroom and in the community • NFL/NFF Coaching Academies are conducted for high school and youth football coaches (60 Coaching Academies in 2006 included 9,000 coaches) • Play It Smart Program – created by the NFF in 1998 with significant support from the NFL to support 11,000 student-athletes in 136 high schools by placing highly trained academic coaches with at-risk student-athletes to help their personal and academic development • Independently administer, tabulate and communicate the BCS standings • Web site for the Minnesota chapter is www.nffmn.org • Web site for College Football Hall of Fame is www.collegefootball.org

Membership Benefits: • Annual voting in February/March for the College Football Hall of Fame (subject to approval of the Hall of Fame Honors Court Members) • Ability to nominate players/coaches for inclusion on the Hall of Fame ballot • Invitations to events and Membership discounts for attending events • Free admission to the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana • Weekly emails summarizing recent college football news and events • Charitable tax deduction • Reduced ticket price to the Minnesota Chapter’s Annual Awards Banquet, “Honoring Legends, Inspiring Leaders.” Held in April, this event will honor scholar athletes, coaches, officials, college Hall of Famers, and other leaders in Minnesota amateur football

Minnesota Chapter Board President Mr. Sean Gothier Cell 651-208-1246 [email protected]

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