National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame, Inc. Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana NFF 320 DEhart Street West Lafayette, IN 47906 -2730 Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana “Building leaders through football” Volume Four Issue Two May 2010 Members Have June 1 Deadline For Priority Seating at NFF Dinner; Sellout Expected Brees, Dawson, Griese plus 27 prep athletes to be honored June 22 at Purdue Union National Football Foundation members, cided to honor the three Super Bowl Champion sponsors and families of honorees will have top quarterbacks by presenting our Gold Medallion Learn more about this chapter on priority for seating at the sixth annual NFF Hon- Award to them, I predict we will sell out this our web site: ors Dinner as long as they place their orders and event (capacity will be about 750) well in ad- www.nfftillerchapter.org submit their payments before June 1. vance. The event, scheduled for June 22 and co- “Sales and seating priority are offered to NFF Awards Dinner Features Blend of hosted by the National Football !Foundation’s our chapter members, sponsors and families of Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana and honorees until the end of May,” adds Vruggink, Prep, College and Pros Purdue University’s Gimlet Leadership Honor- “and we will close off all sales no later than June Continued from Front Page Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII capped rick McQuiston (Logansport), Keifer Morgan ary, is expected to sell out. 16 in order to properly prepare for the event, Prior to Brees accomplishing the feat in a 17-0 season, as Miami became the only un- (Munster), Scott Moore (Fountain Central), Purdue’s three Super Bowl Champion quar- which is bound to be the biggest and best the Drew Brees February, Dawson won in 1971 and Griese did beaten, untied team in NFL history. Brees was Nicholas Morris (Benton Central), Phillip New- terbacks will highlight an evening of awards chapter has had.” the same in 1976. Griese actually started three named MVP of Super Bowl XLIV after leading bill !(Maconaquah), Clay Oppy (McCutcheon), and celebration as Drew Brees, Len Dawson This year’s event will begin at 5:00 p.m. Super Bowls (VI, VII and VIII) after Dawson New Orleans to a 31-17 victory over the India- Darius Parker (East Chicago Central), Jacob Ri- and Bob Griese appear together for the rst time with a silent auction reception that !also serves started Super Bowls I and IV. Both were on the napolis Colts, capping a magical season for the etow (Knox), T.K. Rock (Harrison), Seth Rooze ever in West Lafayette. as an autograph session for Purdue Head Coach losing end of their rst games before winning Saints and their loyal fans. (Attica), John Saltanovitz (Valparaiso), Richard Tickets are selling quickly for “Celebrating Danny Hope and some select former and cur- their subsequent appearances. Dawson, in fact, In receiving the Gold Medallion, the QB Schmidt (Andrean), Casey Shipley (Kokomo), Our Legends VI” at the Purdue !Memorial Union rent Boilermakers. Brees, Dawson and Griese was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl trio will earn the chapter’s highest honor, having Eric Shorten (Oak Hill), Andrew Wilson (Twin Ballrooms. The dinner will also include the pre- will not take part in that session but will join IV after Kansas City defeated the Minnesota Vi- been awarded only once previously (to Dr. Mar- Lakes), and Daniel Wodicka (West Lafayette). sentation of scholarships and honorariums to 27 other honorees at a VIP Reception elsewhere in kings, 23-7. And the Dolphins’ 14-7 over the tin Jischke upon his retirement as Purdue Presi- Six of these young men -- Burns, Heater, high school scholar athletes who are headed to the building. dent in 2007). It is given only in special circum- Moore, Saltanovitz, Schmidt and Wodicka -- college in the fall. Last year, 413 football fans Dinner prices are $35 each for students col- stances to honor highly successful people who have been singled out by judges as nalists for attended the fth annual event, but this year’s lege age and younger ($280 for a table of eight), have achieved signi cant career success while the Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, based 40 crowd may double that, according to Jim Vrug- $40 each for NFF members ($320 for a table of demonstrating integrity and honesty and bring- percent on academics, 40 percent on athletics, gink, the executive director of the local chapter, eight), and $50 per person for non-NFF member ing recognition to the local area covered by this and 20 percent on citizenship and character. The citing that more than 500 tickets for this year’s adults ($400 for a table of eight non-members). NFF chapter, which is now the fourth largest in winner will be announced at the Honors Dinner. event were requested by May 5. Cost of !attending the VIP Reception is $200 per the nation among 120 chapters. The chapter is seeking partners and spon- “Within a few hours after New Orleans won person with all proceeds going to charities. In addition to receiving the Gold Medal- sors for scholarship packages, which are tax- the Super Bowl, I was inundated with questions Purdue now matches Alabama as the only uni- lion, Brees will present the chapter’s Drew deductible. Interested parties may contact the from previous attendees wanting to know if versities in the nation to have three !alums as Su- Brees Mental Toughness Award to a player of executive director at 765-427-3303 or via email Drew would attend this year’s Honors Dinner as per Bowl Champion quarterbacks. The Crimson his choice. at [email protected]. he had the previous ve,” said Vruggink. “When Tide claims Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Kenny Meanwhile, Joe McConnell, who retired I assured them he would, the ticket orders start- Stabler. Len Dawson as a Purdue’s football play-by-play announcer ed rolling in. And, now that our board has de- Continued on Back Page after the 2009 season, will receive the chapter’s Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Charity Concert, Golf Outing Award. He will be recognized for his 15 years of Drew Brees, Matt Lancaster and Joe Tiller at the 2009 Dinner superb work in calling games for Boilermaker Raise Scholarship Money radio listeners throughout Indiana. The Mar. 7 NFF Charity Concert and Scholarship Fund. A total of 27 high school football players IMPORTANT DATES the Apr. 16 NFF/12th Boiler Golf Scramble The Golf Scramble for the second year in from the 18 counties of Northwest Indiana that June 1: Priority seating deadline for NFF were both great successes, netting approxi- a row was a shared event, co-hosted by the members, sponsors encompass the Joe Tiller Chapter will receive scholarship assistance for their rst year of col- mately $5,000 for the chapter’s Scholarship NFF and Purdue’s Trademark Licensing Of- Fund. ce, with the intent of splitting the “pro ts” June 16: Final deadline for ticket and lege. They are: Nicholas Biancardi (Grif th), sponsorship sales Greg Burns (Lafayette Central Catholic), Ste- The “ rst-time” charity concert, thanks between our NFF Scholarship Fund and the ven Cavanaugh (Clinton Prairie), Austen Con- to the talents of chapter member Levi Riggs John Purdue Club’s 12th Boiler Program. June 22: NFF Honors Dinner, Purdue well (Taylor), Tanner Cripe (Delphi), Damon and the efforts of the Gimlet Leadership Once all the bills are paid, this event Memorial Union, West Lafayette Foreman (Lewis Cass), Marc Heater (Wi- Honorary, cleared more than $6,000, with should “net” each fund more than $1,900 namac), Mike Huffer (Lafayette Jefferson), half of that going to the Purdue Haiti Team this year thanks to the participation by 56 June 23: Brees Dream Foundation Golf Andy Hunkeler (Northwestern), Kyle Kellar to help build houses in earthquake-ravaged golfers. Last year’s scramble “netted” $375 Outing, Purdue Golf Complex, West Lafayette (Wheeler), David Lee (Gary West Side), Der- Akin Ayodele receiving the 2009 Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award Haiti, and the other half going to our NFF for each fund with participation by 34 golf- ers. Bob Griese VIP Reception and Raffle Added to June 22 Event NFF For the rst time in the six-year history of the NFF Honors Dawson, Griese, other honorees, sponsors and area businesses will Dinner, a VIP Reception has been added, featuring the award win- be available through the Honors Dinner Raf e. Raf e tickets may Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana ners and honorees along with select sponsors and ticket buyers. be purchased in advance or during the events of June 22 for $5 “Building leaders through football” Purdue’s three Super Bowl Champion quarterbacks – Drew each. Organizers hope to sell a thousand tickets and plan to have Brees, Len Dawson and Bob Griese – will be among the honorees hundreds of donated prizes valued at $20 or more. Proceeds will during a 60-minute social hour. No autographs will be given, but a go to the NFF Scholarship Fund. 2010 Honors Dinner Awards Nomination Form professional photographer will be available to take posed pictures Tickets for the VIP Reception and the Honors Dinner Raf e GOLD MEDALLION AWARD This award is given on rare occasion and in special circumstances to recognize the career of a highly-successful (Submit by January 15, 2011, to Jim Vruggink via phone at of each ticket-buying guest with the honorees of their choice. The may be purchased via the form below. Tickets bought in advance person in this region. It recognizes an outstanding American and/or loyal Hoosier who has achieved signi cant 765-427-3303, email at [email protected] or mail !at 320 size of this exclusive event will be limited.