The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network The National Football Foundation’sPresented by Chapter Network Presented by April 15, 2008 - Vol. 4, Issue 9 Building Leaders Through Football Walter J. Zable Chapter Distributes $28,000 Bowl Game Executive Bruce Binkowski Claims Distinguished American Award for service to the game since 1978 onoring 27 student-athletes with an impressive cumula- Htive GPA of 3.9, The Walter Zable Chapter of San Diego distributed $28,000 at its 36th Annual Banquet March 28. D.J. Shields, a Bonita Vista HS tight end who will play at San Diego State this fall, took home tops on honors on offense, and Matthew Segi, a line- backer from Oceanside HS who led his team to a state championship berth, claimed the top defensive prize. The Willie Jones Memorial Most Inspirational Award, named for a 1994 chapter scholar-athlete who was tragically killed in an automobile accident, went to Law- rence Walker, who despite a broken home has produced a 3.4 GPA and became a star of the Christian HS football team. Left: Scholar-Athlete Ted Edwards played for the San Diego State Az- The chapter recognized Bruce Binkowski, the ex- tecs. Right: He accepts his award from Chapter President Brian Fogarty. ecutive director of the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, with its Distinguished American Award for his service since 1978. The chapter honored four collegiate scholar-athletes: Mike Bethea (Palomar CC); Drew Westling (Southwestern CC); Wes Doyle, (University of San Diego); and Ted Ed- wards (San Diego State). The chapter presented Oceanside HS coach John Carroll and Cathedral Catholic HS coach Sean Doyle with Coach of the Year Awards. San Diego State coach Chuck Long, a Hall of Famer from Iowa, attended. Named for Walter Zable, chairman of the Cubic Corporation, the chapter produced another successful ban- Two College Football Hall of Famers help present the awards. Left: Bill Mc- quet this year behind the leadership of chapter president Coll, a 1973 inductee from Stanford, congratulates Stephen Simpson. Right: Brian Fogarty and banquet chairperson Carole Eigner. ■ Bob Babich, a 1994 inductee from Miami (OH) presents to Alexander Scarlett. Brian Fogarty and Carole Eigner and Bob Casciola and Outstanding Willie Jones, Sr., and Rosetta Bruce Binkowski Scholar-Athlete Tyler Aubrey Official Recipient Steve Coover Jones with Lawrence Walker www.footballfoundation.org Page 1 April 15, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Passaic County Chapter Celebrates 33rd Annual Banquet Delaware Associate Coach Ben Albert delivered the keynote address arking their 33rd Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet, MThe Passaic County Chapter honored 15 scholar-ath- letes, or one from each of the high schools in the Northern New Jersey County, on March 6. Led by chapter president Bill Farkas, vice presi- dent Marty Rittenberg and an active board of directors, the chapter awarded $7,000 in scholarships with more than 100 people in attendance. Eric Hamilton, the College of New Jersey head coach and president of the NFF Delaware Valley Chapter, gave an update on the Foundation, and University of Dela- ware associate head coach Ben Albert gave the keynote address. A former standout player at the University of Massachusetts, Albert has served as an assistant coach for 13 seasons at different schools. He is currently in his third Left Photo: Chris Pantale ranked as one of the best players in New season with the Blue Hens. Jersey this year. Right Photo: Pantale participates at a combine. Robert Gut, 74, received the chapter’s Special Recognition Award for his long time service to Kennedy High School in Patterson, N.J. Coach Gut spent more than three decades coaching football and several others sports while becoming the athletics director. The scholar-athlete class included Chris Pantale of Wayne Valley HS, who has signed a letter of intent with Boston College, and Mike Giampapa of Wayne Hills HS, who will attend Georgetown University and play football. Both scholar-athletes ranked in the top of their class. Pantale is ranked No. 1 at tight end and the eighth overall player in the State of New Jersey by Eliterecruits. com and as the 10th overall player by Rivals.com. Giampapa quarterbacked the Wayne Hills peren- nial powerhouse to the 2007 New Jersey State Champion- Left: Mike Giampapa led Wayne Hills to a state championship. Right: College Football ship, marking its fifth state championships since 2002.■ Hall of Famer Jack Tatumn attended Passaic HS before becoming a n Ohio State legend. The 2007 Scholar-Athletes are part of a long tradition in Passaic University of Delaware associate head coach Ben Albert gave the keynote County New Jersey of honoring the region’s best and brightest. address. Albert is currently in his third season with the Blue Hens. www.footballfoundation.org Page 2 April 15, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Essex County Chapter Scholar-Athletes Tally a 3.7 GPA Chapter Marks its 43rd Annual Banquet with 250 people in attendance. he Essex County Chapter held its 43rd Annual TScholar-Athlete Banquet March 11, honoring 26 high school scholar-athletes in front of 250 people at the Mayfair Farms in West Orange, New Jersey. Combining for an average 3.7 GPA, the group included David Stevens of Millburn HS, who has a football scholarship to Syracuse, and Marlon Calbi from Montclair HS, who signed to play football at Villanova in the fall. Left: Ryan McCoach, the top scholar-athlete from Montclair State receives his award Ryan McCoach, a running back at Mont- from Montclair State Head Coach Rick Giancola. Right: McCoach carries the ball. clair State, claimed honors as the chapter’s College Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Beyond his academic accomplishments, McCoach’s senior campaign saw him recognized as a First Team All-Eastern Region selection by D3 Football.com. The chapter presented its Distinguished Ameri- can Award to Don Busch, a highly successful busi- nessman in the Essex County community who also serves on the board of several charitable organizations. Fred Hill, the legendary baseball coach at Left: Distinguished American Don Bush accepts award from his Rutgers, received the Football Coaches Award from son, Dr. James Bush. Right: East Orange HS head coach Marion the chapter. In his 25th season at the helm of the Bell presents a scholar-athlete award to Keion Wade. Scarlet Knights baseball squad, Hill started his coach- ing career at Montclair State where he coached both the baseball and the football teams for seven years. He compiled a 55-13-4 football record while winning five conference titles with the Red Hawks. Chapter President Ron Anello, who is the head football coach at Clifton HS, emceed the event, while College of New Jersey coach Eric Hamilton delivered keynote address. Hamilton serves as presi- dent Delaware Valley Chapter, and he has taken on the role of speaking at several New Jersey banquets Chapter President Ron Anello, Chapter Chaplain Father Berle, and Chapter this year. ■ Chairman Peter Horn gather outside the ballroom prior to the event. The 27 scholar-athletes of the Essex County Chapter carried an average College of New Jersey coach Eric Hamilton delivered keynote ad- GPA of 3.7, and more than 250 people attended in their honor. dress. He has spoken at several New Jersey banquets this year. www.footballfoundation.org Page 3 April 15, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by War Hero Receives National Capital Region Standing Ovation Chapter continues torrid growth, doubling its membership in its second year. he historic Army Navy County Club in Arling- Tton, Va., served as the site of the 2nd annual National Capital Region Chapter Banquet with more than 180 people in attendance to honor 16 scholar- athletes on April 6. Guest speakers included Richmond coach Mike London, who gave the keynote address; Ohio Dominican University Offensive Coordinator Chris Oliver, who spoke about recruiting the scholar- athlete; and Lt. Colonel Greg Gadson, a wounded Iraqi War veteran and former West Point player, who Left: Greg Gadson accepts a standing ovation. Right: Gadson also served as an honorary NY Giant co-captain during their march to the talked about pride, poise and team. Gadson accepted Super Bowl. MVP QB Eli Manning shares a moment with Gadson. a standing ovation from the inspired crowd. The chapter selected eight scholar-athletes for scholarship status and trophies. Five young men claimed $1,000 scholarships each while three hon- orees have already received full appointments to a military academy: Matthew Dillon (Army), Ryan Martinez (Navy) and Andre Rodriguez (Army). In addition to their plaque, each scholar-athlete received a congratulatory letter from Virginia Gover- nor Tim Kaine. The chapter presented Special Recognition Left: Coach Pepper Rodgers and Chapter VP Greg Oliver. Right: Awards to Pepper Rodgers, the former head coach Two the chapter’s scholar-athletes are headed to West Point, includ- at Kansas, UCLA and Georgia Tech, for his contri- ing Matthew Dillon who blocked for Bishop O’Connell HS this fall. butions to the game, and Bill Ramseyer, the former coach at Wilmington College (Ohio) and the Univer- sity of Virginia at Wise, for his contributions to the chapter since its inception in 2005. Led by the dynamic leadership of chapter president Dick Stephenson and officers Greg Oli- ver, JJ Kelly, Bob Jarrell, Doug Glagola, and Bob Novogratz, the group has made remarkable strides in two short years, doubling membership this year and Keynote speaker and Richmond coach Mike London (left) chapter presi- attracting more than 200 members. ■ dent Dick Stephenson (center) and Ohio Dominican coach Chris Oliver. The National Capital Region Chapter selected 16 scholar-athletes Greg Oliver, Bob Jarrell, Chris Caputo, JJ Kelly, Jerry Mitchell, Dick for recognition at its 2nd Annual Banquet.