August 5, 2010
WACO, TEXAS . . . Three Iowa Conference football players are among the record 112 student-athletes nominated for the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which is selected annually by the Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to honor the distinguished group of college football players who stand out for the positive influence they have in their communities.
Dubuque senior wide receiver Michael Zweifel (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater), Luther senior defensive back Jordan Grimm (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy), and Wartburg senior defensive back Andrew Creary (Knoxville, Iowa/Knoxville) were the Iowa Conference players selected.
In the areas of giving back and volunteerism, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® represents the “best of the best” among more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year institutions. The total eclipses the 106 nominees achieved last season, demonstrating the continued growth of a platform that is widely recognized as the most prestigious community service award in college football.
While glory and praise may be traditionally reserved for the most athletically skilled college football players on the field, it is the student-athletes committed to serving others who make the most important impact off the field. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® exists to tell their stories and acknowledge their impact beyond the game.
“In the third year of our partnership with the AFCA, Allstate, our employees and our agents continue to be inspired by the stories of class and character displayed by these young men,” said Guy Hill, vice president of sales and service for Allstate, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. “We applaud the commitment of these 112 student-athletes to positively impact their communities with innovation, creativity and passion that reflects so well on their sport, and their respective institutions.”
This year’s class of nominations includes student-athletes with a wide range of accomplishments, including developing programs to support Haitian relief efforts, working with rural and minority students to help them reach their goal of attending medical school, and organizing a campus fundraiser to incentivize students to shave their heads to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
From the nominees submitted by sports information directors on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members is responsible for selecting two 11-player Good Works Teams® – one comprising of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA – to be announced in September. College Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz is returning for a third year to serve as spokesperson for the program and raise awareness for the stories of the nominees and team members.
“For the third straight year, the AFCA is pleased to partner with Allstate in highlighting football student-athletes who have achieved outstanding success, both on and off the football,” said Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director. “From the record total of nominees that were submitted from colleges and universities around the country, it is apparent that collegiate football is producing some of the best and brightest that our country has to offer.”
ESPN.com will launch a customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® web site featuring profiles and images of the final 22 award recipients, as well as unique and interactive content for college football fans. For the first time in the program’s history, fans will be able to vote for a Team Captain on ESPN.com.
The 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team), Mewelde Moore (Tulane, 2003 team), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Pat Forde (ESPN.com), Tom O’Toole (USA Today), Gary Shelton (St. Petersburg Times), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Mount Union College Head Coach Larry Kehres; 1996 AFCA President Fisher DeBerry, former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy; and Allstate Vice President, Guy Hill.
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®:
Football Bowl Subdivision (Div I-A)
| Arizona State University – Thomas Weber |
| Baylor University – Robert Griffin |
| Bowling Green State University – Ben Bojicic |
| Brigham Young University – Riley Nelson |
| Central Michigan University – Brian Bennyhoff |
| Clemson University – Mason Cloy |
| Colorado State University – Eugene Daniels |
| Duke University – Bryan Morgan |
| Florida State University – Christian Ponder |
| Georgia Institute of Technology – Roddy Jones |
| Indiana University – Ben Chappell |
| Iowa State University – Alex Alvarez |
| Kansas State University – Alex Hrebec |
| Marshall University – Lee Smith |
| Michigan State University – Kirk Cousins |
| Northern Illinois University – Adam Kiel |
| Northwestern University – Corbin Bryant |
| Ohio State University – Bryant Browning |
| Oklahoma State University – Andrew McGee |
| Penn State University – Stefen Wisniewski |
| Purdue University – Kyle Adams |
| Rice University – Cheta Ozougwu |
| Rutgers University – Howard Barbieri |
| Southern Methodist University – Pete Fleps |
| Syracuse University – Bud Tribbey |
| Temple University – Amara Kamara |
| Texas A&M University – Jerrod Johnson |
| Texas Christian University – Tejay Johnson |
| Texas Tech University – Baron Batch |
| University of Alabama – John Michael Boswell |
| University of Connecticut – Zach Hurd |
| University of Florida – Jeff Demps |
| University of Idaho – Tyrone Novikoff |
| University of Iowa – Julian Vandervelde |
| University of Kansas – Brad Thorson |
| University of Kentucky – Randall Cobb |
| University of Memphis – Dominik Riley |
| University of Mississippi – Jerrell Powe |
| University of Missouri – Dan Hoch |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Alex Henery |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas – Matt Murphy |
| University of North Carolina – Robert Quinn |
| University of Notre Dame – Dayne Crist |
| University of Oklahoma – Quinton Carter |
| University of Pittsburgh – Greg Romeus |
| University of South Carolina – Cliff Matthews |
| University of Southern California – D.J. Shoemate |
| University of Southern Mississippi – Austin Davis |
| U.S. Naval Academy – Ricky Dobbs |
| University of Tennessee – Nick Reveiz |
| University of Texas-Austin – Sam Acho |
| University of Texas-El Paso – Donald Buckram |
| University of Toledo – Colin McHugh |
| University of Virginia – Ras-I Dowling |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – Danny Coale |
| University of Wisconsin – Scott Tolzien |
| Western Michigan University – Nick Mitchell |
Combined Divisions (FCS (I-AA) II, III & NAIA)
| Augustana College (S.D.) – Diego Oquendo |
| Bethel University (Minn.) – David Vavra |
| Campbell University – Charles Fiore |
| Campbellsville University (Ky.) – Calvin Bini |
| Central Methodist University – Matt Fraley |
| Centre College (Ky.) – Jonathan Pinque |
| Charleston Southern University – Jordan Lancaster |
| University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) – Madison McCalmon |
| Davidson College – John Behm |
| Drake University – Ben Morrison |
| Eastern New Mexico University – Jesse Poku |
| Eastern Oregon University – Chris Ware |
| Elon University – Khirey Walker |
| Ferrum College – T.J. Grzesikowski |
| Frostburg State University – Terryl Monroe |
| Heidelberg University – Derrick Arbogast |
| Hillsdale College – Kevin Hershock |
| Illinois Wesleyan University – Eli Williams |
| Lindenwood University – Billy Clark |
| Luther College – Jordan Grimm |
| Methodist University – Tyler Mosko |
| Millikin University – Dion Wilson |
| Montana State University – Tanner Ripley |
| North Dakota State University – Matthew Gratzek |
| Northern Arizona University – Mike Battisti |
| Northwestern State University – Justin Aldredge |
| Ohio Northern University – Kyle Simmons |
| Ouachita Baptist University – Eli Cranor |
| Rowan University – Matt Hoffman |
| St. John’s University (Minn.) – John Stanton |
| Salisbury University – Jamey McClendon |
| Samford University – Jeremy Towns |
| Southern Illinois University – Mike McElroy |
| Southwest Baptist University – Steve Gachette |
| Tarleton State University – Brandon Johnson |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville – DeIra Glover |
| Texas State University – Steven Kenney |
| University of Dayton – Dan Prindle |
| University of Delaware – Siddiq Haynes |
| University of Dubuque – Michael Zweifel |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – Max Taylor |
| University of Montana – Andrew Selle |
| University of Rochester – Conor McMahon |
| University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Ben Wartman |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout – Patrick Mengelkoch |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Aaron Rusch |
| Ursinus College – Mike Rissmiller |
| Wartburg College – Andrew Creary |
| Washington University (Mo.) – John Schneider |
| Wayne State University (Mich.) – Nick Thomas |
| Western Carolina University – Chris Everett |
| Willamette University – Scott Schoettgen |
| Winona State University – Cody Dummer |
| Wittenberg University – Jeremy Block |
| Youngstown State University – Torrance Nicholson |
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams® were established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate partnered to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
Since 1992, the Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 52 selections to the Good Works Teams®, followed by the Big 12 with 36 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 22 selections. In 2009, St. Thomas, Minn. defensive back Jeffrey Hilliard became the 12th Tommie to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, giving them the most selections of all time. Super Bowl XLII and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams®, respectively.
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