DALLAS, March 26, 2007 – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today the establishment of three fellowships with Play It Smart, the NFF’s highly successful youth development program that has changed the lives of thousands of at-risk student-athletes over the last nine years.

“In establishing these fellowships, the NFF will further strengthen its ties to the college community,” said NFF President Steven J. Hatchell. “Each year, we will select the best and the brightest from the college ranks, providing them with a dynamic opportunity to develop their skills in the world of sports business and philanthropy. It’s a program that we take great pride in launching, and we know that these positions will quickly become some of the most sought-after and coveted in all of sports for launching a career.”

A two-year post-graduate commitment, The NFF Play It Smart Fellowship Program will prepare participants for leadership positions in their chosen fields. Fellows will enhance their professional skills as they gain first hand experience carrying out Play It Smart’s mission of helping student-athletes take responsibility for their futures. Launched in 1998, more than 20,000 student-athletes in 85 cities have benefited from Play It Smart over the past nine years. Play It Smart fulfills its mission by financing the hiring and training of Academic Coaches who work with high schools in underserved communities.

“Play It Smart has had a profound impact on lives of thousands of student-athletes over the past decade,” said Play It Smart Executive Director and NFF Vice President Len Stachitas. “Our fellowship program will greatly expand Play It Smart’s reach by exposing a continuous flow of young college graduates to concepts and principles that have made Play It Smart a resounding success.”

A unique experience to gain exposure to the sports and non-profit sectors, the fellowship will include classes in non-profit management and speaking engagements across the country. Fellows will have the opportunity to work directly with high schools in economically disadvantaged communities to implement the program; develop relationships with other youth service organizations that can benefit participants; analyze grant applications; conduct evaluations of schools currently in the program; and assist with the program’s marketing, communication and fundraising efforts. An integral part of a fellow’s development will be to assume leadership roles on various projects, including recruitment of the next class of fellows, conducting special events and running recognition programs for deserving student-athletes.

The fellowship will include an annual salary of $28,000 plus benefits. Candidates must hold a degree from a four-year college or university. They should have a strong interest in public service and the impact that football can have on America’s youth. Other characteristics of successful candidates include proven leadership potential; highly developed analytical, written and verbal skills; a deep commitment to teamwork; and a willingness to travel extensively.

Applications are due May 1, 2007, and the fellowship program will commence on July 2 at the NFF’s office in Irving, Texas. Applications should include a cover letter, resume, official college transcript, two letters of recommendation, and documentation of one’s eligibility to work in the United States. Applications should be sent to: Charles Gomes, National Director, Play It Smart, 10 DeHart Street, Morristown, NJ 07960.

With major financial support from the NFL and the NFL Players Association, as well as a broad-coalition of corporations, communities, individuals and organizations, the Play It Smart program has quickly become one of the most comprehensive and effective youth development programs in the country, achieving dramatic results that include:

* 96% of participants graduating high school, compared to a national rate of 85%;

* 84% of seniors enrolling in college compared to 62% of their peers;

* Participants taking the SAT or ACT at twice the rate of their peers;

* Participants completing more than 84,000 hours of community service annually;

* Rosters increasing by 35% for teams with fewer than 40 players; and

* 200-plus graduates earning places among the elite collegiate ranks during the 2007 season on Football Bowl Subdivision rosters. Prominent alumni include Penn State’s Jay Alford, LSU’s Craig Davis, Ohio State’s Ted Ginn, Jr., USC’s Dwayne Jarrett, Ohio State’s Antonio Pittman, Florida’s Ray McDonald, Rutgers’ Ray Rice, and Miami’s Leon Williams, who played for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns during the 2006 season.

Play It Smart builds on the positive peer influences of team sports and a participant’s interest in football. The program’s academic coaches are trained in a set of guiding principles and a variety of tactics, which are designed to make academic achievement the norm.

Working closely with the direct support of a team’s head coach and others in the community, Academic Coaches hold one-on-one goal setting meetings, career and life skills sessions, mandatory study halls, SAT/ACT prep classes, community service projects and other team building events.

NFF