Monday's Chalktalk - February 6, 2012

Eli Manning Becomes the First NFF National Scholar-Athlete
to Quarterback Two Super Bowl Championship Teams

Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., 2003 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Eli Manning (Ole Miss) guided the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, making him the first NFF National Scholar-Athlete to claim two Super Bowl rings as the winning quarterback.

The win brought Manning and the Giants their fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history and second in five years. Manning, who completed 30-of-40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown, earned Super Bowl MVP honors for the second time in his career. To see Manning receive his National Scholar-Athlete award at the 46th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, please click HERE.

For the NFF, Super Bowl XLVI marks the 11th consecutive Super Bowl champion to feature a former NFF National Scholar-Athlete. Below is a list of each Super Bowl winner featuring a former NFF National Scholar-Athlete, with the winner's school and year honored:


Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants: Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003)*
Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers: Graham Harrell (Texas Tech, 2008)
Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees (Purdue, 2000)*, Chase Daniel (Missouri, 2008), Jonathan Stinchcomb (Georgia, 2002), Jonathan Vilma (Miami (Fla.), 2001)
Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers: Dennis Dixon (Oregon, 2007)
Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants: Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003)*
Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts: Josh Betts (Miami (Ohio), 2005), Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997)*
Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Hope (Florida State, 2001)
Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots: Je'Rod Cherry (California, 1995)
Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots: Je'Rod Cherry (California, 1995)
Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derrick Brooks (Florida State, 1994)
Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots: Je'Rod Cherry (California, 1995)

* - Named Most Valuable Player

The New England Patriots were represented by former NFF National Scholar-Athletes Nate Jones (Rutgers), Nate Solder (Colorado) and Danny Woodhead (Chadron State, Neb.). Woodhead rushed seven times for 18 yards and caught four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown.

THE BLITZ

2009 William V. Campbell Trophy winner Tim Tebow (Florida) was named the winner of the GMC Never Say Never award on Saturday night in Indianapolis. The award honors the moment or play that best represents determination and perseverance during the 2011 NFL season.

2000 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Drew Brees (Purdue) has been named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Brees threw for 5,476 yards in 2011, breaking the single-season passing yardage record set by College Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (Pittsburgh) in 1984.

College Football Hall of Famer Kevin Butler (Georgia) was inducted into the American Football Kicking Hall of Fame last week. Former Southern Miss kicker, the late Jerrel Wilson was also inducted as part of the 2012 class.

College Football Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz spoke at Yucaipa High School in Yucaipa, Calif., last week.

College Football Hall of Famer Gary Reasons and fellow former Northwestern State player Jackie Smith will headline the first NSU Athletic Association Legends Dinner and Golf Scramble on March 25-26 in Bossier City, La. and Shreveport, La.

College Football Hall of Famer coach Frank Kush and College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Danny White, both of Arizona State, attended the NFF Valley of the Sun (Ariz.) Chapter's National Signing Day event on Tuesday.

Jonathan Warner, the son of College Football Hall of Famer Curt Warner (Penn State), signed a National Letter of Intent to play wide receiver at Penn State on Tuesday. Ford Childress, the son of College Football Hall of Famer Ray Childress (Texas A&M), has signed a National Letter of Intent to play quarterback at West Virginia.

College Football Hall of Famer and 1973 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Randy Gradishar (Ohio State) recently conducted a Q & A with the Denver Post.

Campbell Trophy semifinalist Kyle Newhall-Caballero of Brown is the NFF's Scholar-Athlete of the Day, presented by Fidelity Investments. Check daily at FootballFoundation.org to see which Campbell Trophy candidate is the Scholar-Athlete of the Day.

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Key NFF Contributors

1972 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Dr. Timothy Quinn (Dayton) has joined the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association.

Wittenburg (Ohio) University has joined the NFF as an Institutional Academic Member.

OVER THE MIDDLE

NFF Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter namesake Jack Grinold has been selected to the Beanpot Hall of Fame in Boston. . . . The South Florida Touchdown Club has become the NFF's newest Chapter. . . . The NFF Touchdown Club of Houston, teaming with the Houston Texans and Houston ISD, will host the Fourth Annual Senior Football Showcase in Houston on Feb. 18. . . . The NFF Cincinnati Chapter will honor a courageous high school senior at its banquet on Feb. 28. Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones will be the featured speaker . . . . The NFF Orange County (Calif.) Chapter will hold its 42nd Scholar-Athlete Banquet on Feb. 27 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Community Service

Villanova head coach Andy Talley and his Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation will host the 2nd Annual Andy Talley Bone Marrow Bash on March 3 in Philadelphia. Talley is also the president of the NFF Philadelphia Chapter.

Miscellaneous

Former St. Bonaventure player Jack Butler, former Kentucky player Dermontti Dawson, former Pittsburgh players Chris Doleman and Curtis Martin, former Miami (Fla.) player Cortez Kennedy and former Louisiana Tech player Willie Roaf have been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. . . . Army will hold its annual Black/Gold Game at Fort Benning, Ga.'s Doughboy Stadium on March 9. . . . Southern Illinois and UnderArmour have announced a partnership that will make the Baltimore-based company the Salukis' official apparel supplier for five years. . . . Houston students have passed a fee increase to begin construction on a new football stadium. A school record 9,923 students voted to pass the referendum, with more than 73 percent of voters in favor of the increase. . . . South Dakota and Adidas have signed an exclusive agreement to make the apparel company the official provider for the Coyotes' football team.

Obituaries

Louisiana Tech running back Tyronne Duplessis passed away Thursday, Feb. 2. He was 21.

2012 Key NFF Dates

May 15, 2012 - Announcement of the 2012 College Football Hall of Fame Class - NASDAQ OMX, New York City

July 20-21, 2012 - College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival - South Bend, Indiana

Dec. 4, 2012 - 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner - Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City

NFF Information

Advertising in NFF publications will put your organization in front of key decision makers in football including key administrators, coaches, players, former players, as well as other key sports business executives throughout the year. To inquire about the print advertising opportunities available to your organization, please contact Bret Krift with IMG College at 859-226-4406 or bret.krift@imgworld.com.

Become a fan of the National Football Foundation on Facebook - Upload your game day photos, check out pictures of the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, and chat with other college football fans.

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For more information on the NFF and college football, including announcements from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and NCAA Football, please visit www.footballfoundation.org.

Sign up for "This Week in NCAA Football" at ncaafootball.com.

The 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at New York City's Waldorf=Astoria. For more ticket information, please contact NFF Director of National Events Will Rudd at 1-800-486-1865 or via email at wrudd@footballfoundation.com.

Purchase the 54th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Program

The 54th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Program is still available for purchase, but only a limited number remain. The program can be obtained by sending a check for $20, plus $4.75 for shipping and handling to: NFF Annual Awards Dinner Program, 433 Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 1130, Irving, TX 75039.

Notes

The NFF would like to thank correspondent Bo Carter for his contributions to this report.

NFF Chalktalk items are welcome, and should be submitted to news@footballfoundation.com.