Page 1www.footballfoundation.org July 30, 2008

The National Football Foundation’s

Presented byChapter NetworkJULY 30, 2008 — VOL. 4, ISSUE 16 BUILDING LEADERS THROUGH FOOTBALL

Southern Idaho Chapter Awards $4,000 in ScholarshipsBoise State’s Schlekeway and Idaho State’s Winn Claim Top Collegiate Honors

With more than 150 family members and friends in attendance, The Southern Idaho Chapter held its 12th Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet April 26 at the

Owyhee Plaza Hotel in Boise.The event paid tribute to eight high school and two college

players for their excellence on the football field and in the classroom, and under the leadership of Chapter President Ernie Hoidal, a total of $4,000 was awarded in scholarships to the high school seniors. The elite eight high school players included: Dane Broadhead, Mincio HS; Brennan Fridley, Emmett HS; Eli Kamplain, Nampa HS; Grayson Laurino, Boise HS; Caleb McSurdy, Borah HS; Brandon Richins, Weiser HS; Michael Thomas, Bishop Kelly HS and Matt Ward of Mountain Home HS.

Nick Schlekeway won the Lyle Smith Award as the top scholar-athlete from Boise State while Jon Winn received the Italo “Babe” Caccia Award as Idaho State’s No. 1 scholar- athlete. Lyle Smith is the former head coach and retired athletic director for the Broncos. A 6’4” 246 pound DE, Schlekeway was also named to the All-WAC squad and the NFF’s Hampshire Honor Society. Babe Caccia was not only a standout football player and wrestler during his college career at ISU in the 1930’s, but he later became the head football coach of the Bengals. The 6’6” 250 pound Winn, who played TE for the Bengals this year, was named the 2007-08 Big Sky Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

Boise State head football coach Chris Petersen attended to present Schlekeway his award, and Paul J. Schneider of KBOI Radio 670 in Boise served as the master of ceremonies. Schneider has been the radio voice of Broncos football and basketball for the past 33 years.

The city of Boise was the site of the Southern Idaho Chapter’s 12th Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet.

Broncos head Coach Chris Petersen (pictured) presented DE Nick Schlekeway with the Lyle Smith Award as the best scholar-athlete from BSU.

Top Row: Jonathan Winn, Idaho State University (Italo “Babe” Caccia Scholar-Athlete); Grayson Laurino, Boise HS, Boise; Caleb McSurdy, Borah HS, Boise; Brennan Fridley, Emmett HS, Emmett; Dane Broadhead, Minico HS, Rupert; Nick Schlekeway, Boise State University (Lyle Smith Scholar-Athlete). Seated: Brandon Richins, Weiser HS, Weiser; Michael Thomas, Bishop Kelly HS, Boise; Matt Ward, Mountain Home HS, Mountain Home; Eli Kamplain, Nampa Christian HS, Nampa.

NFF Membership Director Ron Dilatush; Chris Petersen, Boise State University head football coach; Coach Lyle Smith, former Boise State head Coach and athletic director; Nick Schlekeway, Boise State University Scholar-Athlete.

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Page 2www.footballfoundation.org July 30, 2008

Sunflower Chapter Chooses the Best From 345 High SchoolsIn-State Rivals Kansas and Kansas State Share Common Ground

In-state rivals the University of Kansas and Kansas State University joined

forces recently at the Sunflower Chapter’s annual awards banquet April 24, paying tribute to 11 high school scholar-athletes inside the Bill Snyder Family Stadium on the Kansas State campus in Manhattan.

Touting an impressive average 3.9 GPA, the 11 players were chosen from nominations covering the 345 high schools throughout the state. The chapter awarded two $500 scholarships.

Bill Snyder, the legendary former Kansas State coach, presented each scholar-athlete with their respective plaques. The architect of perhaps the greatest turnaround in college football history, Snyder retired in 2005 with 136 victories at Kansas State, the most ever for a coach at the school. Ron Prince, Snyder’s successor and new standard bearer of the Wildcats winning ways, delivered the event’s keynote address.

While Coaches Snyder and Prince represent success at Kansas State, Don Fambrough became one of the most popular coaches ever at the University of Kansas during his two stints at the school (1971-1974 & 1979-1981). Each year the chapter presents its Coach of the Year Award in his honor, and Randy Dreiling, who has led Hutchinson HS to the last four 6A State Championships, claimed the 2008 award. Chris Kaufman, a Winfield native who has officiated in the state for the past 33 years, received the Football Official Award.

David Lawrence, the radio voice of Jayhawk football and a past Kansas team captain, emceed the banquet while the NFF’s Director of National Events Will Rudd spoke on behalf of the organization.

The chapter continues to benefit from the leadership of president Gerry McGuire and founding president and former executive director of the College Football Hall of Fame Bernie Kish.

David Lawrence (l), the radio voice of Kansas football served as the events master of ceremonies. Law-rence is pictured with color commentator Bill Davis.

John Babb who participated in the Play It Smart Program at Topeka HS receives his plaque from K-State legend Bill Snyder.

The chapter’s annual event was held inside the Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Kansas State head coach Ron Prince delivered the keynote address.

Chapter President Gerry McGuire.

Page 3www.footballfoundation.org July 30, 2008

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Rhode Island Chapter Eclipses $100,000URI Head Coach Darren Rizzi Delivers Keynote Address

Led by the dynamic leadership of chapter president and the 2005 NFF’s East Region Chapter Leadership Award Winner, Emo DiNitto, the Rhode Island Chapter notched

its 21st Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet May 5 at the West Valley Inn in West Warwick.

Thirty outstanding high school students claimed honors at the event while 12 individuals from the group earned distinction as members of the chapter’s Golden Dozen. The chapter awarded 10 members of its “Golden Dozen” $500 scholarships while Nathan Lovett of East Providence HS and Neal Rooney of LaSalle Academy each claimed $2,000 grants. Both young men will be playing football at Brown this fall.

The 18 remaining honorees earned recognition on the chapter’s “Silver” team, taking home handsome trophies for their accomplishments. Over the past 21 years, the chapter has recognized over 600 young men and distributed more than $100,000 in scholarships, including the $10,000 distributed this year. Darren Rizzi, who was named the head football coach at Rhode Island last December, delivered the keynote address.

The Rev. Brian Shanley, O.P., president of Providence College, claimed the chapter’s Distinguished American Award. The chapter presented Mickey Kwiatowski, former head football coach at Hofstra and Brown, with the Contribution to Amateur Football Award, and Charles Lehourites received a “Special Football Award” for his many outstanding years as a football official in Rhode Island.

The chapter also solicited assistance from the local media to play a role in the festivities. Frank Carpano, a sportscaster with Providence’s NBC affiliate Channel 10, served as the emcee, and Providence Journal sports writers Jim Norman and John Gillooly presented awards to the honorees.

Former Brown head coach Mickey Kwiatowski received the chapter’s Contribution to Amateur Football Award.

(L-R) Darren Rizzi, head football coach at URI; Reverend Brian Shanley, president of Providence College and the recipient of the Distinguished American Award; and Emo DiNitto, chapter president who coached Father Shanley as a high school player.

The Rooney Family L-R: Lynne Rooney (mom); Brianna Rooney (sister); Neil Rooney, recipient of the Chuck Pono $2000 Scholarship; and Kevin Rooney (dad and former Brown University football star lineman). Neil attends LaSalle Academy and will attend Brown University next fall.

Scholar-Athlete and Exeter/West Greenwich HS speedster Kevin Luczak.

The Golden Dozen.

Newly appointed URI head football coach Darren Rizzi gave the keynote speech.

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Page 4www.footballfoundation.org July 30, 2008

Montana Chapter Touches All CornersBig Sky Native Sonny Lubick Returns Home

S taging its 11th annual awards banquet, The Montana Chapter paid tribute to one scholar-athlete from each of the state’s five high school classifications

and one from each of the state’s seven football playing colleges on April 26 in Helena. This impressive group of 12 compiled a 3.7 cumulative GPA.

Led by President Bill Sprinkle, the NFF’s 2007 Western Region Chapter Leadership Award recipient, the chapter distributed $4,200 in scholarships. Traveling from Seattle, Wash., King County Chapter President Walt Hunt attended the event, speaking on behalf of the Foundation.

Sonny Lubick, the most successful head coach in Colorado State history, delivered the event’s keynote address. After four decades as a collegiate coach, the 2007 season marked Lubick’s 15th and final year at the helm of the Rams’ program that he built from virtually the ground up. He won over 100 games at CSU; claimed or shared six conference titles; guided his team to nine bowl games; and received National Coach of the Year honors from Sports Illustrated in 1994. A Butte, Mont., native and a 1960 graduate of Western Montana, Lubick coached at Montana State earlier in his career.

The chapter presents its Contribution to Amateur Football Award in four separate categories, including assistant coach, official, media and administrator. Tom Hauck, defensive tackles coach at Montana, received the assistant coach award. His nephew Bobby Hauck is the head coach of the Grizzlies. Longtime high school and college official Bob Chilton won the Officials Award while retired Montana SID and former radio voice of the Grizzlies Bill Schwanke claimed the media award. Barb Kenison of Butte took home the administrator award for her many years as the administrative assistant in the Frontier Conference office.

Montana Chapter President Bill Sprinkle (r) welcomes Seattle Chapter President Walt Hunt to the event.

Former CSU Coach and Butte, MT native Sonny Lubick delivered the keynote address.

Helena HS scholar-athlete Steven Foster plans to play football at MSU next fall.Montana defensive back Torrey Thomas.2008 Montana Scholar-Athletes.

Matt Ritter of Butte Central HS spoke on behalf of the scholar-athletes.

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