2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team(R) nominee list largest in 18-year history of award NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- A hard-working and committed group of college football players will take the field this fall knowing that the impact they have on their teams and communities has nothing to do with touchdowns, tackles or receptions. For a second consecutive year, Allstate Insurance Company has partnered with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to announce the list of 106 student-athletes nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team , which honors college football players who make outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. With their unselfish acts, such as volunteering at orphanages in Kenya, building a reliable water source for villagers in Kabul, tutoring disadvantaged youth, and visiting elderly patients in nursing homes, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominees distinguish themselves among the more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year collegiate institutions through off-the-field accomplishments. "Allstate and the AFCA have created a partnership of common interests and both organizations are proud to honor the off-the-field achievements of college football players and at all levels," said Guy Hill, vice president of sales and service for Allstate. "Allstate shares a genuine commitment to the community with these 106 student-athletes, and we encourage them to continue their benevolent efforts." The total of 106 nominations submitted by sports information directors across the country on behalf of their teams surpasses all previous single-season nominee totals in the 18-year history of the award. The 2009 class of nominees represents 41 states, including Washington, D.C., and 45 college athletic conferences. From these nominees, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members will be responsible for selecting two 11-player Good Works Teams - one composed of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and a combined team representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. College Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcast personality Lou Holtz will return as program spokesperson and serve as a member of this year's voting panel. "Allstate's sponsorship of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was a welcome addition to one of the oldest, non-competition awards in college football," said Grant Teaff, AFCA executive director. "As a very recognizable sponsor in the sport, Allstate is not only safe-guarding the tradition of college football, but also recognizing its players for their outstanding efforts both on and off the field and helping to shine a very positive light on the sport for all its fans." The 2009 Allstate/AFCA Good Works Teams voting panel includes: Allstate vice president, Guy Hill; former Good Works Teams 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 Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Dennis Dodd (CBSSports.com), Tony Barnhart (Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Kelly Whiteside (USA Today), Ivan Maisel (ESPN.com), Lou Holtz (ESPN); current AFCA president and San Jose State University head coach Dick Tomey; and 1996 AFCA president Fisher DeBerry, former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy. The following players have been nominated for consideration to be included among the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams : Football Bowl Subdivision (Div I-A) Arizona Sate University - Mike Nixon Auburn University - Walter McFadden Ball State - Brandon Crawford Baylor University - Joe Pawelek Boise State University - Richie Brockel Brigham Young University - Jan Jorgensen Central Michigan University - Dan LeFevour Clemson University - Xavier Dye Colorado State University - Adrian Martinez Duke University - Kevin Jones Indiana University - Jammie Kirlew Kansas State University - Jeron Mastrud Louisiana State University - Lyle Hitt Middle Tennessee State University - Phillip Tanner Northern Illinois University - David Bryant Northwestern University - Andrew Brewer Ohio University - Lee Renfro Ohio State University - Kurt Coleman Oregon State University - Taylor Kavanaugh Pennsylvania State University - Stefen Wisniewski Rutgers University - Billy Anderson San Jose State University - Travis Jones Temple University - Dominique Harris University of Akron - Alex Allen University of Alabama - Javier Arenas University of Arkansas - D.J. Williams University of Central Florida - Rocky Ross University of Florida - Tim Tebow University of Georgia - Jeff Owens University of Houston - Case Keenum University of Iowa - Julian Vandervelde University of Kansas - Darrell Stuckey University of Kentucky - Alfonso Smith University of Memphis - Dominik Riley University of Michigan - Zoltan Mesko University of Missouri - Kurtis Gregory University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Roy Helu, Jr. University of North Carolina - Kyle Jolly University of Notre Dame - Jimmy Clausen University of Oklahoma - Sam Bradford University of Pittsburgh - Adam Gunn University of South Carolina - Mauricus Brown University of Texas - Austin - Jordan Shipley University of California-Los Angeles - Derrick Coleman University of Texas-El Paso - Cameron Raschke U.S. Air Force Academy - Nick Charles U.S. Naval Academy - Ross Pospisil Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Tyrod Taylor Wake Forest University - Benjamin Wooster West Virginia University - Reed Williams University of Wisconsin - Chris Maragos Western Michigan University - Tim Hiller Combined Divisions (FCS (I-AA) II, III & NAIA) Ashland University - Nick Bellanco Beloit College - Joe Goldufsky Bethel University (Minn.) - Reid Velo Brevard College - Brandon Rawls Carroll University (Minn.) - Mike Berg Central College (Iowa) - Zach Van Arkel Colby College - Roger Bel Colorado School of Mines - David Pesek University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) - Paul Hughes Dana College - Nate Weathers Delaware State University - Nick Richmond Earlham College - Chris Owens East Texas Baptist University - Michael Cucinotta Eastern Washington University - Chris Thomas Florida A&M University - Philip Sylvester Georgetown University (D.C.) - Jon Cassidy Hampton University - Michael Swett Harding University - Brad Parker Hillsdale College - Eric Schweller College of the Holy Cross - Dominic Randolph Jacksonville State University - Joshua Cain John Carroll University - Joe Micca Johns Hopkins University - Tim Miller Langston University - Marquis Holden University of Montana - Terran Hillesland North Dakota State University - Richard Bowman Northeastern University - Zachary Abrams University of Northern Iowa - Joshua Mahoney Northern State University - Brian Jark Northwest Missouri State University - Sean Paddock Ottawa University - Andrew Otto University of Richmond - Kevin Grayson Sacred Heart University - Mark Uyeno Samford University - Ty Levie Southeastern Louisiana University - Darnell Jones Southwest Baptist University - Steve Gachette Southwest Minnesota State University - Paul Muecke St. Cloud State University - Doug Asquith Saint Francis University (Pa.) - Russel Fisher University of St. Thomas (Minn.)- Jeffrey Hilliard Tarleton State University - Jacob Rowe Texas A&M University-Commerce - Taylor Fore Texas A&M University-Kingsville - Markeith Wesley Tusculum College - Jarrell NeSmith Valparaiso University - Adam Rundh Villanova University - Benjamin Ijalana Washington University-St. Louis - Tim Taylor University of West Alabama - Dameon Baylor West Texas A&M - James Chandler Western New England College - David Doiron Wilmington College - Billy Blackburn University of Wisconsin-Platteville - George Katze Wittenberg University - Lance Phillps Youngstown State University - Aaron Pitts 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 individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through approximately 14,700 exclusive Allstate agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate . Encompass and Deerbrook Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. Customers can also access information about Allstate Financial Group products and services at myallstatefinancial.com. 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 50 selections to the Good Works Teams , followed by the Big 12 with 35 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 23 selections. In 2008, St. Thomas, Minn. running back Mikkel Haugen became the 11th Tommie to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, tying them with Georgia and Nebraska for 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. About AFCA The American Football Coaches Association was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 10,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football." DATASOURCE: Allstate CONTACT: Raleigh Floyd, Allstate Media Relations, +1-847-402-7891, , or Bates Grainger, Taylor, +1-704-548-8556, , or Vince Thompson, AFCA Media Relations, +1-254-754-9900, Web Site: http://myallstatefinancial.com/

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