Every week, the National Football Foundation highlights the people, stories and moments that demonstrate football's impact beyond the field.
The NFF joined the NFL, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and other football organizations in celebrating American Football Week, Nov. 5–8, a four-day national initiative that united youth, high school, college and professional football to celebrate the game and recognize the coaches who make a lasting impact on young people. The celebration began Thursday with American Football Day, followed by high school football and Texas High School Coaches Day on Friday, college football on Saturday and NFL games on Sunday. NFL Films produced a special video honoring coaches for promotion throughout the weekend across social media, in stadiums and during games. Click here for a tribute to all the coaches.
The NFF celebrated Veterans Day on Wednesday to honor the millions of Americans who have served in the U.S Armed Forces.
Long before he chaired the NFF’s National Advisory Board, General Douglas MacArthur managed the Army football team as a West Point cadet. When he returned as superintendent, he championed athletics as a way to prepare cadets to lead. Today, college football’s national champion receives the NFF MacArthur Bowl, which bears his name.
To all who have worn our nation’s uniform, thank you for your service.
Olin Kreutz — OL, Washington
Olin Kreutz was honored during Washington’s Nov. 7 home game. From left: his wife Wendi, Kreutz and Washington Athletics Director Patrick Chun.
Join the Celebration of College Football’s Greatest Legends — December 8, 2026
College football players are members of the greatest fraternity in the world. Check out the National Football Foundation’s ‘I Played’ roster and submit your story to join today!
Members who recently submitted their ‘I Played’ story:
Todd Brothers II, Youngstown State — Corrections Officer
Christopher Cola, Ole Miss — CFO, Detmar Logistics
Darrin Chiaverini, Colorado — Head coach, Northeastern State (OK)
. . .
“I put on a helmet for the first time at six years old in Metairie, Louisiana. I did not know it then, but I was enrolling in a personal development program that would run for the next four decades and counting.”
— Christopher Cola
Come see University of Texas-Arlington’s Bruce Collie on Dec. 8 at the
Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for his induction!
Bruce Collie starred on the offensive line at the University of Texas at Arlington from 1981–84, establishing himself as one of the most dominant linemen in the nation. The San Antonio, Texas, native becomes the first person ever from the Mavericks program to enter the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Collie utilized his 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame with exceptional strength, leverage, and technique to create an imposing force on the offensive line, and his efforts led to UTA's sustained success during the early 1980s, including a Southland Conference championship and a 10-2 record in 1981.
Be there with us as we induct Bruce Collie into the NFF College Hall of Fame on December 8 at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas!
Stay tuned for more news regarding the latest football participation numbers, schools adding college football, graduates playing college football and the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner!
December 8 — 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino
December 8 — Announcement of the winner of the 37th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®
December 8-9 — The SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
January 25, 2027 — CFP National Championship at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
Here are stories the NFF is reading this week as we gear up for another memorable college football season!
What’s it like ferrygating with Army football’s newest fans
ESPN
Steve Young gets emotional after daughter’s team wins HS flag football title
SF Gate
From Bama to Indiana, Irish kickers are a College Football Gael Force
Sportico
F.A. Dry, the former head coach and director of athletics at Tulsa who guided the Golden Hurricanes to four consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships, has passed away. He was 95.
Mike Friedman, the head coach at Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo) from 1974-83 who won 60 games with the Indians, passed away Nov. 10.
Matt Hardin, who quarterbacked collegiately at Jacksonville State and threw for nearly 3,000 yards for the Gamecocks, passed away Nov. 2.
Dick Hoak, who played collegiately at Penn State and won five Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers before becoming a longtime assistant coach with Pittsburgh, has passed away. He was 86.
James Maconaghy Sr., the NFF’s Collegiate Official of the Year in 1996 and the 2019 recipient of the David M. Parry Award, passed away Nov. 6. He was 78.
Charles Porter, who played collegiately at Duke before a career in television with appearances in The Parkers and Without a Trace along with several producer credits, has passed away. He was 47.
Jack Sanders, who played collegiately at Southern Methodist, passed away Oct. 30. He was 84.
Todd Shell, who played collegiately at BYU before becoming a first round pick of the San Francisco 49ers and winning a Super Bowl with the franchise in 1984, has passed away. He was 64.
Bill Shover, a former newspaper executive and cofounder of the Fiesta Bowl who also chaired the successful efforts to bring Super Bowl XXX to Tempe in 1996, passed away Nov. 7. He was 98.
You’re receiving this email from the National Football Foundation in partnership with Sport & Story. If you’d like to unsubscribe from the Footballetter Newsletter, which replaces the NFF’s Down & Distance, you can easily do so below and it won't affect anything related to your current communication preferences with the National Football Foundation.
