What do we have included in this week’s National Football Foundation Footballetter?

🏈 Michael Vick tells his ‘I Played’ story
🏈 Hear from Dennis Thurman on what’s good in the game
🏈 ‘College GameDay’ turns 40 this fall
🏈 And much more!

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: 

• T-Joe Breaux, LSU — Sales representative, Riddell

• Brian Burrell, Bowie State (MD) — Therapist SUD, Mental Health, Salvation Army

• Charlie Lee, Nevada — Retired law enforcement

Name: Michael Vick
College: Virginia Tech
Accomplishments: 2025 NFF College Hall of Fame inductee
Now: Head coach at Norfolk State

There are good things happening all over the game of football. The National Football Foundation has asked individuals to share an example of something they see happening within our sport that is good for the game. Here are their answers!

. . .

“It’s the ultimate team game. You get the opportunity to meet a lot of different people from totally different places and walks of life. You all come together for one common goal. You develop a brotherhood and a kindred spirit for one another that you really can’t explain to people who aren’t a part of it.”

— Dennis Thurman, 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee

Pasadena Honors Flag Football Scholar-Athletes

The NFF Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Chapter presented its inaugural Girls Flag Football Scholar-Athlete Awards on May 17 to Michaela Aston (Alhambra High School), Alina Valdivia (Montebello High School), Reagan Herrmann (Glendora High School) and Sophia Farrar (Charter Oak High School).

Charlie Neal, the 2023 NFF Chris Schenkel Award recipient and the legendary voice of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) sports, passed away May 13. He was 80.

Neal started his broadcast career as a radio disc jockey in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pa. He broke into television as a sports anchor in Washington, D.C. in 1971 for WRC-TV (NBC). From there he worked in Philadelphia, Detroit, and New York City. While working in Detroit, he met Bob Johnson, who was in the process of starting Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Click here to read more about the life and legacy of Charlie Neal.

• William Davis, who played collegiately at Sam Houston State, West Virginia and Virginia Union, has passed away. He was 22.

• Donald Gibb, who played collegiately at San Diego and went on to a career in Hollywood, has passed away. He was 71.

• Bobby Keasler, who coached collegiately at both Louisiana-Monroe and McNeese State, has passed away. He was 80.

• Dave Kuresa, who played collegiately at Utah State, has passed away. He was 63.

• David Lee, who played collegiately at Louisiana Tech, has passed away. He was 82.

• Sherman Lewis, who was an All-America halfback at Michigan State in 1963 and returned to Michigan State as an assistant coach under NFF College Football Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty in 1969, has passed away. He was 83.

• John Snyder, who played collegiately at Maryland, has passed away. He was 83.

• Carlos Vacek, who played collegiately at TCU, has passed away. He was 89.

May 27 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF High School Team of Distinction

June 1 — Release of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

July 23-25 — NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit at Stanford University

September 23 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists

October 21 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy® Finalists

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®

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