6/17: Reigniting The Coaching Fire

Good in the Game 6/17

June 17, 2025

Good morning, football fans! Keep an eye out next week — the National Football Foundation is set to announce the NFF Team of Distinction!

Legendary Utah quarterback Alex Smith’s 2024 NFF College Football Hall of Fame speech reminded Dan Mullen of his calling, and reignited his fire for coaching. Mullen will return to the sideline this fall as the head coach at UNLV!

Love College Football.
Now Help Shape Its History.

The 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot is out — featuring 223 legends across all levels of the game. Only National Football Foundation members can vote, helping decide which icons take their place among the less than 0.02% of players and coaches ever enshrined. Join the NFF today to cast your ballot and make your voice part of the legacy. Voting ends July 1.

In the latest episode of the Good in the Game Podcast, two Butkus Award winners sit down for an in-depth interview as host LaVar Arrington chats with former Michigan Wolverine linebacker Erick Anderson. Erick discusses his time in Ann Arbor, the magical 1991 season, where the game has taken him and what has meant the most to him outside of the game.

Join us to celebrate college football legends such as Montee Ball, Graham Harrell, Michael Strahan, Michael Vick and many, many more at one of the sport's grandest traditions — the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas — Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at the iconic Bellagio Hotel & Casino.

The highlight of the Awards Dinner will be the induction of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class, where 18 legendary players and four acclaimed coaches take their place amongst the greatest of all time. The inductees proudly represent every region of the country, 28 collegiate institutions, 11 conferences, and seven decades.

The Boston College football team and the Beautiful Lives Project teamed up last week to host the annual Field of Dreams event for individuals with disabilities.

Eddie Garcia, a member of the Green Bay Packers board of directors and former place-kicker for the team, has passed away. He was 65.

Stew Barber, who played collegiately at Penn State and earned All-American honors as an offensive lineman before being selected in both the NFL and AFL Drafts in 1961, has passed away. He was 86.

Wayne DeSutter, who played collegiately at Western Illinois and spent time with the Buffalo Bills before serving in the Illinois National Guard and becoming an educator and coach, has passed away. He was 81.

Mark Lomas, who played collegiately at Northern Arizona in the 1960s before a seven-year career with the New York Jets from 1970-76, has passed away. He was 76.

Name: Joe Susan
High School: South River (N.J.)
College: University of Delaware (1973-76)
Now: Rutgers Special Assistant to the Head Coach

Share your football story with us! We want to know what football means to you, the lessons you learned, and the opportunities it provided.

June 25 — NFF Team of Distinction announced

July 24-26 — Campbell Trophy Summit at Stanford University

August 11 – FWAA-NFF Super 16 Preseason Poll

August 23 – Week Zero Games

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