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Good in the Game Presented by the National Football Foundation - 9/24

Alex Smith helped set the standard for what Utah football has become today.

September 24, 2024

Good morning, football fans! Why did Jalen Milroe decide to spend another year at Alabama after graduation?

“I had unfinished business in college - with my teammates, for the state of Alabama, for my family - and I felt like there was so much left for me here at Alabama. I wanted to stay and continue down the path towards success that Alabama has put me on thanks to the many great resources they have for us as student-athletes.”

Hear more from the Alabama quarterback below!

Utah’s standard-setting quarterback is headed to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame on Dec. 10!

Alex Smith wore several helmets during his playing days, which ended in 2020 after 14 seasons in the NFL.

It’s his college helmet — the red and white feathered ‘U’ of the Utah Utes — that holds a special place in his heart, though. After starring for the Utes from 2002-2004 and seeing the program reach recent heights he never thought possible, Smith will be the first-ever National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame member from Utah when he is inducted this December in Las Vegas.

Click here to read more about Smith’s legacy in his 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Spotlight!

Despite taking other visits before making his college decision, Oklahoma was always home to Dewey Selmon, whose family farm was just 120 miles away from Norman.

It turns out his decision to become a Sooner was a Hall of Fame decision — four straight Big Eight championships and a pair of national championships later, Selmon is headed to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame!

Click here to read more about Selmon’s legacy in his 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Spotlight!

SEC reigns in this week’s FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll!

Five of the top six spots in this week’s FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll belong to members of the SEC, with Texas holding onto the top spot for the second week in a row.

Learn more about the game with CFO’s Steve Shaw

The NFF works with College Football Officiating (CFO) throughout the year to make the game better and safer. As part of the relationship, the NFF is pleased to share with our readers the most recent CFO-NCAA Media Video, explaining some of the recent play calls in college football.

COME JOIN US IN LAS VEGAS!

The 66th National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas will be here before we know it, and tickets are going fast — buy yours now to ensure you get the NFF discounted rate!

Jalen Milroe — QB, Alabama

Photo: Alabama Athletics

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is one of the record-breaking 3,568 graduates playing college football this season. We recently caught up with the Tide quarterback to learn a little more about his work in the classroom!

What was the biggest factor in deciding to play another season of college football after graduating?
“I had unfinished business in college - with my teammates, for the state of Alabama, for my family - and I felt like there was so much left for me here at Alabama. I wanted to stay and continue down the path towards success that Alabama has put me on thanks to the many great resources they have for us as student-athletes.”

Why did you decide to major in business with a concentration in entrepreneurship?
“Football is a vehicle that has allowed me to see many things, and one thing that really stuck with me growing up were all the great athletic complexes for athletes to train at. My goal is to one day run a sports facility that helps to train athletes and, from there, eventually branch off and have a venue for athletes to play at.”

What's your favorite class you've taken at Alabama, and why?
“My favorite class that I have taken at Alabama is GBA490 [Strategic Management]. I think it was a great class because it gave me real-world scenarios and allowed me to expand my horizons as a problem solver.”

How will your degree benefit you in life after football?
“My degree will benefit me in so many ways. Mainly, it will open doors and grant me access to so many opportunities that I would not have been able to imagine had I not graduated from college. Additionally, there are so many things that I can take away from my classes that will help me in the future as I continue to grow as an adult.”

What is the key to balancing a full class schedule and football?
“The number one thing is that you have to be detail oriented. Number two is having a schedule. And number three is having someone that can keep you on track. A combination of all three things is essential to managing the workload put on a football student-athlete at the Division I level.”

A historic football location in central Florida has been re-opened!

Moore Park, the original site of the “Palm Festival” in 1933, predecessor of the Orange Bowl Festival, now known as the Capital One Orange Bowl, has undergone a revitalization project to enhance the park’s appeal, accessibility and overall visitor experience.

Photo: Pensacola News Journal

Lighthouse Christian College (Fla.) has begun its inaugural college football season this fall, giving dozens of kids another opportunity to play — from right out of high school, transferring in, or after a few years away.

Saturday afternoons in Pensacola just got more fun!

Adam Decker, a linebacker at Michigan State in the late 2000s, has passed away. He was 37.

Steve Svitak, the first Boise State player ever selected in the NFL Draft and a two-time All-American for the Broncos, has passed away. He was 79.

Eugene “Mercury” Morris, a standout running back at West Texas State before starring for the storied Miami Dolphins of the 1970s, has passed away. He was 77.

Gene Cronin, a Hall of Famer at his alma mater Pacific and the first person hired by the Atlanta Falcons in 1965, has passed away. He was 90.

Jim Cullivan, an offensive lineman for Murray State in the late 1940s after serving in World War II and a longtime college football coach, has passed away. He was 103.

Donnell Thompson, a first round pick in the 1981 NFL Draft out of North Carolina and 11-year NFL veteran, has passed away. He was 65.

One of the highlights on the NFF calendar each year, the William V. Campbell Trophy Summit serves as a vehicle for perpetuating the ethos that helped Bill Campbell, the trophy’s namesake, become one of the most influential business leaders of his generation.

The Summit is a whole lot of fun — check out highlights from this year below!

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