Vote on ESPN.com For Ricky McClain As Captain!
THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Sept. 20, 2011) – On Tuesday, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Allstate Insurance Company announced the members of the 2011 Allstate ACFA Good Works Team®, one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college football. Maritime junior Ricky McClain (Wantagh, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) has earned a spot on the 11-man team made up of DI-FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA players. The award, which is now in its 20th year, recognizes a select group of college football players committed to making a difference in their communities.
"For two decades this award has represented one of the great aspects of college football by shining a spotlight on the community involvement of its student-athletes," said Mark LaNeve, Allstate executive vice president, marketing & sales operations, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "Allstate is proud to partner with the AFCA to present and grow awareness around this award and continues to be inspired by the commitment and dedication of its recipients."
McClain has spent the past five years volunteering his time as a snowboard instructor with the Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF), an organization for individuals with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities. During his time with ASF, the junior defensive lineman has worked with men and women from U.S. Armed Forces who have lost limbs during combat, children with Autism and athletes with Down syndrome. On the field, McClain led the Privateers to the 2010 NCAA Division III playoffs and was named to the 2010 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference First Team.
"Ricky's selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is an incredible honor for Ricky, his family, our football team and Maritime College," commented Maritime head coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes. "Of course, Ricky is embarrassed by all the attention because he just enjoys the thrill of helping those that need help by contributing to the important mission at the Adaptive Sports Foundation. The entire Maritime College community is so proud of him."
McClain was one of 22 student-athletes selected out of a record 132 nominees by a panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and current college football broadcasters. Of the two 11-member teams, one comprises players competing in the NCAA® Football Bowl Subdivision and the other is a combined team representing the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA.
"The tremendous community service activities these young student-athletes participate in is exceptional," said Grant Teaff, Executive Director of the AFCA. "These 22 student-athletes have sacrificed their personal time in an attempt to make their communities a better place. We couldn't be more proud to have these players make up the 20th Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. We are also proud to be partnered with Allstate in recognizing these outstanding student-athletes."
Fans will be able to vote on ESPN.com for an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain by clicking on this link. Once there, they can view the player profiles on the website and learn more about this year's team members and their selfless acts of kindness. The Team Captain and his fellow award recipients will be invited to New Orleans to take part in a special volunteer project leading up to the 2012 Allstate® Sugar Bowl® in January.
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via http://www.allstate.com/ and 1-800 Allstate®.
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
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 54 selections to the Good Works Teams®, followed by the Big 12 with 40 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 29 selections. With Aron White's selection this year, Georgia moves into first place with 13 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Nebraska and St. Thomas (Minn.) with 12 honorees each. 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 AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the 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."
Courtesy of Maritime Athletics
