THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Dec. 31, 2011) – SUNY Maritime junior defensive lineman Ricky McClain (Wantagh, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) will be traveling down to New Orleans, La., this weekend to take part in festivities surrounding the Allstate Sugar Bowl®. During halftime of the game, McClain will be recognized on the field of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome along with 21 other members of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® for his selection for one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college football.
Back in September, McClain was named to the Good Works Team for his outstanding community service beyond the football field. The two-time All-ECFC Conference defensive lineman has spent a considerable amount of time making a difference off the field, as he has volunteered his time as a snowboard instructor for the past five years with the Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF), an organization for individuals with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities. During his time with ASF, McCalin 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.
He 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. Other awardees include Heisman Award-winner Robert Griffin III from Baylor University and quarterback Matt Barkley from the University of Southern California. 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.
McClain is allowed to bring one guest with him to all the festivities this coming week, and he chose to bring Maritime head football coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes. The Allstate Sugar Bowl®, which pits the Michigan Wolverines against the Virginia Tech Hokies, will be broadcasted live on ESPN on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The day prior to the game, McClain will join his fellow Good Works Team members in a community service event at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, before a walkthrough of the on-field ceremony and an appearance at the Allstate® Fan Fest later in the day.
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."
– Maritime Athletics –
