Thursday, March 30, 2006

National Champion Texas Coach Mark Brown Headlines 2006 Keybank Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series

NATIONAL CHAMPION TEXAS COACH MACK BROWN HEADLINES 2006 KEYBANK GRIDIRON LEGENDS LUNCHEON SERIES NFF’s College Football Hall of Fame to host six esteemed speakersfrom April to August

MORRISTOWN, NJ – March 30, 2006 – The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the lineup for the 10th annual KeyBank Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.
The list of scheduled speakers includes:

*  1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown (Friday, April 21)
*  Texas Head Football Coach Mack Brown (Tuesday, May 16)
*  Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow (Tuesday, June 6)
*  Hall of Fame tackle Dan Dierdorf (Thursday, June 22)
*  Hall of Fame linebacker Jerry Robinson (Wednesday, July 12)
*  NCAA President Myles Brand (Tuesday, August 29)

“The College Football Hall of Fame continues to showcase the rich tradition and pageantry of amateur football with this year’s lineup of Keybank Gridiron Legends speakers,” said NFF President Steve Hatchell.  “We look forward to hearing the fascinating and enriching stories from six of the true pioneers in college football.”

Luncheons consist of a discussion or question and answer session with the featured speaker, a video presentation and lunch at the College Football Hall of Fame. Attendees have the opportunity to win various prizes and will receive a unique commemorative gift.

“We're looking forward to engaging our clients in a unique and meaningful way by sponsoring the KeyBank Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series,” said KeyBank District President Jeffrey Stone. “We value our relationship and affiliation with the College Football Hall of Fame, as over the years they've contributed tirelessly to our community activities, making Michiana a great place to live.”

All of the luncheons will begin at 11:30 a.m. and wrap up at 1:00 p.m. The location of the six luncheons is subject to change, so please contact the Hall of Fame (574-235-5715) as each luncheon date approaches.

“The Series provides a rare opportunity for local residents to hear from some of college football’s most influential and well-known public figures,” said Hall of Fame executive director Rick Walls. “This year’s speakers are a diverse collection that are sure to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences throughout the year.”

Tickets for individual luncheons are $35 per person or $270 for a table of eight. Discounts are available for Individual Series Passes (individual pass for all six luncheons) and Table Series Passes (table of eight for all six luncheons). Tickets can be purchased at the Hall of Fame ticket counter or by contacting the Hall of Fame at 574-235-5715.

Returning media sponsors include WSBT-TV, WSBT Radio Newstalk AM 960 and the South Bend Tribune. This is the ninth consecutive year KeyBank has sponsored the luncheon series.

For more information on the 2006 KeyBank Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series, and to print out an order form, visit www.collegefootball.org.

2006 KeyBank Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series Speakers

Tim Brown, Notre Dame (1984-87)
Friday, April 21 (11:30am - 1:00pm)

Notre Dame’s seventh and most recent Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Brown was college football’s ultimate weapon with the Irish, a threat to score from anywhere on the field. A two-time All-America receiver (1986-87), Brown accumulated 5,024 all-purpose yards at Notre Dame, most in school history. In 1987, Brown caught 34 passes for 846 yards and three touchdowns, returned 34 punts for 401 yards and three touchdowns, returned 23 kickoffs for 456 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. Brown’s unmatched versatility earned him unanimous first team All-America honors and the Heisman Trophy. Selected with the sixth overall pick of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders, Brown enjoyed a highly productive 17-year NFL career with the Raiders (1988-2003) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004). His 1,094 receptions and 14,934 receiving yards rank second in NFL history (behind Jerry Rice). He also scored 105 career touchdowns. Currently, Brown works as an analyst for Fox Sports.

Mack Brown, Texas (1998-Current)
Tuesday, May 16 (11:30am - 1:00pm)

Texas Head Football Coach Mack Brown led his talented Longhorns squad to a perfect 13-0 season in 2005, defeating favored Southern California 41-38 in a thrilling BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl. Trailing Southern California 38-33 with less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Brown called the shots as Vince Young, his All-America quarterback, drove 56 yards for the game-winning score. Young’s eight-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-five with just 19 seconds to play captured Texas’ first National Championship since 1970, and helped Brown win the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award. Brown’s title capped one of the more impressive runs in college football history. Since taking over the helm at Texas in 1998, Brown has compiled an 83-19 record and his 103 wins in the past 10 years (1996-97 with North Carolina) is the highest total of any Division I-A coach in the country. Brown is universally regarded as one of the best recruiters in the nation and has coached 30 All-America Longhorns.

Kellen Winslow, Missouri (1975-78)
Tuesday, June 6 (11:30am - 1:00pm)

Blessed with rare athleticism and a unique combination of size and speed, Kellen Winslow was a consensus All-America tight end at Missouri in 1978 and College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2002. He caught 29 passes for 479 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, opening the eyes of professional scouts everywhere.  Also in his senior year, he helped Missouri knock off #2 Nebraska and #5 Notre Dame, both on the road, and led the Tigers to a victory over LSU in the Liberty Bowl, the school’s first bowl appearance in five years.  Throughout a nine-year NFL career, all with the Chargers, Winslow caught 541 passes for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns. He was elected into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2004, the Cleveland Browns selected Winslow’s son, Kellen Winslow Jr., with the 6th overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Dan Dierdorf, Michigan (1968-70)
Thursday, June 22 (11:30am - 1:00pm)

Most recently known for his work as an NFL game analyst for CBS, Dan Dierdorf was a Hall of Fame offensive tackle at the University of Michigan (1968-70) and then as a professional with the St. Louis Cardinals (1971-83). Dierdorf was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1996. A consensus All-America selection in 1970, Dierdorf’s devastating blocking led to one of the nation’ s finest running games for three years. As a sophomore in 1968, Dierdorf paved the way for Hall of Fame running back and current NFF Chairman Ron Johnson.  He also shared the offensive line in 1969 and 1970 with 2002 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Reggie McKenzie.  During his three years on varsity in Ann Arbor, Dierdorf helped Michigan to a 25-6 record, including a spot in the 1970 Rose Bowl under then first-year head coach Bo Schembechler.  Following his professional career, Dierdorf announced as part of the Monday Night Football broadcast team for 11 seasons and has collected three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Sports Analyst.

Jerry Robinson, UCLA (1975-78)
Wednesday, July 12 (11:30am - 1:00pm)

A converted wide receiver, UCLA’s Jerry Robinson utilized his speed at linebacker to terrorize opposing offenses, setting a school record with 468 career tackles in the process. Robinson was a three-time All-America selection, earning consensus first team honors in 1976 and unanimous selections in 1977 and 1978.  Robinson returned three interceptions for touchdowns, running for 95, 72 and 69 yards. His spectacular college career culminated in 1996 with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Although some considered Robinson too light to play linebacker in the NFL, he proved to be a productive player. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Robinson with the 21st overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, and he was a key contributor on the 1980 Eagles Super Bowl team. A two-time Associated Press Second Team All-Pro selection, Robinson enjoyed a 13-year NFL career with the Eagles (1979-84) and Los Angeles Raiders (1985-91). He accumulated 14 sacks, 12 interceptions and scored four touchdowns in 184 professional games.

Myles Brand, NCAA President (2003-Current)
Tuesday, August 29 (11:30am - 1:00pm)

The former president of Indiana University (1994-2002) and the University of Oregon (1989-94), Myles Brand assumed his current duties as the fourth president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on January 1, 2003. A former college president and academic, Brand’s initiatives as president of the NCAA include strengthening academic standards, advocating the social and educational value of intercollegiate athletics and maintaining the integrity of high-profile collegiate sports. In addition to being outspoken about the importance of education, Brand is valued as a businessman and fundraiser, playing an important role in the NCAA’s decision to add a 12th regular season game in the upcoming 2006 college football season and a fifth BCS bowl game in January of 2007.

Contacts:

Phil Marwill, director of communications
Phone: 1-800-486-1865, ext. 118
Cell: 917-579-4256
Email: pmarwill(at)footballfoundation.com

David Saba, public relations coordinator
Phone: 574.235.5707
Email: david.saba(at)collegefootball.org

With 119 chapters and over 12,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in America’s young people.  Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.

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