DALLAS – National College Football Day is Saturday, Nov. 1... an event that honors the birth of college football while increasing awareness and raising money for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the National Association of Division IA Football Officials (NADFO) and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) have once again teamed up with the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and The V Foundation for Cancer Research as official partners of the Fifth Annual National College Football Day.

“It’s uplifting to see the response we’ve received from the AFCA, NADFO and the FWAA,” said Rick Baker, President of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. “Last year, our partners helped raise nearly $20,000 for The V Foundation, and we hope to build upon the success from last year and continue to increase cancer awareness and raise money for a great cause.”

National College Football Day, observed on the first Saturday of November, was created by the AT&T Cotton Bowl five years ago as a way to pay tribute to a significant moment in our nation’s history. On Nov. 6, 1869, Rutgers defeated Princeton, 6-4. More importantly, those college athletes left a lasting legacy that would evolve into the great spectacle of football. Last year, the holiday took on added significance when the Classic teamed up with The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The V Foundation, based in Cary, N.C., was founded in 1993 by ESPN and legendary coach and commentator Jim Valvano. The Foundation has raised more than $80 million to fund essential cancer research nationwide. The Foundation proudly assures donors that 100% of all donations and net proceeds of events are directly used to fund research and related programs, and has earned a prestigious four-star rating from Charity Navigator (charity rating service) for six consecutive ranking periods.

To honor college football’s 139th birthday, the AT&T Cotton Bowl has produced limited edition lapel pins. Over 3,000 pins will be distributed to coaches, athletic directors, university presidents, sports publicists, game officials and media throughout the United States in hopes that everyone will wear their pin on National College Football Day.

The AFCA has asked each Football Bowl Subdivision head coach to donate a minimum of $139, one dollar for each year of college football. NADFO has made a donation and requested that each game official donate a portion of their stipend this Saturday in support of The V Foundation. The FWAA has made a donation to The V Foundation and will work to solicit other donations from within its membership.

“We’re again honored to be the charitable partner of National College Football Day, which we know will help bring attention to the need for cancer research,” said Nick Valvano, CEO of The V Foundation. “We are grateful to the entire college football community, including the coaches, game officials and media for lending their credibility and visibility to the celebration of National College Football Day and embracing The V Foundation and our mission of funding cancer research.”

For more information on National College Football Day and to learn more about The V Foundation for Cancer Research, please visit www.NationalCollegeFootballDay.com

RaginCajuns.com