National Football Foundation Archives

The NFF MacArthur Bowl’s proudest moment

Post author:Tom Shanahan
Post published:January 16, 2023
Post category:College Sports Football Uncategorized
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PHOTO: Michigan State's Duffy Daugherty (L) and Notre Dame's Ara Parseghian share the MacArthur Bowl as co-national champions. Visit my website homepage, TomShanahan.Report By TOM SHANAHAN Georgia won its second straight football national title a week ago today, beating TCU. A day later the Bulldogs were officially awarded the MacArthur Bowl, the National Football Foundation trophy annually presented to the national title team. You might be thinking, of course. Who else gets the trophy? Well, most college football…

Football took Joe Salavea from American Samoa to the White House

Post author:Tom Shanahan
Post published:January 28, 2021
Post category:College Sports Football Uncategorized
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My 2016 story for the National Football Foundation's Football Matters section. Joe Salavea was named to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019. He is now coaching at Oregon as an associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator/run game. By Tom Shanahan Football lore is filled with Horatio Alger-like stories of athletes from humble beginnings. Joe Salave’a’s special journey lifted him from American Samoa to a White House ceremony and into college coaching. White House invitations for athletes are…

Walton was a San Diego football name before basketball

Post author:Tom Shanahan
Post published:October 18, 2020
Post category:Basketball College Sports Uncategorized
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My story for the National Football Foundation's Football Matters was published Jan. 19, 2017. Bruce, who played at UCLA and with the Dallas Cowboys, passed away Oct. 18, 2018. By TOM SHANAHAN The Walton surname and basketball remain synonymous from Bill Walton’s Naismith Hall of Fame career, but once there was a time when “Walton” was a football identity. That was true in San Diego and at UCLA. Bill Walton is one of basketball’s all-time greats that grew…