|
Play It Smart Annual Conference
July 23rd-27th, 2008
Dallas, TX |
|
"Sometimes you earn more by doing jobs that pay nothing"- Todd Ruthman | |
Our mission is "To help student-athletes take responsibility for their futures through lessons learned on the playing field, in the classroom, and in service to others."
|
|
Happy New Year! We hope that the year has gotten off to a great start for you.
Please enjoy this month's edition of The Extra Point.
Len Stachitas
Executive Director, Play It Smart
Vice President, National Football Foundation
|
Play It Smart Excutive Director Len Stachitas (middle)
with Academic Coaches (left) Rubin Dupree (North Atlanta HS)
and (right) Dr. Trina Brown (South Atlanta HS) at the 2008 Chick-Fil-A Bowl where all
nine Atlanta academic coaches where recognized on the field during the game. |
"Student-Athletes of the Month"
Each month Play It Smart schools recognize a student-athlete of the month. This student-athlete of the month is an individual who has achieved on and off the playing field.
Click here to see the Student-Athletes for the Month of December Don't see your school represented? Make sure you recognize a student-athlete for the month of January. Submissions are due by the January 22nd.
From the student-athlete of the month pool, Play It Smart will elect one student-athlete as the Play It Smart National Co-Captain. The Co-Captain best personifies excellence in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. |
For excellence in the classroom, on the field, and in service to others.
|
 
Jeremy Kurz Ian Solomon |
| Jeremy Kurz
Ian Solomon Play It Smart National Co-Captains
When the time to make the monthly selection for Play It Smart National Co-Captain arrives, the selection committee knows that it will always be difficult to determine a winner. Making a selection for the December honor was even more challenging than usual. "Each month we have to choose one student-athlete from an impressive pool, this month was especially difficult because from the 46 student-athletes we had several outstanding young people," said Charles Gomes, Chief Operating Officer of Play It Smart.
| |
|
"2008 Play It Smart Conference Information"
The 2008 Play It Smart National Conference will be held July 23rd-27th, 2008 at the Sheraton in Arlington, TX. Please stay tuned for more  important information regarding this year's conference. Trust us you DON'T want to miss this conference. |
"Play It Smart Participant Bowls with Favorite Team"
Jamel Haggins of Ben Franklin HS (Philadelphia, PA) received a special opportunity for being a stellar student-athlete....a chance to bowl with the Eagles at a charity bowling event. Officials at Harrah's Casino and the public relations department took notice of the strides that Haggins has made as a student-athlete. Haggins, a Play It Smart October 2007 Student of the Month, has a 3.5  GPA, is a Company Sr. Chief Petty Officer in JROTC, Vice-President of the Kappa League, President of his church's youth dancer ministry and a Jr. Deacon in his church.
Jamel describes his experience below:
"The 7th Annual Fundraising Bowling event for Alzheimer sponsored by the Eagles was a memorable occasion for me. I always watch football and follow my favorite players on and off the field. When I was selected to go to this event because of my grades, I was even more excited because I would be able to actually meet some of my favorite players in person such as Donovan McNabb, Omar Gaither, William Thomas and Jon Runyan. My academic coach, Mr. Butler-Houck, and I had VIP tickets that allowed us to be in a special room set aside for people with VIP tickets. These tickets were donated to us by Harrahs Casino's Director of Public Affairs, Ms. Alyce Parker and the Public Affairs Coordinator, Mr. Christopher R. Jonic. The tickets allowed us to have first dibs for pictures and autographs and we were able to talk with them one on one. When I met them in person the first thing I realized was that I was just as tall and big as them. This really gave my confidence of being a future NFL player a big boost. There were even little kids there who thought I was a player and tried to get my autograph. It felt great. I was glad to see my favorite Eagles players giving back to the community for a good cause. I will remember this experience forever and continue to work hard as a student athlete so that I can one day be in the position to make it into the League and be involved in similar charitable events to give back to my fans, friends and family." |
|
High School of Commerce (Springfield, MA) Academic Coach Tara Williams |
"The Pursuit of Greatness"
What makes a Play It Smart student-athlete great? Is it because they are taking responsibility for the future through lessons learned on the field? Or maybe it is because they are taking responsibility for their future through lessons learned in the classroom? While the greatness of a Play It Smart student-athlete can be determined by their efforts on the field and in the classroom, the greatness of a Play It Smart student-athlete can truly be shown in their service to others. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said "Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve."
During the 2006-07 academic year Play It Smart student-athletes performed over 69,000 hours of community service. Here is a sampling of what some Play It Smart student-athletes have already done and what they have planned for the balance of the year. Click Here to Continue Reading |
|
"Now Accepting Applications"
Play It Smart is accepting applications from schools who would like to be a member in the Play It Smart program. For schools not currently in the program Step I of the application is now available. Please click here to view and complete the application. The application must be submitted by February 15, 2008.
Existing schools are only required to complete Step II of the application p process. Step II will be sent via email to all existing schools by February 4th with a final due date of April 1, 2008.
The application and general information must be complete to receive consideration. The Letter of Intent must be signed by the principal or highest ranking school official. It is an expectation that all school applicants have received approval from their district superintendent to begin the application process. Once application STEP I is complete and received, school representatives will receive an application STEP II packet via email. |
"Play It Smart student-athletes showcase talents at National All-Star Games"
When the collegiate bowl games took a break on Friday January 4th and Saturday January 5th, the high schools athletes came out to show the nation what they should expect in college football for the next few years.  Seven Play It Smart student-athletes were among the athletes who played in one of three National High School All-Star bowl games, the Offense/Defense All-American Bowl, the Under Armour All-America Game, and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This was the final chance for these athletes to show what they can do for colleges and universities that were in attendance at these games.
Offense/Defense All-American Bowl
The Offense/Defense All-American Bowl, in its second year of existence, featured three Play It Smart student-athletes who played for Team West, Marc Anthony (Chandler HS/Chandler, AZ), Kurt Mangum (Chandler HS/Chandler, AZ), and Almeda Ta'amu (Rainier Beach HS/Seattle, WA). Anthony, a Rivals.com 4-star cornerback, has committed to play collegiate football at the University of California at Berkley. Anthony has amassed 77 tackles and four interceptions during his senior season at Chandler HS. Mangum, who is being pursed by Washington, USC, Duke, Illinois and Colorado St, led Team West at the linebacker position. At Chandler last season, Mangum recorded 130 tackles with two interceptions and four sacks. Ta'amu, a big offensive lineman, has committed to play with the hometown Washington Huskies, Ta'amu holds a 3.2 GPA at Rainier Beach HS.
Under Armour All-America Game
Keenan Cooper (Skyline HS/Dallas, TX) was the lone Play It Smart student-athlete suiting up in the Under Armour All-America Game. Cooper, a linebacker/safety hybrid, is being actively pursued by Michigan, Miami, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, and Kansas. Cooper holds a 3.2 GPA at Skyline HS.
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl featured MarQueis Gray (Ben Davis HS/Indianapolis, IN), Brendan Beal (Liberty HS/Bethlehem, PA), and Brandon Smith (New Brunswick HS/New Brunswick, NJ) on Saturday January 5th. Gray a highly rated dual threat quarterback missed most of his senior with a hand injury, but that has not stopped schools from pursing Gray. Gray will attend the University of Minnesota. Beal, a hard-hitting linebacker, has committed to play his college football at the University of Florida. Beal accounted for 148 tackles and 10 sacks during the 2007 Liberty HS football campaign. Smith, the quarterback/receiver/linebacker/safety will be attending the University of Michigan. Smith, who holds a 3.0 GPA, rushed for 800 yards and passed for 1,300 at New Brunswick in 2007.
These may be the only Play It Smart student-athletes playing in the high school bowl games but these are not the only student-athletes who will be playing on Saturdays in 2008. Check back in February to see where Play It Smart student-athletes will be playing in the fall. |
|
Sideline Chatter....
What's all the chatter about? Sideline Chatter is an opportunity for Academic Coaches and school officials to share there expertise with others.
This month's guest columnist shares with us tips and strategies that help to get a newly created Play It Smart program off and running.
We hope that the Chatter is useful to you in your school. If you have something that you like to share please let us know, we would love to hear what you have to say.
Thank you to our guest columnist Dawn Miles:
|
"Who's on your T.E.A.M?"
Dawn K. Miles
Academic Coach 
Southside HS
Atlanta, GA
dkm6028@aol.com
As we come to the close of this year and look forward to the beginning of another, I, like many others, often reflect on the challenges and successes of our personal and professional lives. In doing so, this helps me prepare emotionally, physically and mentally for what may lie ahead.
Implementing Play It Smart in a new school has had its moment's of discouragement, however; it has also had its moments of pure joy and sense of accomplishment that often motivates me to continue to press on towards making this a success. During this self-reflection phase I have to acknowledge those individuals on my T.E.A.M that are helping us win. Click Here to Continue Reading | |
|
Thank you for taking the time to read The Extra Point.
Sincerely,
Play It Smart Staff The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, Inc. |
|
Play It Smart Student-Athletes at Central Falls HS (Central Falls, RI)
|
If your going to play...
PLAY IT SMART | |
|
