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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
USA
FOOTBALL FORMED TO REPRESENT SPORT ON AMATEUR LEVEL; The National Football League and National Football League Players Association announced today the creation of USA FOOTBALL, the first national advocacy organization representing all levels of amateur football. USA FOOTBALL will be based in Washington, D.C. and endowed by the NFL Youth Football Fund, a foundation created by the NFL and NFLPA to provide support for organizations involved in youth and high school football. USA FOOTBALL will be governed by a diverse, broad-based Board of Directors. Dave Ogrean, a former executive of the College Football Association and a 25-year sports industry veteran, has been appointed the first executive director of USA FOOTBALL. “It is vital for the future of our sport at all levels to work together to promote the interests of amateur football, ” said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. “USA FOOTBALL will serve as an unifying voice in strengthening youth and high school football in areas including coaching, officiating, sportsmanship and player development.” “There are millions of youngsters playing football for hundreds of leagues and programs in America,” said NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw. “The goal of USA FOOTBALL is to galvanize and promote the game at the amateur level. Dave Ogrean is the right person to handle this challenging task.” USA FOOTBALL will support local, regional and national youth football programs. The new organization will collaborate with existing youth and high school football programs and create alliances to further build the game. Areas of focus will include promotion of the sport, chartering and standards for leagues, development of competition and awards, education and training, research, grant-making, communication, and licensing Ogrean has served the sports industry in a variety of roles throughout his career. He was the executive director of USA Hockey from 1993-99. Prior to that, he was a marketing and broadcasting executive with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the College Football Association. Most recently, he was the president and chief executive officer of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, a position he assumed in 2000. “The establishment of USA FOOTBALL by the NFL and NFLPA speaks to their collective commitment to the future growth and health of the sport on the amateur level,” said Ogrean. “I am extremely excited about this opportunity to draw on my experience and my love of football to help solidify its position as the greatest American game.” The NFL Youth Football Fund was established in 1998. Current Youth Football Fund national partners are Pop Warner, National Football Foundation, American Youth Football, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National Recreation and Park Association, Police Athletic League, Jewish Community Centers, YMCA, and the AAU. “Unifying and strengthening all of football is a goal that everyone involved in youth football shares,” said Jon Butler, executive director of Pop Warner. “USA FOOTBALL fills an important role and will represent the mutual interests of parents, coaches, administrators, and participants in our game.” Ogrean will begin his new role on Monday, December 9 when he will attend, along with Tagliabue and Upshaw, the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Florida. # # # |