FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2000
Contact: Andrew Fink-NFL (212-450-2079)

Students receive individual advisement and academic outlines on NCAA
requirements to become an eligible student/athlete

New York, NY -- A free NFL program is providing a group of 150 New York City high school football players two weeks of academic assistance and counseling, and two weeks of on-field football skills training, in preparation for becoming a student/athlete in college.

At the conclusion of the four-week NFL High School Student/Athlete Development Program, each student receives an individual portfolio with customized information to assist them in qualifying as a collegiate student/athlete. The portfolio lists necessary high school core courses, qualifying grades and standardized test scores, additional courses available for further preparation assistance, and a time-management plan in order to graduate high school and become eligible under NCAA bylaws.

Twenty educational experts from the New York City area, consisting of high school teachers and counselors, are working with all participants. Each staff member, assigned a group of eight to ten students, is fully versed in NCAA qualifications.

Following the academic sessions, all 150 football players – comprised of incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors from eight New York City public high schools -- will receive two weeks of on-field football training. These two weeks, instructed by 23 local high school coaches, are designed improve individual football skills on both offense and defense, and, when coupled with the academic counseling, provide complete information for a possible collegiate student/athlete experience.

"Due to a lack of resources, public high school kids – especially in the inner city -- are generally unaware of the academic requirements needed to land an athletic scholarship and are deficient in the fundamentals of the game," says Paul Pasqualoni, head football coach for Syracuse University. "This program will improve the quality of play at the high school level and provide additional support in academic counseling."

Students were referred to the program by their head high school football coach. There are no requirements regarding minimum grades or test scores in order to participate.

The NFL High School Student/Athlete Development Program is being held at Kennedy High (Bronx, NY). The two-week academic component of this program began May 1, and is held Monday-Thursday, from 4:30-6:30 PM. The two weeks of on-field football skills training, also held Monday-Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM, will begin May 15.