NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- Elon linebacker
Dale Riley has been included among the record 132 nominees for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team as announced by Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today.
Riley is one of three Southern Conference players up for the award.
This year marks the program’s 20th year honoring college football players at all levels of competition who stand out for their “good works” in the community. Since 1992, selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has become the gold standard for off-the-field character and leadership for college football players. The honor is widely considered the sport’s pre-eminent community service award.
“This program has grown dramatically throughout the years due to the volunteerism and commitment of these great student-athletes to their communities,” said Mark LaNeve, Allstate Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales Operations, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. “To be associated with an award that reflects so positively on college football is an inspiration for Allstate, our employees and our agents, especially as the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team celebrates its 20th year.”
While it is often college football players’ on-field exploits that receive the most attention from fans and media, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® award shines a spotlight on student-athletes’ efforts away from the playing field by sharing their stories of serving others.
Riley, a native of Charlotte, N.C., has been a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member while at Elon and served as the organization's vice-president during the 2010-11 year. Just a few of the community service organizations that Riley has been involved with include Special Olympics, the Boys and Girls Club, ElonThon and Pink Zone.
On the field, Riley was a 2009 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team member after finishing second on the team with 75 total tackles. In 2010, Riley moved to defensive back and tallied 44 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and 0.5 sacks, in eight games.
From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members will select two 11-player Good Works Teams – one comprising of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. The 22 student-athletes named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be announced in late September.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing.
-- ELON --
