Van Portfliet Nominated For Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

NORTHBROOK, Ill., -- The kickoff of the 2008 college football season is still a few weeks away but a group of committed and hard-working players has already been honored for their off-the-field achievements. Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) have announced the list of 71 student-athlete nominees for the 17th annual Allstate AFCA Good Works Team(R).

Through a partnership announced this week, Allstate has teamed with the AFCA to honor the college football players whose involvement with charitable organizations and community service contributions stand out among the more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year collegiate institutions. From among the 71 nominations submitted by sports information directors on behalf of their team, a special selection committee assembled by the AFCA and Allstate will select two 11-player Good Works Teams(R) - one composed of players competing in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) and a combined team representing players competing in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III, and the NAIA.

"Allstate is proud to partner with the AFCA and acknowledge the outstanding commitment to community so many student-athletes are demonstrating off the football field," said Lisa Cochrane, vice president of marketing for Allstate. "As a first-year sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team(R), Allstate continues its commitment to college football by honoring the volunteer efforts of college football players at all levels."

This season, Allstate is working with the AFCA to reinforce the heritage and tradition of the award. For the first time in the 16-year history of the program, the selection committee includes five former members of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams(R). Other 2008 selection committee members include two coaches representing the AFCA, five representatives of the college football media, and one Allstate representative.

"We are excited about Allstate's role with the AFCA and welcome them as one of our official corporate partners," said Grant Teaff, AFCA executive director. "Allstate is a first-class company that supports collegiate athletics - football in particular - in a variety of ways. Their support of our Good Works Teams as title sponsor ensures that those student-athletes making countless volunteer contributions to their communities and campuses through many off-field efforts will get the proper recognition they deserve."

The 2008 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams(R) voting panel includes: Allstate senior vice president, Steve Sorenson; former Good Works Teams(R) members Matt Stinchcomb (University of Georgia, 1997 team), Mike Proman (Amherst College, 2002 team), Deuce McAllister (University of Mississippi, 1999 team), Dan Lord (Tufts University, 1997 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke University, 1994 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Dennis Dodd (CBS Sportsline), Tony Barnhart (Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Kelly Whiteside (USA Today), Ivan Maisel (ESPN.com); current AFCA president and University of Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham; and 1996 AFCA president Fisher DeBerry, former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy. The committee will be responsible for selecting 22 players from the 71 nominations received over the summer at the AFCA headquarters in Waco, Texas. The following players have been nominated for consideration to be included among the 2008 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams(R):

Football Bowl Subdivision
Arizona State University - Keegan Herring
Ball State University - Brandon Crawford
Central Michigan University - Brian Brunner
Colorado State University - Kyle Bell
Duke University - Re'quan Boyette
Florida State University - Everette Brown
Indiana University - Austin Starr
Iowa State University - Euseph Messiah
Kansas State University - Jeron Mastrud
Middle Tennessee State University - Phillip Tanner
North Carolina State University - Andre Brown
Northern Illinois University - Matt Simon
Northwestern University - Eric Peterman
Ohio State University - James Laurinaitis
Rutgers University - Tiquan Underwood
Syracuse University - Lavar Lobdell
Temple University - Richard Sheppard
Texas Tech University - Brian Duncan
Tulane University - Craig Gelhardt
U.S. Air Force Academy - Travis Dekker
University of Arkansas - Jose Valdez
University of California - Alex Mack
University of Colorado - Maurice Cantrell
University of Connecticut - Brad Kanuch
University of Georgia - Mohamed Massaquoi
University of Illinois - Brit Miller
University of Kansas - Mike Rivera
University of Kentucky - Tim Masthay
University of Maryland - Jordan Steffy
University of Memphis - Dominik Riley
University of Nebraska - Todd Peterson
University of Notre Dame - Evan Sharpley
University of Oklahoma - Gerald McCoy
University of Pittsburgh - Scott McKillop
University of South Carolina - Eric Norwood
University of South Florida - George Selvie
University of Tennessee - Josh Briscoe
University of Texas - Colt McCoy
University of Toledo - John Allen
University of Wisconsin - Chris Pressley
Utah State University - Geno Odong
Virginia Tech - Orion Martin
Wake Forest University - Benjamin Wooster
West Virginia University - Tito Gonzales
Western Michigan University - Tim Hiller

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Bethel University (Minn.) - Mike Ervin
Chadron State College - Joe McLain
Coastal Carolina University - Dominique Davenport
Colby College - Thomas Daley
Harvard University - Andrew Berry
Henderson State University - Nick Finley
Hillsdale College - Phil Davignon
Illinois State University - Kedric Meredith
Lehigh University - Brendan VanAckeren
McNeese State University - Kenneth Lundy
Missouri Western State University - Dustin Strickler
North Dakota State University - Tyler Roehl
Northern State University - Brian Jark
Sewanee: The University of the South - Tyler Brantley
Southern Illinois University - Larry Warner
Southwest Minnesota State University - Tyler Reed
St. Cloud State University - Rocky Horn
St. John's University (Minn.) - Jeff Schnobrich
University at Albany - Daniel Bocanegra
University of Central Arkansas - Taylor Scott
University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) - Paul Hughes
University of Montana - Colin Dow

University of Northern Colorado - Michael Van Portfliet
University of St. Thomas - Mikkel Haugen
Valparaiso University - Matt Mancl
Youngstown State University - Brian Mellott


About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team(R)

In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and 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.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams were established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need.
Since 1992, the SEC leads all conferences with 49 selections to the Good Works Teams, followed by the Big 12 with 32 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 19 selections. In 2007, Georgia strong safety Kelin Johnson became the 11^th Bulldog to be selected to the team, tying the University of Georgia with the University of Nebraska for most selections all-time. Super Bowl XLII and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams, respectively.
The 2008 college football season will also mark the fourth consecutive year of Allstate's "Good Hands" field goal net program. The program rewards the on-field performance of its 65 partner teams by earmarking money to the schools' general scholarship funds for each field goal ($300) and extra point ($100) successfully converted into the"Good Hands"-branded nets at each of their home games. To date, Allstate has donated over $1.5 million through the "Good Hands?" field goal net program. Allstate will also celebrate its third year as the title sponsor of the Allstate Sugar Bowl held in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome January 2, 2009.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the"You're In Good Hands With Allstate" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through approximately 14,700 exclusive Allstate agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate. Encompass and Deerbrook? Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. Customers can also access information about Allstate Financial Group products and services at myallstatefinancial.com.

About AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 10,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, AFCA was formed, in part, to"maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to"provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."