University of North Carolina Athletics
Cooper Named To 2012 Good Works Team
July 17, 2012 | Football
North Carolina offensive guard Jonathan Cooper has been named to the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. As one of college football's most prestigious off-the-field honors, the award recognizes a select group of college football players committed to making a difference in their communities.
Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced 117 nominees for the
Cooper has participated in a variety of Carolina's community service events in his three previous seasons in Chapel Hill, including:
• Field Day at North Chatham Elementary School
• UNC Children's Hospital Visits (on day prior to home games)
• Volunteers for Youth Golf Clinic – Spent the day with underprivileged youth teaching them how to play golf and signing autographs
• Share You Holiday – donated money, shopped for gifts and delivered gifts for the holiday season for adopted local families
• Building Tours – gave tours of the football facilities to UNC Big Buddies program participants
• Black History Month event at Estes Elementary School
• Spoke to Central Charles Youth Group
• Habitat for Humanity – helped build the Habitat House and playground
• UNC Planitarium – spoke to fifth grade class
• Participated in Man Cave program at Creekside Elementary
• Served meals at the Shreveport/Bossier City Rescue Mission at the Independence Bowl
• Hosted kids and gave tour to Carolina Dreams program
Since 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has shown a spotlight on the countless “good works” and remarkable stories of service by student-athletes at all levels of college football competition. Award recipients represent the sport's finest in terms of character and leadership in the community.
“This year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees have some of the most impressive community service resumes in the program's 21-year history,” said Kathy Mabe, president of Allstate's West regions and a member of the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. “These young men continue to raise the bar for the impact that student-athletes can have on others, and are an inspiration to Allstate, our agents and our employees.”
Tackles or touchdowns have no bearing on this award, for it is the many examples of “volunteerism” and “giving back” that have earned these players nominations from their respective colleges and universities. From comforting patients at children's hospitals, to building houses for needy families, to mentoring at-risk youth, each Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® member has his own unique and inspiring story.
“After looking through the list of nominees for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, we are recognizing some of the best student-athletes in all of college football,” said Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. “These 117 nominees understand the impact each of them have on their schools and communities, and it gives me great pleasure in recognizing their efforts for what they stand for, and what they mean to college football.”
From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select two 11-player Good Works Teams® – one comprised 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 final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September.
Allstate and the AFCA will launch the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website on ESPN.com featuring profiles and images of the final team members, as well as the opportunity for fans to vote for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.
The 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Alex Van Pelt (Pittsburgh, 1992 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Grant Irons (Notre Dame, 1999 team), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Tom O'Toole (USA Today), Andy Staples (SI.com), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Harvard University Head Coach Tim Murphy; 1987 AFCA President LaVell Edwards, former head coach at Brigham Young University; and Kathy Mabe, President, West Regions at Allstate.
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 a strong academic standing.
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
Football Bowl Subdivision
Arizona State University – Brandon Magee
Auburn University – Philip Lutzenkirchen
Bowling Green State University – Ronnie Goble
Brigham Young University – Michael Alisa
Central Michigan University – Cody Wilson
Clemson University – Rashard Hall
Duke University – Sean Renfree
Florida State University – Dustin Hopkins
Indiana University – Adam Replogle
Iowa State University – Jake Knott
Kansas State University – Collin Klein
Louisiana State University – Barkevious Mingo
Middle Tennessee State University – Logan Kilgore
Northern Illinois University – Jason Schepler
Northwestern University – Jeff Budzien
Ohio State University – Ben Buchanan
Rice University – Klein Kubiak
Rutgers University – Khaseem Green
Syracuse University – Deon Goggins
Temple University – Brandon McManus
Texas Christian University – Blaize Foltz
Tulane University – Ryan Griffin
University of Alabama – Barrett Jones
University of Arizona – Jake Fischer
University of California Los Angeles – Jeff
Locke
University of Central Florida – Rob Calabrese
University of Cincinnati – Drew Frey
University of Florida – Caleb Sturgis
University of Georgia – Aaron Murray
University of Kentucky – Morgan Newton
University of Louisiana-Lafayette – Blaine Gautier
University of Maryland – A.J. Francis
University of Memphis – Akeem Davis
University of Miami (Fla.) – Mike James
University of Michigan – Patrick Omameh
University of Mississippi – Devin Thomas
University of Missouri – T.J. Moe
University of Nebraska – Rex Burkhead
University of North Carolina – Jonathan Cooper
University of Notre Dame – Mike Golic, Jr.
University of Oklahoma – Landry Jones
University of Pittsburgh – Andrew Taglianetti
University of South Carolina – Marcus Lattimore
University of South Florida – Danous Estenor
University of Southern California – Kyle Negrete
