James Named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

NORTHBROOK, Ill. – University of Miami senior RB Mike James has been selected as one of 22 student-athletes to the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, announced Tuesday by Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association.

James is one of only 11 college football players from the Football Bowl Subdivision to be honored with the award, one of the most prestigious community service awards in all of college football. He is the sixth Miami Hurricane to be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, joining Robert Bass (1993), Tony Coley (1996), Ryan Clement (1997), Nate Books (1998) and Joaquin Gonzalez (2001).

For 21 years the award has honored the college football players whose charitable involvement and community service contributions stand out among the more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport. The student-athletes nominated for this prestigious honor embody the true spirit of “teamwork” and “giving back.” There were 117 nominees for the award this summer and a special voting panel selected 11 members from the FBS and 11 more from the FCS, Divisions II, III and the NAIA.

During his career at the University of Miami, James has contributed countless hours to supporting community service organizations in the Miami community, including volunteering for Empowered Youth, an organization providing mentoring to at-risk youth, serving as a project manager for the 2012 University of Miami Bone Marrow Drive and serving meals to the homeless with the Miami Rescue Mission. James has also been involved with The Ronald McDonald House, Rushing the Community and Canes on Patrol.

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.

James, who is on pace to graduate in December with a degree in sport administration with a minor in sociology, will be invited to join fellow 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Work Team members in New Orleans to participate in a community project before the Allstate Sugar Bowl in January. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will also be honored during halftime of the Allstate Sugar Bowl on ESPN.

The 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel includes: former Good Works Team members Alex Van Pelt (Pittsburgh, 1992), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998), Grant Irons (Notre Dame, 1999), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002); 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 BYU head coach; and Allstate West Regions President, Kathy Mabe.

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About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
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. Allstate partnered to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

About AFCA
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the 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.”