July 18, 2012

2012 All State AFCA Good Works Team Nominees

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Two Patriot League seniors have been selected as nominees for the 2012 All State AFCA Good Works Team, with both Colgate's Chris Looney and Fordham's Brendan Melanophy named for the honor that recognizes a select group of college football players committed to making a difference in their communities.

Looney and Melanophy are among a group of 117 nominees nationwide, and 20 from Football Championship Subdivision schools, that have been selected as candidates. 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.

Looney, who carries a 3.92 GPA with a double major in International Relations and History, has served as a mentor to fifth grade students, raised support and awareness for Ependymoma as an executive board member of the Uplifting Athletes organization, and was Delta Upsilon fraternity's 2010-11 scholar of the year.

He finished the 2011 season with a career-high 31 receptions for 309 yards and two touchdowns, and also made the Academic All-Patriot League Team at the conclusion of the year.

Melanophy serves as the vice president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) and through the organization, he has volunteered with numerous projects, including serving as a host of multiple ping pong tournament fund raisers to sponsor Harlem RBI. He also started and organized "Reps for Kids" through the Fordham SAAC last April, a charity event among all Fordham student-athletes to benefit the "Street Children International" charity.

The senior has also volunteered his time to read to children at Ambulatory Care facility across from St. Barnabas and at the Community Classroom at Hunts Point in the South Bronx for Dr. Seuss' birthday. Along with other members of the football squad and members of the Fordham Campus Ministry, Melanophy helped to create a Prayer Garden at St. Martin of Tours in the Bronx, clearing brush and planting flowers at a parish in the Fordham neighborhood. For all of his community service projects, Melanophy received the Kiwanis Community Service Award at the 2012 Block F Dinner in May.

He finished the 2011 season with 53 tackles, and also earned Capital One Academic All-District honors for his work on the field and in the classroom last season.

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.

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.

For the full release and list of nominees, go here