Southmoreland receives commemorative NFL golden football

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Keera Frye in Showcase, Sports // 0 Comments

Principal Dan Krofcheck holds an NFL Super Bowl "golden football" given to the school by the NFL to commemorate the 50th Super Bowl game. Russ Grimm, a 1977 Southmoreland graduate, played in three Super Bowls and coached in a fourth.

Principal Dan Krofcheck holds an NFL Super Bowl “golden football” presented to the school as part of the NFL’s Super Bowl High School Honor Roll.

The NFL launched the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll initiative as part of the nationwide Super Bowl 50 kickoff celebration. This initiative recognizes schools and communities that have impacted the game of football, contributed to Super Bowl history, and produced Super Bowl competitors.

Commemorative Wilson Golden Footballs have been presented to high schools across the nation for every player or head coach that graduated from their school and was on an active Super Bowl roster. The NFL delivered “nearly 3,000 golden footballs to more than 2,000 schools.” Among those 2,000 plus schools is Southmoreland High School.

“Everyone comes from somewhere,” said SHS Principal Daniel Krofcheck, “I think it’s great that smaller communities that are able to great things are being recognized.”

The Wilson Golden Footballs are customized with the school’s name and location, the name of the honoree, and the Super Bowls that the honoree competed in.

“It was really cool to see ‘Southmoreland’ on the ball,” said Mr. Krofcheck, “and have our high school recognized by the NFL as a part of this initiative.”

In addition to the golden footballs, the NFL has also donated $1 million to the initiative as honored schools received a new character education curriculum and were given the opportunity to apply for high school football grants.

The NFL Super Bowl “golden football” given to the school by the NFL to commemorate the 50th Super Bowl game. The ball was given to honor high schools which had a graduate who played in a Super Bowl. Russ Grimm played in four Super Bowls and coached in two others.

This initiative is part of the “On The Fifty” campaign commemorating Super Bowl 50 which was played on Feb, 7. The NFL kicked off the campaign back in April during the 2015 NFL Draft. The potential draft picks walked across a gold carpet to enter the theatre where the draft was held. However, this initiative will go beyond the scope of Super Bowl 50 as the NFL plans to make the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll a tradition.