Last Updated on September 19, 2018 2:15 pm
BOONE, N.C. — Through the affiliations Appalachian State Athletics and its record-setting FBS football program have with the Sun Belt Conference and the College Football Playoff Foundation, App State is receiving a $10,000 grant that will benefit the local community thanks to a partnership between the University, App State Athletics, the Reich College of Education and Watauga County Schools.
In recognizing the hard work of educators through the CFP Foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers platform, each of the 10 football-playing institutions in the Sun Belt is receiving a grant. Appalachian State's grant will contribute to the Watauga County Teachers of the Year program.
The Extra Yard for Teachers Week runs from Sept. 15-22. A ceremony with a check presentation was planned for this weekend's home-opening football game, which was called off because of increased weather concerns connected to Hurricane Florence, and there are plans to reschedule the ceremony for a future home game.
The conference will also recognize the Extra Yard for Teachers initiative via pregame and in-game presentations during the inaugural 2018 Sun Belt Football Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 1.
The CFP Foundation created the Extra Yard for Teachers Week in 2015, a year after the Mountaineers began competing at the FBS level as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, to provide an opportunity for universities, coaches and student-athletes to take part in its mission of elevating the teaching profession through inspiring and empowering educators. Since 2015, App State has posted a 31-10 record and become the only program to win a bowl game in each of its first three years after the complete FBS transition.
The Mountaineers beat Ohio 31-29 in the 2015 Camellia Bowl, Toledo 31-28 in the 2016 Camellia Bowl and Toledo again 34-0 in the 2017 Dollar General Bowl.
