Jan. 5, 2009

Story courtesy of College Fanz Sports Network

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- This April will mark the third year in a row that the best NAIA football players in the country will come to Kansas City.

The College Fanz Sports Network’s Senior Classic will pit 120 former NAIA football players against one another in a showcase of talent and character. The game kicks off Saturday, April 25th at 1:00 p.m. in Platte County R3 High School’s Pirate Stadium in Platte City, Mo.

College Fanz has begun taking applications from players to participate in the upcoming game. Players from across the country can log onto the Victory Sports Network to fill out an application.

“For many of these players, it’s a great chance to be seen in front of professional scouts and possibly earn their way onto an NFL or CFL team roster,” said Jason Dannelly of College Fanz, the game’s founder. “For others, it’s just a chance to play football one last time before they hang up the cleats and head into their professional jobs.”

Last year’s Senior Classic attracted over 1,200 people in attendance, and 120 student-athlete participants. Last year the Nationals downed the Americans, 29-21 to even the overall series at 1-1. In 2007 the Americans edged the Nationals, 16-6.

“Every year we get more player requests and even more fans coming to this one-of-a-kind event,” said Dannelly. “We expect this spring’s game to continue that tradition, with even more student-athletes and college football fans joining us at Pirate Stadium.”

The two previous Senior Classic gridiron tilts led to several players signed to NFL, CFL, AFL, AF2 and other professional contracts. The Scouting Bureau, headed by Steve Brown, as well as numerous NFL, CFL and Arena Football league teams will be attending the game in search of the next great unknown star.

“The Victory Sports Network and College Fanz do an exceptional job of stocking this event with the best the NAIA has to offer,” said Steve Brown, senior analyst of the Scouting Bureau. “It is clearly one of the best organized post-season all star events.”

Off the field, the players will speak to area high school students during their visit to Platte City. The players will spend time talking about college, character and goal setting. The intent of their message is intended to show students that you do not need to be a superstar or be the most talented person in the world to achieve your dreams.

College Fanz is the world’s largest online college sports community, with students, alumni, and other fans of college sports. Founded by Bill Rasmussen, the innovator who launched ESPN in 1979, College Fanz boasts over 22,000 web pages devoted to more than 1,450 colleges and universities throughout the United States competing in over 225,000 NCAA and NAIA athletic events. Victory Sports Network, the leading voice of NAIA college sports, is now part of the College Fanz Sports Network.