July 20, 2010
Senior DE Sam Acho has been nominated for the 2010 AFCA Good Works Team, the American Football Coaches Association has announced.
In the areas of giving back and volunteerism, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team represents the “best of the best” among more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year institutions.
Six Longhorns have been selected to the annual 11-man team since it began in 1992, including QB Colt McCoy in 2008, QB Vince Young in 2005, RB Ricky Williams in 1998, LB Tyson King in 1996, DE Tony Brackens in 1995 and LB Robert Reed in 1994.
Including this summer, Acho and his family have made several medical mission trips to his father and mother’s native country of Nigeria. He helped organize a fundraiser in Dallas prior to the 2009 and 2010 trips, then he, his brother Emmanuel and several teammates traveled to assist his father and approximately 40 doctors in giving medical treatment to Nigerians who may only have access to a doctor once a year. The family hopes to build a permanent hospital in the area soon.
Among his other individual community efforts, he has mentored 3rd and 4th graders at O’Henry Middle School, spoken at Austin area high schools, taken the lead in organizing team donations to UT's Orange Santa program, which provides Christmas gifts for the needy, participated in the Texas Round-Up teaching children the benefits of physical activity and health, and volunteered at The Children’s Courtyard, interacting with children and encouraging them to stay in school.
He is also highly involved in the team’s community service program and is a regular visitor to the Dell Children’s Medical Center and has participated in visits by Wonders and Worries (children with life-threatening illnesses), the Rise School and the Arc of the Capital Area (children in early education with disabilities).
A 2009 ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-American, Acho is a two-year member of UT’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council. He was the choice as UT’s representative at the 2009 NCAA Leadership Conference in May in which one student-athlete from each NCAA school attends. He is the student-athlete representative of the Big 12 on the NCAA Football Issues Committee and is one of UT's representatives at the Big 12's Conference on Black Student Government. In addition, has attended the Minority Mentorship Symposium in Austin, which features high-profile leaders, executives and stars from the business, entertainment and music industries speaking on topics that focus on success.
Acho earned CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 and first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2008 and 2009 and is a six-time UT's Athletics Director’s Honor Roll member. The past two years, he has been honored with the Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholarship Award, which is a national award that recognizes minority student-athletes who are committed to both education and athletics. An honors business major in the prestigious McCombs School of Business, Acho maintains a 3.62 GPA and last year completed an internship at Target where he had a marketing idea advance to the level of the CEO.
In April 2010, Acho was inducted into UT's Friar Society, which is the oldest and most prestigious honor society at The University of Texas and recognizes students who have made significant contributions to The University.
Acho, who started all 14 games last season, has played in 38 career games, posting 89 tackles (59 solo), 14.5 sacks, 20 TFL, 26 pressures, seven PBD, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
A special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members is responsible for selecting two 11-player Good Works Teams – one comprising of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA – to be announced in September. College Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz is returning for a third year to serve as spokesperson for the program and raise awareness for the stories of the nominees and team members.
ESPN.com will launch a customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team web site featuring profiles and images of the final 22 award recipients, as well as unique and interactive content for college football fans. For the first time in the program’s history, fans will be able to vote for a Team Captain on ESPN.com.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing.
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.
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