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Kevin S. Kaplan Reflects on the First-Ever HBCU Legacy Bowl as a Historic Opportunity to Help Others
News Provided by Accesswire2022-01-14
HBCU Legacy Bowl offers opportunities for HBCU students on and off the field, says Coaching Charities CEO and President Kevin S. Kaplan.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 14, 2022 /For the first time in history, HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)football players will have an opportunity to showcase their skills in their own post-season all-star game before a nationally televised audience. The HBCU Legacy Bowl, presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame will feature 100 NFL draft-eligible players. The game will be played Saturday, February 19, 3:00 P.M. CDT at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans and broadcast live on NFL Network.
The HBCU Legacy Bowl be a week-long celebration of Black excellence and culture. It will also feature a Career Fair exclusively for HBCU graduating seniors, to be held February 17 & 19. Kevin S. Kaplan notes that this experience will open the doors of opportunity and shine a positive light on what makes HBCUs so special.
"The HBCU Legacy Bowl platform will be a difference-maker for hundreds of HBCU students," Kaplan says. "We are fortunate to have great vision and leadership provided by Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founders James "Shack" Harris and Doug Williams. It is a genuine honor for me and my team to assist them in this meaningful endeavor. This is precisely the reason I started Coaching Charities - to make a difference in the lives of others."
"The HBCU Legacy Bowl means opportunity and exposure for HBCU students," said Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder and Inductee Doug Williams. "We're excited to have this in New Orleans, especially during Black History Month."
Kevin Kaplan notes that this is the first event of this kind. "We will be the only pro or college football game nationally televised on February 19, which will only increase exposure and opportunity," he said.
"HBCUs are a bridge to equality," added Co-Founder and Inductee James "Shack" Harris. "We thank the NFL and our other partners for their support and in sharing our commitment to lifting up others."
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was created in 2009, Founded by Harris and Williams with the support of Coaching Charities. The Black College Football Hall of Fame has already recognized over 100 of the top HBCU football players, coaches and contributors, including Trustees Mel Blount, Art Shell, Willie Lanier, James Harris and Doug Williams.
Kevin Kaplan Discusses the Success of Polynesian Bowl and its Incredible Cultural Impact
According to Coaching Charities Chairman and CEO, the Polynesian Bowl will once again feature top talent from all over the nation in a celebration of culture.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, December xx, 2021 -- The 2022 Polynesian Bowl, presented by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame is a celebration of Polynesian culture. Kevin S. Kaplan has been instrumental in the development the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and in starting the annual high school all-star game. As Founder, Chairman & CEO of Coaching Charities, helping others is what he does best.
The Polynesian Bowl is held in January, with the game set to kick off on January 22, 2022, at 6:00 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game will be played at Kūnuiākea Stadium at the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus and broadcast live on CBS Sports Network. The all-star game will feature 100 of the top-ranked high school in the world. The head coaches selected for this year's game are Super Bowl champions Doug Williams and Trent Dilfer.
Kevin S. Kaplan believes the game offers an incredible opportunity for players throughout the US to better understand immerse themselves in the Polynesian culture. He says the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Co-Founders Jesse Sapolu and Ma'a Tanuvasa wanted the game to serve as a way to bring people from all backgrounds together.
"Polynesian player success has permeated all levels of football," Kaplan notes. "While the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors the greatest players, coaches, and contributors in the past and current, the Polynesian Bowl helps showcase the future. Culture is what makes the Polynesian Bowl so special and different from the other top high school all-star games. In fact, it has become the hottest invite out there."
Kevin Kaplan emphasizes that culture is the most important part of the game - he says the players learn a haka as part of the Bowl experience-which is the traditional Polynesian rhythmic dance of stylized violence and aggression. This team-building exercise is deeply rooted in the Polynesian culture, where warriors would proclaim their strength and prowess before battle to intimidate the opposition. The tribal posture dance can also be used to welcome distinguished guests, acknowledge achievements or highlight special occasions. Players will also spend a day at the Polynesian Culture Center, learning about Samoan, Hawaiian, Tongan, Māori, and other Polynesian cultures.
Kaplan says it is an honor to work side-by-side with Jesse Sapolu and Ma'a Tanuvasa in creating the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. "The idea actually came to fruition on a school bus in Pago Pago, American Samoa," recalls Jesse Sapolu. "Kevin S. Kaplan, Ma'a Tanuvasa, Coach June Jones and I were there on a Goodwill Mission to help the people of American Samoa."
The Polynesian Hall of Fame has now awarded over $250,000 in scholarships to Polynesian youth. There are currently over 400 NCAA D1 and 70 NFL Polynesian football players. Polynesians Junior Seau, Kevin Mawai, and Troy Polamalu are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kevin Kaplan also helped secure a permanent home for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, located at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawai'i, where over 50 legendary Polynesian football players are memorialized.
"Many Polynesian football greats that have been inducted to date, but we believe the best is yet to come. The Polynesian pipeline is well stocked," says Kevin Kaplan. Polynesians are the perfectfit for football. Faith, respect, and humility are the cornerstones of their culture. It is a sincere honor to be on this journey with a community I love."
Caroline Hunter
Web Presence, LLC
SOURCE: Coaching Charities
https://www.accesswire.com/683533/Kevin-S-Kaplan-Reflects-on-the-First-Ever-HBCU-Legacy-Bowl-as-a-Historic-Opportunity-to-Help-Others
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