Good Day: Carson-Newman center Kevin Day named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

Kevin Day, the senior All-SAC selection from Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., has earned a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

Carson-Newman is the only team from Division II to have players selected in back-to-back years following defensive lineman Byron Bell’s selection in 2011.

“It’s great to associate with kids that are up for that kind of an award,” Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks said. “You can’t impact the world if it’s all about you, you’ve got to get in the world. I guarantee you I’m just excited about it as Kevin Day is, and I don’t get to go to the Sugar Bowl.”

This summer, the program received 117 nominations from colleges and universities hailing from 35 states. From the nominations, a voting panel comprised of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and college football media selected two 11-member teams – one featuring players competing in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the other a combined team representing the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA.

“I called my parents (when I found out),” Day said, starting to chuckle. “I don’t know all the details, but I told my dad that we would get to go to the Sugar Bowl and there was a lot of cheering from him. After him getting excited, he said, ‘Oh yeah, good job to you too.’”

Day routinely visits children’s hospitals and churches. He also donated bone marrow to his sister when he was a senior in high school.

“Fortunately for me, coach Sparks provides us these opportunities to do community service,” Day said. “A lot of that stuff you’d never hear about if our coaching staff wasn’t encouraging us to help out.”

Fans will have the opportunity to vote for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Captain by visiting ESPN.com and searching “Good Works.” Fans can learn more about this year’s team members and their charitable accomplishments by viewing player profiles on the website. The Team Captain and his fellow award recipients will be invited to New Orleans to take part in a special youth football clinic leading up to the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl.

“As fans of college football, Allstate takes great pride in partnering with the AFCA to recognize these dedicated student-athletes for their accomplishments off the field,” Kathy Mabe, president of Allstate’s West regions and a member of the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel, said. “These players have demonstrated the unique ability to balance academics with athletics while donating their limited free time and energy to serve others, and we at Allstate commend them for their commitment to volunteerism.”