BRYAN, TX -- It’s a new era for Texas A&M Aggies football fans as the school enters the Southeastern Conference for the first time this fall, and the historic first game against the Florida Gators at Kyle Field on Saturday, September 8, promises to be a groundbreaking day in school history.
At the same time, this SEC debut is also presenting a great opportunity for the local Boys & Girls clubs throughout the state of Texas as well with the production of a limited edition Rawlings full-sized SEC Inaugural Season Texas A&M football that will be produced to welcome the Aggies and their fans into their new conference. Only 2,012 footballs will be made available for sale to the general public, and each one includes a handsome acrylic display case.
The football is officially licensed by the Collegiate Licensing Company, the SEC and Texas A&M.
A numbered certificate of authenticity is included with each football, and will enhance the value of this special commemorative in years to come. With the holiday season around the corner, this item will display perfectly on an office shelf, or at home, and is certain to become a conversation piece with any Aggies fan.
The footballs are priced at just $99 and can be purchased by calling 1-800-345-2868 or visiting www.nikcosports.com. In recent years, Nikco Sports, which is marketing the ball, has raised more than $1.8 million for children’s charities, several of which have come in the state of Texas involving special projects tied in with the Texas Rangers, Texas Longhorns, Houston Texans, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys and San Antonio Spurs.
Each football contains several white panels that feature printed historic information about Aggies football and stadium history, including a listing of national titles, conference crowns and bowl game appearances, all set off around the official A&M logo. On another panel is a color, panoramic photo of Kyle Field on a sun-drenched autumn football afternoon. Another panel contains the official SEC logo, centered between the conference’s two divisions (Western and Eastern) and a listing of each school within that respective division. A&M is in the Western Division, joined by Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Former Big 12 Conference rival Missouri is in the Eastern Division, along with Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
Texas A&M has played in 33 bowl games throughout their football history, and has faced 11 future SEC opponents in those contests.
Prior to their first SEC contest, the Aggies will kick off their 2012 season at Louisiana Tech at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, LA on Thursday evening, August 30.
“The move to the SEC has certainly been a topic of many sports conversations in recent months since the announcement, and I am sure the fans of Texas A&M football are looking forward to beginning some great rivalries in a conference that has become a leader for producing Top 10 teams and outstanding All-American players,” noted Nikco Sports CEO Craig Bidner, whose company has given back regularly to communities since its inception in 1992. “The first SEC game, at home against Florida, promises to be very historic for a university that has played football dating back to 1884, and a program that has produced 18 conference titles (17 of which were in the Southwest Conference and 1 in the Big 12).
“We’re especially pleased to offer Aggie fans an opportunity to own something that is VERY limited, and something that will generate additional funds to help put smiles on the faces of young men and women who depend on and enjoy the services provided by local Boys & Girls Clubs. We’re honored to play a small part in this special project in helping them develop a safe place for these youngsters to learn and grow.”
During the past several years, Nikco Sports has raised more than $1.8 million for charitable organizations across the nation with the issue of limited-edition sports memorabilia that has honored amateur and professional teams, as well as select athletes such as Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Jerome Bettis, Tim Tebow, Ben Roethlisberger, along with Peyton Manning, Jim Kelly, Carson Palmer, Steve Young, John Elway, David Robinson, John Stockton, Magic Johnson, Roger Clemens, Ryne Sandberg, Paul Molitor, Kirby Puckett, Stephen Strasburg, Edgar Martinez, Ichiro, Ozzie Smith, Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., Whitey Herzog, Nolan Ryan, Matt Garza, Tony Gwynn, Craig Biggio and Cal Ripken Jr.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of America
In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow—all while having fun. They are truly The Positive Place for Kids. Boys & Girls Clubs programs have taken members from the Clubhouse to the White House; from the games room to the corporate boardroom; from the high school orchestra to Carnegie Hall. Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a lineup of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today’s most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life. More than 25 national programs are available in the areas of education, the environment, health, the arts, careers, alcohol/drug and pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, leadership development and athletics.
