Fantastic NFL Data In Culturally Diverse Classrooms

Fantastic Football Data -> Fruitful Educational Experiences

By Jacqueline Brannon Giles

Millions of people love football, but so few realize the power and importance of the data which measures the performance of teams and players.

A man with a vision leads a relatively new Hall of Fame committee charged with the mission to use the fantastic NFL data and other data to inspire learning in American classrooms. Jerry Csaki realizes the potential of his educational leadership role, and the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. has documented the need.  

During a conference in Washington, D.C., in October 2008, hundreds of mathematicians and educators convened to discuss the crisis in student proficiency in mathematics.  Csaki believes his committee can help write and administer creative learning experiences, using real world data, i.e., football data, in culturally diverse classrooms. 

One team at the conference, the National Association of Mathematicians, led by Lt. Colonel Donald Outing, a professor at the United States Military Academy (West Point) prepared its statement and call to action.  It states:

Team Name		National Association of Mathematicians (NAM
Team Leader & Members		Donald Outing Jackie Giles Duane Cooper Bill Hawkins
Area & Recs		Learning Processes 13, 10, 12
Plan
Reports indicate that students with a strong grasp of mathematics have an advantage in academics and in the job market regardless of ethnic background or family income.   The reports point to the eighth grade as being the critical point in student's mathematics education. Achievement at this stage clears the way for students to take rigorous high school mathematics and science courses which are keys to college entrance and success in the labor force.   Surveys indicate that most students would like to go to college; however, many mathematically talented minority students plan to drop mathematics as soon as they can. This indicates that most minority students do not understand the importance of taking rigorous mathematics courses in high school (nor are they encouraged).   With fewer minority high school students enrolling in rigorous mathematics courses, the pool of fully qualified minority college applicants is small. Consequently, the pool of potential mathematicians, scientist, and engineers is even smaller.   There is an urgent need to intervene to encourage middle school students to continue studying mathematics in high school. Programs that inspire undergraduate mathematics students to continue studying mathematics in graduate school have already proven successful, e.g., SUMSRI at Miami University and SPIRAL at the University of Maryland.   Similar programs developed for middle school students could increase the numbers of students taking rigorous mathematics courses in high school
Resources
The National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) has always had as its main objectives, the promotion of excellence in the mathematical sciences and the promotion of the mathematical development of groups historically underrepresented in mathematics fields. It also aims to address the issue of the serious under-representation of minorities in the workforce of mathematical scientists.   The organization achieves its goals by focusing on five areas: 1. Mathematics Education 2. Professional/Career Development 3. Scholarly Productivity 4. Student Development 5. Databases.    NAM has received funding from numerous agencies to include National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, and MAA to conduct activities and conferences to accomplish its goals.

The U. S. Department of Education conference call to action inspired a response in the African tradition.  Jackie Giles, a NAM team member and a professor at an open admissions and culturally diverse university in Texas, selected 35 students to complete a simple survey.

The survey question was “Have you heard of the Educational Outreach Program of the Hall of Fame?”

The students eagerly let Giles know that they were familiar with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but they showed expressions of surprise when she mentioned the existence of an education committee. 

Quickly, the mission statement was shared with these young people who are enrolled in a mathematics course which overlaps the curricular content of middle school and senior high school mathematics classes.  In an effort to keep the interest of the class, the teacher’s alto voice sounded out the mission statement:

The Mission of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is:

To honor, preserve, educate and promote. . .

To honor individuals who have made outstanding

contributions to professional football

To preserve professional football’s historic documents

and artifacts

To educate the public regarding the origin, development

and growth of professional football as an important part of

American culture

To promote the positive values of the sport

The efforts of the Hall of Fame education component are outstanding, but Giles believes that the news of its existence and functions need to be spread throughout all communities, including African American, Hispanic, Jewish and other groups, especially in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

One book of wisdom shares, in summary, “Line upon line; precept upon precept; a little here, a little there.”  So this article is designed to introduce more communities and educational institutions to the resources and expertise available through the Educational Outreach Program.

The concept of the Hall of Fame initiative is described “line by line” spelling out the “precept upon precept” with the hope of advocating change, “a little here, a little there.”

Millions of people are uplifted and inspired by great plays and touchdowns in mammoth football fields packed with millions of spectators.  Why not embrace a vision that more students (perhaps millions) will get excited about using real-world data from those fantastic plays in football, and, metaphorically, run, run, run toward the end zone of excellence in learning and applying mathematics in the real world.  The goal then is to get that touchdown and victory in mathematics and mathematics education in the United States of America. 

After all, some of the studies of the U. S. Department of Education correlate national security issues with mathematical and technological proficiency of the general populace.  It’s about time we use the fantastic real-world data in the NFL, for example, to inspire more fruitful learning activities in American classrooms.  It’s a thought—it is the Hall of Fame’s vision.

Note:  Highly qualified educators comprise the HOF Educational Advisory Panel.  Click link:

http://www.profootballhof.com/hall/EducationalAdvisoryPanel.jsp 

Jacqueline Brannon Giles is a Resident Professor of Mathematics in Houston, Texas who has written several articles in Mathematics and Sports. The Jewish Herald Voice featured her in "Pointed toward Israel." http://www.jhvonline.com/print_this_story.asp?smenu=96&sdetail=3158

Related articles http://www.jewishaz.com/issues/story.mv?050923+nfl

 Football (American)

• Joe Alexander, G, U.S. football player
• Lyle Alzado, DE, U.S. football player
• Harris Barton, OL, U.S. football player
• Alex Bernstein, OL U.S. Football Player Baltimore Ravens, NY Jets, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons
• Matt Bloom, Former NFL G, T San Diego Chargers
• Jeremy Bloom, WR, PR Pittsburgh Steelers
• Noah Cantor, DT, Toronto Argonauts, Canadian Football League
• Eddie Cohen, WR, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Canadian Football League
• Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears, National Football League
• Ben Davidson, DE, U.S. football player
• Art Dorfman, OL, U.S. football player, Buffalo Bills
• Hayden Epstein, K, Minnesota Vikings
• Jay Fiedler, QB, U.S. football player, free agent
• John Frank, TE, U.S. football player
• Benny Friedman, QB, U.S. football player, Hall of Fame
• Lennie Friedman, OL, Cleveland Browns
• Adam Goldberg, OG, St. Louis Rams
• Bill Goldberg, DT, U.S. football player
• Marshall Goldberg, RB, U.S. football player
• Charles Goldenberg, G & RB, U.S. football player
• Randy Grossman, TE, U.S. football player, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Dan Hadenfeldt - P, Patriots (inactive)
• Sigmund Harris, QB, U.S. football player.
• Andrew Kline- OL, Rams
• Brian Kopka - K, Ravens
• Sid Luckman, QB, U.S. football player, Hall of Fame
• Sam McCullum, WR, U.S. football player
• Justin McCullum, WR, U.S. football player
• Josh Miller, P, New England Patriots
• Ron Mix, OT, U.S. football player, Hall of Fame
• Ed Newman, G, U.S. football player
• Harry Newman, QB, U.S. football player
• Igor Olshansky, DL, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys
• Gus Ornstein - QB, Jets
• Vitaly Pisetsky - K, Bears
• Mike Rosenthal, T
• Mike Seidman, TE, Indianapolis Colts
• Allie Sherman, U.S. football player & coach, New York Giants
• Scott Slutzker - TE, Jets
• Josh Taves– DE, Panthers
• Andre Tippett, LB, New England Patriots
• Alan Veingrad, OL, U.S. football player
• Darren Weltman, QB Canada Football Player Miami Dolphins, NY Jets, Pittsburg Steelers, Amsterdam Admirals
• Gary Wood, QB, New York Giants

Jewish players in the NFL

Alex Bernstein- OL, Browns (inactive)
Hayden Epstein - K,Vikings (inactive)
Jay Fiedler - QB, Dolphins
Lennie Friedman- OL, Redskins
Antonio Garay – DE, Browns
Dan Hadenfeldt - P, Patriots (inactive)
Andrew Kline- OL, Rams (inactive)
Brian Kopka - K, Ravens (inactive)
Josh Miller - P, Patriots
Igor Olshansky– DT, Chargers
Gus Ornstein - QB, Jets (inactive)
Vitaly Pisetsky - K, Bears (inactive, NFL Europe)
Sage Rosenfels - QB, Dolphins
Mike Rosenthal- OL, Vikings
Scott Slutzker - TE, Jets (inactive)
Josh Taves – DE, Panthers (inactive)

Management

Arthur Blank - Owner, Falcons
Al Davis - Owner, Raiders
Malcom Glazer - Owner, Bucaneers
Robert Kraft - Owner, Patriots
Randy Lerner - Owner, Browns
Jeffrey Lurie - Owner, Eagles
Art Modell - Owner, Ravens
Dan Snyder - Owner, Redskins
Andy Sugarman- Assistant Coach, 49ers
Robert Tisch - 1/2 Owner, Giants
Marc Trestman- Assistant Coach, Raiders
Ron Wolf - General Manager, Packers

Source:  Wikipedia and other sources