- Punt, Pass, and Kick
Punt, pass and kick (PP&K) is a
skill scompetition offered by theNational Football League and designed for youths aged 8 to 15.Overview
PP&K began in 1961 and at one time, event highlights were shown by
CBS Sports as part of its NFL coverage. The contest received renewed attention in 1992 whenKendra Wecker , a 10-year-old girl fromKansas , made the finals in her age group and competed on an equal basis with male competitors. Wecker would later become anAll-American inbasketball atKansas State University and plays in theWomen's National Basketball Association . PP&K now offers separate competition for boys and girls in four different age groups.Winners in each age group are determined by the total distance of their punts, passes, and kicks, as the name implies. The national finals competition involves one contestant from each age group sponsored by each of the . Those contestants have already won local and sectional qualifiers to advance to that point.
The finalists are announced during a commercial break during the NFL playoffs each year.
The program received much attention in January 2008 when Anna Grant, the national winner in the girl's 14/15 age group was booed by the fans of the Indianapolis Colts. Grant, of Stratham, New Hampshire, was wearing the jersey of the Colts' arch-rival New England Patriots, eliciting boos from some in attendance while being introduced with the other national winners during Indy's loss to the San Diego Chargers. Miss Grant got her deserved attention as she was invited by the New England Patriots' ownership to the AFC Championship Game the next weekend and was on the field for the coin toss--finally getting the cheers she had earned.
In 1995, Miami Dolphins representative, Eric Resta, 12, was booed for winning his division over Kendra Wecker, who received an ovation from the crowd. Once again, by San Diego Chargers fans, who were playing the Dolphins in the 2nd round AFC Playoff game. He was the first to be booed, and also the only participant to win the National Finals twice, with a 2nd place finish the next year in Kansas City.
External links
* [http://ppk.nflyouthfootball.com/site9.aspx Official website for NFL Pepsi PUNT, PASS & KICK program]
References
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