Amway Goes Deep With Sponsorship Of College Football’s USA TODAY Coaches Poll And AFCA Coaches’ Trophy

 

Following one of the most exciting college football seasons in recent years, leading direct seller Amway today announced that it has partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group (USATSMG) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in a landmark deal to sponsor some of the sport's most endearing assets.

Amway's new partnership will integrate three unique elements into one of the most prestigious platforms in college athletics:

• the Amway Coaches Poll, formerly the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, marks the first-ever exclusive title sponsorship of the AFCA Coaches Poll – the only poll where college football coaches vote for the Top 25 teams over a 17-week period during the season
• the first-ever fan version of the poll, the Amway Fan Poll, a place for fans to vote and see side-by-side analysis of their own Top 25 in comparison to the Amway Coaches Poll
• exclusive, presenting sponsorship of the AFCA Coaches' Trophy, featuring the iconic Waterford Crystal football, presented by Amway, which will be awarded to the No. 1-ranked team, and national champion, in the Amway Coaches Poll following the conclusion of the college football season

This program was perfectly crafted for Amway because it personifies the entrepreneurial spirit shared by our Independent Business Owners (IBOs) and showcases the values we live by such as teamwork, leadership and mentorship, said Jim Ayres, Managing Director of Amway North America. This partnership gives us an unprecedented platform to showcase the Amway business opportunity to an audience – fans, coaches, mentors – that we believe has a strong affinity for what we offer, which is a chance to own your own business and call your own shots.

Amway is a direct selling company, offering individuals the opportunity to start their own business selling high-quality products for health, beauty and home, and recruiting others to do the same.

College football fans will see the partnership come to life through a fully integrated program including advertising (print, digital, mobile), social media, PR, events, and access to college football ambassadors for Amway events and programs.  More details can be found on Amway.com/CoachesPoll.

The Amway Coaches Poll will be one of the most closely watched barometers throughout the season of which teams are most likely to compete for a national title, and a symbol of consistency in what has become quite a changing landscape, said Dave Morgan, President  of theUSA TODAY Sports Media Group. Beginning in the preseason and continuing through season's end, the Amway Coaches Poll will be a prominent regular feature across all platforms of USA TODAY and its digital sports properties, including video, social and mobile, and fans will also be empowered to weigh in as part of the first-ever Amway Fan Poll on USATODAY.com to vote for how they think the Top 25 rankings should look.

The AFCA Coaches' Trophy and the Waterford Crystal football will continue to be awarded to the No. 1-ranked national championship team in the Amway Coaches Poll at the culmination of the college football season. The presentation will take place at the No. 1 ranked school following the completion of the season in association with Amway and the AFCA.

The AFCA is very proud to have Amway as the presenting sponsor of what has become the 'Symbol of Supremacy in college football'™, the AFCA Coaches' Trophy, said AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff.  Our coaches wanted an all-American company that mirrors the values which coaches instill in their teams, and reflects the leadership and dedication of the members of the American Football Coaches Association. We've found it with Amway.

About the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession and to provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football.

About Amway 
Based in Ada, Mich., Amway is part of the Alticor group of companies, founded by the DeVos and Van Andel families. Alticor is the parent company of Amway Corp., Access Business Group LLC and Alticor Corporate Enterprises. The company offers consumer products and business opportunities, as well as product development, manufacturing and logistics services in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. The company reported annual sales of $11.8 billion for the year ending December 31, 2013.