"I GOT CHILLS!"

There are many great traditions in sports for the member schools of LEAD1 Association.

As of now, put the baseball team from Louisiana State University (LSU) at the top of the list!

In the middle of the third inning in a game against Army, another LEAD1 Association school, the LSU team crossed the field to thank the Cadets for their service to our country. Paul Mainieri, the coach at LSU, stated, "I wanted them to look each of those members in the eye, shake their hands firmly, and tell them thank you!"

Mainieri furthered that he wanted his second-ranked team to let each Cadet know that we, "Thank you for your service, thank you for their commitment, thank you for their sacrifice, thank you for allowing us to have the life we have."

"I got chills," remarked Army baseball coach Jim Foster, in watching the display of what college sports is all about from the Tigers of LSU.

As a former Member of Congress with Annapolis in my district, I had the privilege of representing the United States Naval Academy, along with many veterans and active duty members of the military.

I was also honored with an appointment to the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. Much of my work as a Member of Congress centered on the Naval Academy, ranging from visiting military areas such as Afghanistan to securing higher salaries for the faculty so that only the best would instruct our future military leaders. Now as the President and Chief Executive Officer of LEAD1 Association, it is with great pride that the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, and United States Military Academy are all valued members.

LEAD1 Association represents the athletic directors and programs from the Football Bowl Subdivision Schools (FBS).

The athletic programs assembled and led by the athletic directors at the member schools of LEAD1 Association provide billions in scholarship aid yearly to over 50,000 students. Of these, many are the first in their family to go to college. LEAD1 Association, previously the D1A Athletic Directors' Association, consists of the 129 institutions of higher learning in 41 states across the country which comprise the FBS, as highlighted in the map below:

For more information, please contact Jonathan Yates, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, at 301-807-2523.