Nic and Dan Weishar

Weishar Named To 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Roster

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — University of Notre Dame graduate tight end Nic Weishar was one of 22 college football players named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Roster, Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced Thursday.

The prestigious award, which has played a prominent role in collegiate sports for more than 25 years, celebrates student-athletes and the honorary head coach for their extraordinary commitment to making a lasting impact off the field.  

Two 11-member teams comprise the Good Works Team. One team has 11 players representing the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the other team has 11 student-athletes from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Divisions II and III, plus the NAIA.

Fans are encouraged to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain now through Nov. 23, 2018. The Team Captain will be honored at this season’s The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

Nic Weishar and his family started The Andrew Weishar Foundation, which was created to honor the memory of Andrew Weishar, an older brother of Nic, and his legacy of helping others to live with faith, courage and strength.

The foundation provides immediate resources to families with adolescents or young adults stricken with cancer. They provide financial assistance to these families in need and dedicate ourselves to these acts of kindness and generosity.

Nic and the rest of the Weishar family learned firsthand what many survivors have learned when coping with cancer:

  • Andrew was constantly amazed and grateful for the endless acts of kindness he received from so many people.
  • When Andrew was diagnosed, the Weishar family quickly realized that, on top of being a physical, mental and psychological struggle; cancer is an extreme financial burden.
  • During Andrew’s three-year battle, his greatest highlights were the “escapes” from the treatments and realities of his diagnosis.
  • Andrew’s time with his family and moments of everyday, normal activities provided needed reprieve from the realities he was facing.
  • Prior to Andrew’s passing in October 2012, he asked his younger brothers Dan and Nic to “pay forward” the acts of kindness and generosity he received.
  • In early 2013, AWF was created to honor Andrew’s request of paying it forward, specifically by providing acts of kindness and generosity, easing the financial burden and providing a temporary escape.

To date The Andrew Weishar Foundation has aided 150 families burdened by cancer; granting out over $800,000 in financial assistance.

In addition to his countless hours with AWF, Nic Weishar still managed to find additional time for others and nearly led the Notre Dame football team in community service hours during the 2017-18 academic year.  

Weishar, who graduated in May 2018 with a degree in finance from the Mendoza College of Business, is currently working toward his Master of Science degree in finance. He has played in 39 games and started four contests over his Notre Dame career. Weishar has caught 15 passes for 118 yards and two TDs. 

Weishar was the eighth Notre Dame football player selected to the Good Works Team since 1999. Offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr., was named to the 2012 squad, quarterback Dayne Crist was selected to the 2011 team, safety Tom Zbikowski was chosen to the 2007 team, offensive lineman Bob Morton was named to the 2006 team, linebacker Derek Curry was chosen for the 2004 squad, linebacker Courtney Watson was named to the 2003 team and defensive end Grant Irons was the first Notre Dame player to be honored in 1999.

This summer, 169 nominations were submitted by college and university sports information directors. From the nominations, an esteemed voting panel, including two-time national champion and former Good Works Team® member, Tim Tebow, selected the two 11-member teams.

In addition to Tebow, who will be participating for the third year in a row, the voting panel includes: president of the Eastern Territory at Allstate Insurance Company Dave Prendergast, former Good Works Team® members Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team) and Wes Counts (Middle Tennessee State, 1999 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star) and Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY); 2018 AFCA President and Georgetown College head coach Bill Cronin; 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor. 

The 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a special community service project ahead of the 2019 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®, where the entire team will also be recognized on the field during a halftime presentation.

Throughout the season, fans can follow along and join in on the conversation by using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels. 

About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field.  AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

About 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.”

— ND —