Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton won't be playing on A-Day Saturday, but that doesn't mean fans can't support him.
As part of United Way's Team NFL program, all 32 NFL teams select a player to participate in garnering volunteers to help with community work, namely tutoring students of all ages in an effort to lower school dropout rates.
The goal is for each player to collect 3,000 signatures before the end of the 2013 NFL season.
Newton, quarterback and representative for the Carolina Panthers, participated in the program last year and only collected 339 signatures last year.
Having just returned to Auburn after the 2012 season to finish his coursework and earn a degree, Newton is also returning to "Team Cam" to reach that goal. Michele Danno, Team NFL United Way web content writer and social media strategist, said his return to school is the perfect platform for the program's educational outreach efforts.
"So far, everyone I've worked with on this initiative has been extremely cooperative and eager to help, even given our budget limitations and long-distance work," said Danno, a Chicago resident who also works with former Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell. "I was really worried the A-Day event was too great a feat to pull off in one month while working from another state, but once again, Auburn loyalty saves the day."
While most Team NFL representatives are celebrities at their alma maters, Newton's status as a living legend on The Plains sparked Danno to appeal to the Auburn fanbase in addition to the Carolina faithful.
In fact, Team Cam's on-campus presence at A-Day will be the first time a Team NFL campaign has attempted to collect signatures from a player's collegiate fans.
"After working for Team NFL on behalf of Jason Campbell last year, it was obvious where the most passionate and powerful fans were -- in the Auburn community," Danno said. "I was continually surprised and impressed by their overwhelming eagerness to get involved in all things AU football, so I knew it would be foolish not to get them involved in Cam's Team NFL campaign."
Danno and her team will be offering fans the opportunity to support their cause at a table outside Mary Martin Hall on the corner of Thach Avenue and Mell Street.
While Newton's team has the rest of the year to convince fans to put pen to paper, Danno said Auburn's apparent passion may be all they need reach 3,000 signatures.
"If their football passion is any indication of their commitment to the Auburn community as a whole, I believe we'll find at least 3,000 AU fans willing to pledge to improve their community by signing up to volunteer around it," Danno said.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Davin Joseph won the race to 3,000 last season.
Fans that won't be near the table can also sign up or learn more information at www.unitedway.org/team-nfl/leaderboard.
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