Beginning in 2007, the Chick-fil-A Bowl partnered with the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame to participate in the Play It Smart program. In 1998, The NFF created Play It Smart, an educational program targeted at high school football players from economically disadvantaged environments. The program, designed to transform student-athletes’ passion for sport and intense dedication to their team into a force for greater good in their lives, provides an “Academic Coach” who is equal parts mentor, advocate, counselor, teacher, coach and friend to work with the students for the entire academic year.