Atlanta’s College Football Hall of Fame reaches community beyond X’s and O’s

ATLANTA — A group of fourth and fifth graders from Thomas Jefferson Academy rushed inside the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta. Principal Melissa Chapman called it more than just a field trip and a two-and-a-half hour bus ride from Jefferson County.

“We’re big Georgia Bulldog fans where we come from,” Chapman said. “We’re hoping we have some teambuilding here today. They’ll have lots of fun and games. They’ll be here together and just bonding and having a good experience and a good time.”

The field served as the classroom for the students. Vice president of marketing and communications Yomand Brown said kids learn more than just X’s and O’s at the College Football Hall of Fame.

“We teach things like social justice, financial literacy, STEM-based research,” Brown said. “They can use what’s here at the Hall to understand those functional areas.”

Brown said the Hall recently became the first attraction in North America to integrate artificial intelligence into the guest experience. The place features exhibits, memorabilia and several interactive exhibits.

“Whether it’s teaching individuals how to use exercise with partnerships like Northside (Hospital), taking care of their bodies, what they eat and how they fuel themselves and what recovery looks like, we want to be part of leveraging football to create an individual that will go and impact the community in the same fashion we like to do,” Brown said.

The Hall opened in 2014, helping solidify Atlanta’s place as the capital of college football. The city hosts several games a year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including early season bouts, the Celebration Bowl, the Peach Bowl and SEC Championship. It’s also hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship twice.

“All roads lead, start and end through and in Atlanta,” Brown said. “We in Atlanta are well equipped in being prepared for FIFA next year, so we want to be part of that, whether it’s watch parties or just introducing the game of football to audiences and its impact around the globe.”

So for every kick where toe meets leather, and every pass that hits the mark, the kids at Thomas Jefferson Academy aren’t just getting a workout. They’re getting education through experience. 

“All of our kids play sports, and perseverance is something we talk to them about daily, weather it be academics or sports,” Chapman said. “Learning that skill is awesome for them.”