Starter Renews Walter Camp Football Foundation Partnership

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT (October 30, 2025) — Starter Athletics announced its renewed partnership with the Walter Camp Football Foundation, reconnecting a relationship that began in 1981 when Starter first became the official apparel provider for the Walter Camp All-America Teams, the nation’s oldest college football honor.

This partnership celebrates the shared New Haven roots, traditions, and timeless influence of two brands that helped define the fabric of American football.

Under the new agreement, Starter becomes the official merchandise partner of the Walter Camp Football Foundation and a presenting sponsor of the Walter Camp All-America teams, Fan Vote and the Walter Camp Weekly Game Ball, awarded to FCS, D2, D3 and NAIA players in coordination with the newly formed Gridiron1880 Network. 

“Walter Camp is the father of American football, and Starter is part of New Haven’s sports DNA,” Walter Camp president John Barbarotta said. “Bringing these two legacies back together represents everything our Foundation stands for — tradition, innovation, and community.  The return of Starter as our official merchandise partner and sponsor of the All-American Fan Vote gives our fans and alumni a new way to engage with the Walter Camp story all season long.”

“Starter’s history is intertwined with the story of college football and the Walter Camp tradition,” said Mike Dugan, President, Starter Athletics. “Reuniting after more than 40 years is more than a partnership — it’s a homecoming. The Walter Camp All-America Teams represent the best of the game, and we’re proud to once again outfit that legacy with the authenticity and heritage only Starter can bring.”

Walter Camp was considered the “Father of American Football” who introduced the play from the line of scrimmage, set plays and the restriction of 11 players per side in 1880. Camp was the head coach at Yale when he selected the first college football All-America team in 1889. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and continue the annual tradition of selecting an All-America team.

“This collaboration bridges generations of fans, athletes, and creators,” Brian Gallagher, Vice President of Marketing, Starter Athletics, said. “From the first Starter jacket worn by Walter Camp All-Americans in the 1980s to today’s digital-first community built by Gridiron1880 Network, the connection between sport, style, and storytelling has never been stronger. Together, we’re creating experiences that honor the past while igniting the future of college football culture.”

The Walter Camp Football Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which was founded in 1997. The NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating to 1935.

Starter is a supporter of NSGA.