Starter Athletics and Walter Camp Football Foundation Reunite After Four Decades to Celebrate America’s Original All-Americans
Starter Athletics, the iconic American sportswear brand born in New Haven, today 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 Gridiron 1880 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.”
1982 Walter Camp All-Americans with their Starter jackets (Bill O’Brien photo)
“Starter’s history is intertwined with the story of college football and the Walter Camp tradition,” explained 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.”
“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.”
Founded in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1971, Starter revolutionized athletic apparel through its fusion of sports, culture, and style. A pioneer in licensing partnerships with professional leagues and universities, Starter remains a symbol of authenticity for athletes and fans alike.
About Walter Camp Football Foundation
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935.
