Friday, October 12, 2012

Alumni Football USA: What does this game mean to YOU?


"This game is like a Super Bowl to me." 



     Asheville vs. A.C. Reynolds. August 11, 2012. This is your game.

 It’s for you
Your team.
 Your family.
Your community. 
Your dream.
Your game.

We caught up with the Asheville and A.C. Reynolds players to find out what this game means to them. 

Check it out:


2nd Annual Hawaii Alumni Football USA Games!




Last year  Alumni Football USA® Hawaii Games Rocked the Big Island! For the first time in history, former Hawaii high school football players were able to return and play full contact football against their old High School Rivals! 
Kealakehe High School raised over $12,000!
Now, it's your turn!

Maui   vs. Baldwin 
7:00 pm Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 
War Memorial Stadium

Hilo   vs.  Waiakea 
7:30 pm Friday, Jan 04, 2013 
Wong Stadium

Konawaena   vs. Kealakehe 
7:00 pm Saturday, Jan 05, 2013 
Kealakehe Stadium

Honoka'a   vs. Kohala 
4:00 pm Sunday, Jan 06, 2013 
Honoka'a High School

Waimea   vs. Kapa'a 
7:00 pm Friday, Jan 25, 2013 
Honopepe Stadium

Check out this article about last year's BIG GAME:








Ken and Clay Tawzer: The Power of Two



"I get to play with my son, life doesn't get any better than having your best friend with you."
Father and son. Best friends. Ken Tawzer graduated in 1971, but age didn't keep him from jumping at the opportunity to play in a full contact Alumni Football USA game with his 30 year old son, Clay. When asked why Ken wanted to play, he said, "I get to play with my son, life doesn't get any better than having your best friend with you."

Clay works out with his Dad in the gym three times a week. Clay has seen his Dad bench 525 pounds at 60 years old. He is proud to say his Dad is a seven time World Champion Powerlifter. Clay, a professional wrestler, has some bragging rights of his own. According to his Dad, Clay is a four time Powerlifting Champion with a bench of 700 for a double. Powerlifting is not all they have in common, they also paint together for a living. Ken operates Tawzer Painting which has been in business since 1960. This father-son combo have been practicing together for weeks on the football field joining all the guys getting ready for one more game. After the August 18th Alumni Football USA game they share one more common title- a WIN for their Alma Mater. At the end of the 2nd Quarter, St. Joseph was leading 14 to 13, but Righetti was able to end with the victory, after a hard fought game. The Tawzer power team united with fellow Righetti alumni for a 35:14 win against long standing rival St. Joseph. Over $4,000 was raised for school programs. 

Meet the Tawzers:

                     Check out the Game Highlights Here:

Monday, August 6, 2012

James Harrison - Giving Back

     What NFL Pro Great James Harrison from the Pittsburgh Steelers was able to give back to his former high school football teammates last Saturday Night was...HIMSELF. Harrison escorted his alumni high school football teammates onto the playing field for one more glory day game put on by Alumni Football USA®.
    James could be seen from the sidelines cheering on his teammates and handing them fist pumps, pointers and encouraging accolades. Harrison's body movements showed emotion as guys on the field made that all important tackle or stretched themselves to the limit to make that all-out effort catch. James enthusiasm for his teammates from the sidelines was reciprocated at half-time when his coach presented him with a throw back jersey from his high-school team. The fans were appreciative that James was there to share the moment and his team wished he could be there on the football field playing the game with them. The good news is thanks to Alumni Football USA® there is always a decade from now for James to look forward to.
For more information on the Coventry Game Click Here

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Todd Belcher: From the Battle Field to the Football Field


"The training you do for a big game is just doing training for a big mission."alt
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Several weeks ago, Alumni Football USA received an email from a guy who wanted to play in his high school's alumni game. We get these emails all the time, but this one was different. This one was from Afghanistan. This one was from Todd Belcher: Husband,Father, Soldier,and soon to be Alumni Football player.  
Before knowing where Todd was writing from, we sent out the usual email reminder about upcoming team practices. Todd replied with apologies that he would be unable to make the practices:
"I will be coming from Afghanistan to make it to the game. If that is going to be a problem...believe me, I am in way better shape than those boys."
We alerted the team to really put some sweat into their practices, and eagerly found out more about Todd.
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Todd riding a camel in the Middle East, Todd's High School Football Team: Daniel Boone
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"I am a Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer. I retired at 20 years and now I work for IBM as Site Lead for Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance Task Force at Bagram Air Base (Bagram, Afghanistan)."
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Chief Belcher, his wife Sandra,daughter Taylor and sons, Trevor and Joseph.
Todd was part of a Quick Reaction Company, and completed succesful deployments to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Mogadishu, Somalia, in direct support of Operation Southern Watch. Chief Belcher completed the Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School and the Army Airborne School. While performing his duties as the Joint Fleet Telecommunication Watch Officer, he provided superior C4I support and instituted creative solutions to mitigate  shortfalls in communication. His many contributions have significantly improved operational readiness and FIFTH Fleet Operations success. 
Todd has been deployed numerous times to Doha, Qatar and Baghdad, Iraq, and directly supported Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM and the Global War on Terrorism.He also acted as Advisor of the Command Drug and Alcohol Program .
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His decorations include the Joint Servi Commendation (2 Gold Stars), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (1 Gold Star), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (1 Gold Star), Combat Action Ribbon as well as multiple other medals and service ribbons.
Recently Todd posted this comment: "Today is a good day to watch Saving Private Ryan...not just for the movie but people need to put themselves in the shoes of those men and what they was thinking right before the doors came down and then all hell broke loose. It is a crazy thing to put your life on the line for a bigger purpose than yourself."
On May 19, 2012 Todd Belcher joined fellow Boone High School Alumni on the football battle field. He was honored, together with other heros past and present, with a 21 gun salute and presentation of colors.  
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The final words of the National Anthem echoed through the stadium, and the hard hits began. Todd posted this status from the sidelines during the game: "No pain no gain.... Loving every minute."
We got to ask him a couple of questions after the game:
What was it like coming home to Jonesborough for this game?

I always like coming back to Tennessee and seeing a Boone football game and looking at my old house and have memories of growing up flood my brain...then go to Daniel Boone HS and look at the football ball field and the track and remember running the stadium steps before summer practice and playing ball with my friends. It always take me back to when times were simple. I love my Tennessee roots and I am happy that I lived where I lived and grew up with the people that I know and stay in touch with 28 years after my graduation. My family and friends and fellow teammates help make me the man I am today.
altHow did playing football prepare you for your future, and for war?
I started playing football before I started school. I have always loved playing football. My father taught me that sports would help with working in groups and that concept has prepared me for life.
You have to learn that your buddy is doing his job and if everyone is doing their job then you have a unified force. The same concept goes for the military. You always trust you buddy that he will have your six and take care of you while your taking care of him. altThe battle on the gridiron and the battle field are the same but different.The unity needs to be there for the team members. They have to know to trust their buddies but most of all trust their training.The training you do for a big game is just doing training for a big mission.
On a balmy May evening in Jonesborough Tennessee, alongside his fellow Boone teammates,Todd went to war against archrival David Crockett High School. The battle field was grassy green instead of desert sand, and the men wore jerseys instead of camo, but the camaraderie was strong and victory sweet.  Todd Belcher added the Legends of the Musket Bowl Musket to his long list of awards. 
Beaming, Todd announced: "I had a great time at Crockett and got the one that got away from me back in the day."

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Dwayne Cole: Dreams Do Come True


“All I have ever wanted to do is to play one more time, and now it's one more time again. It proves there is a God and with prayers dreams can come true.”
altAt Alumni Football USA®, we love to get guys back on the football field. We also love getting warriors back to the field of life. There are a lot of warriors out there hiding behind big screens and underneath extra pounds, defeat, or apathy. We have a message for you: it’s time to step up, be a man, and get back in the game.
altDwayne Cole did. He lost over 60 pounds and is in the best shape of his adult life. At 50 years old, he dreamed of playing just one more game. When he heard that his old high school, Daniel Boone, would play their archrival, David Crockett, this May in the Legends of the Musket Bowl, he put down the remote and picked up the weights- and hasn’t looked back.
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Pumped for the game, Dwayne commuted an hour to practice and an hour back home. With his dream in sight, and many hours of sweat and determination invested-he was driven, and nothing could stop him. “This old man can't wait to put the # 66 back on and hit somebody - as my Dad used to shout across the football field "HURT SOMEBODY COLE!" People to this day still talk about dad shouting this.Dad passed away a few years ago--this game day is for him!” This time, on the sidelines, stood his cheering family, including his pint-sized “biggest fan.”
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The comraderie of the game brought him into a new community of like minded men. It also brought his family together to celebrate with him. Ultimately, it affected him spiritually, as he thanked God for a beautiful answer to many years of prayers. “If I am not in church Sunday you will know why-- please no mourning of my death if I happen to get killed out there. LOL.”
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The moment Dwayne's foot hit the grass under the glow of the lights on game night, he'd already won. It didn't hurt that his team went on to beat their rivals 42-19. Boone took home the legendary Musket, and Cole walked away with the Oldest Player of the Game award. But neither were the biggest victory of the night.
“I actually only knew one guy out of all of them, but they took me right in like we all had played together for years. Each and every one of them has changed my life in so many ways these past few months it's unreal.” Every guy who’s played full tackle football knows the sting of waking up the morning after the game. It’s a badge of honor and keeps the memories of great hits fresh. After a two day recovery period, number 66 was back at it: “It took until Tuesday to get back to normal and back to the gym-- I was pretty sore but not too bad for an old man. Got back to the gym yesterday and headed there this morning-- going to keep doing my work outs and stay in shape for next year. Looking forward to the game next year really helps you stay on track to want to get up and go work out.” Dwayne’s eyes are locked in on a new dream: Legends of the Musket Bowl 2013. “I am just as pumped up now for next year as I was 3 weeks ago for this game... in other words I am doing great !!” After the lights were turned off, the popcorn swept from the bleachers, and the cleats hung up- the game is far from over. It lives on in Dwayne Cole. It woke up early this morning to go work out for the next big game.

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I HAVE BEEN ADOPTED --THIS IS MY NEW FAMILY


Meet Dwayne:

The Josh Edens Story

"It's one more opportunity to see if you’ve still got it” Josh challenges, “Instead of talking about it, go back out there and do it!"
Alumni Football USAAshley Edens is a rockstar of a wife. Not only does she have her hands full with two little ones, serves as a youth minister alongside her husband, and supports him in his high school football coaching role- she is letting him play in a full contact football game. In fact, the whole thing was her idea. While cooking dinner one night, she saw a post on Facebook about the upcoming Boone vs. Crockett alumni football game and asked him, “If you had a chance to play a football game, would you want to play again?”

If you’ve ever played high school football, I’m sure you can imagine his response. For a high school football coach like Josh: “It would almost be blasphemy for me not to play.” Every guy who’s ever hung up the helmet for the last time knows that feeling-that urge to play again. For Josh Edens, the opportunity is irresistible.

To say this guy has had a passion for football since childhood is an understatement. At age 7, Josh faced a difficult decision due to health complications. One option was a partial leg amputation. His one question for the doctor? “What will allow me to play ball?” Josh had the operation as soon as basketball season ended, and in three month’s time had learned to walk again with a prosthetic leg and was out on the field for spring baseball. This fearless determination carried him to a standout high school football career at David Crockett, where he made varsity squad as a freshman. He started all 3 years of high school, and saw Crockett through some of the winningest seasons in its history.
 A humble hero, Josh praises the value of teamwork on the field: “Football is the only sport where 10 guys can do their job and one guy can mess it up. The linebacker is in the trenches, you don’t see lineman’s stats, it is a personal one on one battle- you’re fighting for something, you’re blocking that guy, trying to beat that guy so that somebody else can get through that hole with the ball.” Edens played football in college with success, and went from playing to coaching, never missing a season.
In 2010 he took a leap of faith and accepted the head coaching position at North Green. It was a gutsy move. The school had the longest losing streak in the state of Tennessee, having lost 28 straight games. Josh tackled the situation with his characteristic determination, addressing the team: “I said ‘boys I’m not coming here to lose, you better get it in your head we’re gonna win football games, and shake this loser label.’ I remind them of that daily: Work hard! Self worth is paramount in high school athletics. If they are confident, there is no limit to what they can do.” In two years, Edens has coached the team from record breaking losers to record breaking winners, including two trips to the playoffs. “For things to ever change, somebody has to believe that they can. The talent was there- they just needed somebody to believe in them.”
He’s had great support: “There’s a lot of good people around me at that school. David McClain is the best lineman we ever had. He cleared the path for us to be what we are today.” More importantly, Edens acknowledges, “God’s been awful good to me, awful gracious.” And Ashley? “She’s my official.” Edens says with a smile. Ashley’s advice for wives: “It’s just one game. It’s their passion, what they’ve lived for, being there to support them is what they want.” Josh, laughing, added: “If we get hurt you have the ultimate I told you so!” Most guys spend 4 years counting down to graduation, and then spend the rest of their lives hoping to go back. Not everybody gets to play college ball, or pro. The opportunity to play dwindles the further you go. This is the rare chance to get back out there one more time. “It’s one more opportunity to see if you’ve still got it” Josh challenges, “Instead of talking about it, go back out there and do it!”

                                                                         Meet Josh:


You're Never Too Young To Lead.

"We came there as a team and we left as brothers."


“There's a difference between being ready and being prepared. For example, being ready for the world to end and you're ready for Heaven or Hell. Being prepared is knowing without a shadow of a doubt that when you die you're going to Heaven. Are you prepared today? Same way with tomorrow night. If we’re just ready for winning or losing that's not good enough. We are prepared to WIN.” -Hayden Chandley

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If you were at the Legends of the Musket Bowl Alumni Football USA game on May 19th, you may have overheard a kid in the bleachers ask: "Who is that man in the red shirt jumping up and down, throwing papers and screaming?" That would be Hayden Chandley, the 19 year old coach for the Boone Alumni team. We caught up with Coach Chandley after the game, to learn how a teenager led his old high school's alumni team to a 42-19 victory.

How did you become the coach of the Boone alumni team?

I talked with my former high school coach Drew Nelson about coming to watch practice and stuff. I was not playing in the game because I play football in college at UVA Wise. After a couple of practices, we got to talking about me helping out the team. One thing led to another and next thing I know, I'm calling in the plays during practice during game week while we were preparing for game situations. I know that God put me in the situation to coach this game for a reason, I know that He had His hand in all of this.
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Team Prayer Before Game Time

What makes a good leader?

It's not always about being vocal, but you can be a leader by leading by example. It's not always the most talented player or most vocal player. But when it comes down to crunch time, he is going to be there to make a play.

How does age factor into being a good coach?

It doesn't matter what age you are when you put the headsets on to lead your team on the field of battle. After 4 years of high school football and one year of college football, I feel like I am very gifted with a great knowledge of the game for anyone my age (19). I am not the most vocal, the strongest, or the fastest but a leader is one who shows heart and character when your team is battling adversity. I strive to do that. I know I would be nothing without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This would also speak to why Tim Tebow is my hero and I look up to him more than words can express because of his love for the Lord.

 Favorite moment of the game?

My favorite moment of the game, had to be when Dave Cox, a player who wasn't even dressed out when the game started,paid his money half way through the second quarter and came up with 2 huge interceptions for us during the game. That was just a classic. Watching the film, there is a fake punt that Crockett runs, I believe it was in the second quarter, and their punter started running forward before the snap and caught the ball 'on the run' so to speak. I went absolutely nuts. The referees did not call some type of penalty and I started jumping up and down, throwing my papers, yelling at the top of my lungs. Thankfully they were unsuccessful in their fake and we regained possession anyway. We won the game! It felt great and it makes my job easy when I got a group of guys like I had. Thanks to everybody.

When you look at the team, what makes you proudest?

The way we all, as men, came together in such little time. Guys from 19-50 years old, with me being the youngest. For guys more than twice my age to have enough respect and trust in me, and to believe in me to lead them on the field of battle to lead us to victory that night is just an amazing thing. They all trusted a 19 year old to actually know what he was talking about and to put the correct strategies and plays in, and to call them during the game at the correct time. Most of these guys had never met me before. We all had a special bond. We came there as a team and we left as brothers.

altDo you see coaching in your future?
I have always wanted to coach. It just thrills me to lead a bunch of men playing one of the most amazing sports in all the world and trying to beat your opponent every night you suit up. I plan on majoring in education, getting a history degree and coaching football. Coaching is my dream, and I plan on making that dream a reality.

He is not alone in believing this dream will be a reality.

Here's what his team has to say about their coach:

“Hayden our coach in the middle kneeling,they just don't get any better than that guy. HE IS FIRST CLASS ALL THE WAY!!!!”- Dwayne Cole

"I saw you get fired up over there buddy, you did a great job. You would make a good coach Hayden."-Matt Albright

"Hayden, it was a pleasure serving with you guys and allowing this old (young) guy to come in and participate. Best wishes to you and the bright future you have coming your way."-Todd Belcher

And Drew Nelson, the guy on the team who once coached Hayden? Referring to a heated moment during the game when Coach Chandley went past the numbers : "haha I thought of dragging him off the field but... he was into it let him coach! "

Our thoughts exactly.
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Meet Hayden:

Welcome to our Blog

Here at Alumni Football USA®, there is always something exciting going on. On any given weekend, there are guys in Tennessee battling on the gridiron for the Legendary Musket, guys in Southern California hitting the field, guys in Iowa practicing for their upcoming games, guys in North Carolina getting the word out to sell pre sale tickets and raise money for their schools. It's all happening, often at lightening speed. We'd love for you to come along for the ride. We're all about making great memories and capturing moments- which is what will happen on this blog, just as often as we can sit down for a minute and post. :)

Welcome to our blog!