Who will win the alumni “Battle of the Bridge”, Camden alumni or Waverly alumni?
The game will pit former students in full body armor Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at Tommy Richardson Stadium on the campus of Camden Central High School.
Magic Valley Publishing, publisher of both the Waverly News-Democrat and The Camden Chronicle is the lead sponsor and also is sponsoring the trophy presentation. There are other sponsors that will be announced during the quarters and after each first down.
Alumni participants do not have to have played football during their school years.
This is an Alumni USA game and will mirror a regular TSSAA high school football game with four quarters, time-keepers, and rules.
There are at least 25 players signed up for both teams.
The entry fee is $100 per person. This money goes to Alumni USA to help furnish equipment, referees and game expenses.
There is no age limit and anyone who desires to play should contact Camden head football coach William Blow. He can be reached at the school at (731) 584-7254 or he may be reached by email at [email protected].
“I will help anyone get signed up,” said Blow. “It is not too late.”
The schools get $5 for every ticket that it pre-sells. So it is very important that people buy their tickets in advance at the high school. All money collected at the gate goes to Alumni USA.
Alumni Football USA was founded in California by former Marine Bob Cazet in the mid-80s. Since it’s beginning, Alumni Football USA has put on thousands of games in 38 states and has put more than 100,000 alumni back on the field.
In the 90s, AFUSA implemented a fundraising aspect to their games and since has raised over $3 million for high school programs across the country. Alumni Football USA is still fairly new in Tennessee with its first game being played in 2012.
Since 2015, alumni football games in Tennessee have become more and more popular as it is a unique and effective fundraising opportunity for high school programs across the state. AFUSA has hosted 10 games over the past two years, setting fundraising records for games in the state.
