Event Kicks off Titans USA Football Month
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There may not be 68,000-plus fans cheering the football action at LP Field this weekend but the excitement level of the players, cheerleaders and coaches will rival the level seen when the Titans take the field against the Patriots to open the 2012 season.
Approximately 78 youth football teams from throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky will participate in the first-ever youth football jamboree held at LP Field. The action begins at 6:00 pm Friday with 15 games with the final game slated for 8:55 pm.
Saturday's action gets underway at 8:50 am with six morning games before the youth teams step aside for a closed Titans practice at LP Field. The youth games resume at 4:00 pm with 18 more games played with the last one beginning at 8:10 pm.
Organizers estimate that at least 2,000 youth football players and 1,000 team cheerleaders will participate in the two-day event! Teams from three youth leagues will participate in the jamboree: Backfield in Motion, Mid-State Youth Football League and Tennessee Youth Football Alliance.
The jamboree is a fundraising effort jointly held by the Bellevue Exchange Club and Backfield in Motion and kicks off the Titans "USA Football Month" activities. Admission to the jamboree is $5 per person and concessions are available. Gate 1 on the East side of LP Field is the only entry gate. Parking at LP Field is free. All event proceeds benefit youth football!
For the third consecutive year, the Titans and all of the NFL's 32 teams endorse USA Football and its mission of youth and amateur football development across the country as part of USA Football Month. The national campaign takes place throughout the NFL preseason and incorporates youth football scrimmages in NFL venues, USA Football messages during network preseason telecasts and in-stadium banners.
USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, the NFL Players Association and the league's 32 teams. USA Football is the only organization in the NFL's 91-year history to be recognized as the league's official youth football development partner.
"We are pleased to host all of these young football players and cheerleaders at LP Field this weekend," said Titans owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. "I said when I moved the team here in 1997 that the great football tradition of the Mid-South was a huge reason for the move and that tradition will continue with these young people playing the game we all love and building wonderful memories of their experience where their Titans play!"
"The Titans celebration of youth football jamboree is an event that has generated excitement throughout our youth football community," said Ron Word, President of the Mid-State Youth Football League and also the Titans regional representative with USA Football. "Teams from across middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky will be participating in the jamboree. Kids are really looking forward to playing on the same field where the Titans play. Players, cheerleaders, coaches, parents and fans are excited. For the kids, this is not just a game but the creation of a memory that will last a lifetime."
Two games will be held simultaneously during the jamboree with the games held on a shortened field and teams lined up facing both the North and South end zones. All games will be 20 minutes in length with a running clock.
"Since 1976, the Bellevue Exchange Club has been active on issues affecting our children - the prevention of child abuse and youth sports emphasizing teamwork, fair play & sportsmanship," said Exchange club member Charlie Tygard, also an event organizer. "Today, we are addressing the issues of childhood obesity and healthy eating/lifestyles thru our BELL Garden project (Bellevue Middle School Edible Learning Lab). We are proud to join with the Tennessee Titans and Backfield in Motion to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our young student/athletes in sponsoring the inaugural Youth Football Jamboree."
Academy Sports Outdoors, a corporate partner of the Titans, is a proud sponsor of the jamboree.
"Academy has gladly supported our youth football events over the years and once again they were eager to join forces with us with this jamboree," said Don MacLachlan, Titans Executive VP Administration & Facilities. "We are very appreciative of their support of the Titans and of course, these young boys and girls that will experience our first jamboree at LP Field."
For more information on Academy Sports Outdoors, please visit www.academy.com.
For more information on USA Football's "Youth Football Month" please visit www.usafootball.com.
