Gobble Gobble Bowl XI, Thanksgiving Day 2004


-----Original Message-----
From: AJ Johnson [mailto:ajj@tpri.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 10:01 AM
Subject: Evolution of the Gobble Gobble Bowl

Evolution of the Gobble Gobble Bowl:

Fall, 1993
Justin Sandberg and AJ Johnson overhear STC football star senior Chris Allen at a basketball game talking with friends about playing in a "Gobble Gobble" Bowl. Though Allen's game was only for the cool kids, several backyard games were arranged by Sandberg and Johnson for the smaller (both in number and in stature) and dorkier members of the Scholastic Bowl team.

Fall, 1994
Now high school seniors, Sandberg, Johnson, and friends hold the first official Gobble Gobble Bowl on the St. Charles High School football fields. The game is followed by an inaugural trip to Dunkin Donuts for a post-game bear claw.

Fall, 1995
Email is introduced as an advertising medium for the second annual Gobble Gobble Bowl, though by "advertising" I really mean "taunting". Turnout is good as old friends make their first trips home from college.

Fall, 1996
People begin to realize they never really liked their friends from high school, so why bother to waste the precious few days they have at home with a silly football game? Turnout sucks, but little other information is known. These were the dark times.

Fall, 1997
In an effort to keep the tradition alive the email invitation gets really vicious, but this only results in resentment from the borderline Gobble Gobblers and turnout again is poor. Justin discovers how much he hates mass email responses and broadcast his distaste in the first mass email rant of his own.

Fall, 1998
The game is reinvigorated by college friends invited to replace the struggling STC high school alums. Photographic coverage, sideline fans, and post-game drinks and donuts on the fields all make historic entrances into the bowl game tradition. The modern era of Gobble Gobble is born.

Fall, 1999
Turnout once again is up due to fresh faces at the game. Lou Bega writes the accompaniment music to the Gobble Gobble invitation. Tyrone Weatley leaves the University of Michigan to star on the field in St. Charles.

Fall, 2000
Kate Ryan and the Gingerbread Man narrowly lose the presidential election. They also don't make it to the Gobble Gobble Bowl. Again.

Fall, 2001
More people show up than we know what to do with -- enough to field two teams worth of offense, defense, special teams, and a full coaching staff. Not enough medical staff, though. Next time don't email so many people.

Fall, 2002
Thanksgiving brings the first ever snow covered field for the Gobble Gobble Bowl, which only makes it harder to tackle Wu. It's really not until buckbuck #10 jumps on the pile that he starts to crumble. Also, www.gobblegobblebowl.com opens with much fanfare.

Fall, 2003
The first true mud bowl in nearly a decade, the game is forced onto a backup field not known for its clearly lined yardage markers. Attendees are encouraged to show up early next year to reserve a better field. In another technological step forward, full motion video is recorded to forever save these historic moments.

Fall, 2004
People begin to develop roots farther from home. Tyrone moves to Singapore, MJ gets engaged . . . seriously, how far must it go? Why can't people just be content with living their lives as they were? This is a critical time in our history my friends, and your support could never mean more than it does right now. Come. Play. Revel in the glory. Be a true Gobble Gobbler.

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Gobble Gobble Bowl XI
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 25, 2004, 10:00 AM CST
STC East High School football practice fields
http://www.gobblegobblebowl.com


www.gobblegobblebowl.com
ajj@tpri.com