Wednesday, November 11, the IAA hosted its Annual Turkey Bowl, a tradition started in the mid-1990s that features first year students battling second year students in a friendly game of flag football. Despite the freezing weather this year, the IAA Turkey Bowl witnessed the largest group of student participants since inception! In fact the weather was so frigid that the field resembled the likes of the historical/epoch of Lambeau and Soldier fields. This did not stop the students on the gridiron from battling boldly for bragging rights!
The game highlighted great efforts on both sides of the pigskin, but the star of the game may have been second-year student/quarterback Shaun Peyton-Manning Clark who threw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns and 80 yards rushing. When asked his motivation for such a dominating performance, Clark replied a great defensive line, a turkey dinner in Jull Hall, hopes of graduating, and jeering fans. What Clark interpreted as jeering was really fans on the sideline doing anything and everything to keep warm even if it meant doing jumping jacks, cartwheels and backflips. Mostly, however, second-year pride motivated the winning team. In the 20-year history of the game, first-year students have yet to grab the win.
First-year students complained about the refereeing of the game, i.e. pass interference, holding and on offside calls. Rumor has it that the Good Doctor Mathias and Ken Ingram were paid off prior to the game. While this is unconfirmed, IAA Director Glori Hyman is investigating the allegation and reviewing the tape.
In all, the 2014 IAA Turkey Bowl was a success; both the first and second year students had a great time and were rewarded with a pre-Thanksgiving dinner that brought everyone together. In the spirit of the holiday, everyone was thankful not only for family, friends and fellowship, but for being a part of such a wonderful department--once again.
Congratulations on a job well done go to IAA students who organized the event: Jack Boniface, Jeff Bynaker, Shaun Clark, John Critzos, Marvin Martinez, and Joe Shaffer.
