Ex-Tide and Tigers will play football again for tornado relief
The Iron Bowl now has an old-timers' game. At least for a year.
Former Auburn and Alabama football players will play each other in a flag football game next month in Hoover to raise money for tornado relief. The HeartinDixie Alumni Day Flag Football Game will be Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at Spain Park High School.
About 40 former players will play and sign autographs. Tickets cost $20 plus $5 for parking, said James Sanderson, a former Alabama student trainer who helped organize the event.
The game is part of three days of activities to raise money. There is also a benefit and golf pairings party Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Birmingham Marriott, followed by a charity golf pro-am Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. at Greystone Golf and Country Club.
Among the past athletes and coaches attending the weekend's events will be Bo Jackson, Cornelius Bennett, Pat Dye, Ray Perkins, Al Del Greco, Bobby Humphrey, Stan White, Gene Stallings, Joe Cribbs and Lee Roy Jordan.
Names of participating players in the flag football game have not been announced. Players must be out of college or the NFL for at least two years. Sanderson said the idea came from "A" Club members as they helped clean up tornado damage in Holt.
"A bunch of us said we ought to play a football game against Auburn," Sanderson said. "(Former Alabama linebacker) Darryl Fuhrman wouldn't let it go. He put together a group of guys and it suddenly became, 'Who knows someone at Auburn?'"
The game was initially planned for this weekend, which would have allowed Alabama coach Nick Saban and Auburn coach Gene Chizik to possibly attend. Richardson said they won't be present in August because of practices.
"I told Darryl, 'We're a Chinese fire drill about to happen,'" Richardson said. "We weren't anywhere near where we needed to be to put a ballgame on (this week)."
Richardson said the fire marshal will cut off attendance at 12,500 -- a figure Richardson believes the game can draw. Tickets will be sold online at alumniday.com once the site becomes operable.
The city of Hoover is providing police support. Three vendors will be on site selling food, including barbecue and Mexican. The autograph session is planned from 6 to 7 p.m.
Proceeds are going to the HeartinDixie Foundation, a non-profit organization comprised of Alabama and Auburn supporters united in relief efforts following the April 27 tornadoes.
"HeartinDixie is a chance to show the nation and the world that we are united and committed in helping Alabama rebuild and recover," Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. "We learn the most about each other in difficult times, and what we have learned about Alabamians since the devastating tornadoes is that what binds us together is much bigger than what sets us apart."
Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore described the weekend of events as a "unique opportunity" to assist the state.
"While the world has moved on, we still have much work to do," Moore said in a statement. "Events such as this not only serve as a reminder that we still have much to do, but also provides us with an opportunity to come together to accomplish a single goal."
This may be more than a one-year flag football game.
"The idea next year is that if we're able to be successful, then next year Auburn gets to pick the charity and run the event," Sanderson said.
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