Photo By Giancarlo Casem | Nothing Personal quarterback Michael Brim throws a pass to an open receiver during the...... read more read more
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By Spc. Wesley Landrum
50th Public Affairs Detachment
KUWAIT - Operation Gridiron 2008 concluded with the championship game of the flag football tournament at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Apr. 6. The championship pitted U.S. Army Central's Gladiators against the 1st TSC "Nothing Personal."
Operation Gridiron paired military teams with former players and coaches from the professional ranks. For Gridiron, former NFL players such as Bobby Bell and Bobby Wilson coached the teams during the three-day tournament.
Coming into the game, Lt. Col. Chris Fry, Sr., coach of the U.S. Army Central team "Gladiators," said his team had played some very close games to get here. He said the defense had played stellar and now it was the offense's turn to shine.
"We wanted to utilize ball-control," Fry said. "Our offense is a spread offense so we wanted to make them defend the whole field."
Nothing Personal began the game on the offensive. Their opening drive took more than seven minutes to complete. Facing a goal-to-goal situation, Nothing Personal quarterback Michael Brim found Arthur Hawkins in the endzone for a touchdown. The point-after-touchdown, PAT, was no good and Nothing Personal led 6-0.
They made it 12-0 on their next drive as Michael McKie-Smith scored on a run midway through the first half. The PAT was no good once again and Nothing Personal pulled away to 12-0.
The Gladiators got the ball and on the ensuing drive made it to within yards of the endzone. There, however, the Nothing Personal defense stiffened up, and on fourth down and goal, forced USARCENT to turn the ball over on downs.
Late in the first half, Nothing Personal was once again on the attack. Stopped on three downs, and one yard away, Nothing Personal decided to go for a touchdown on fourth down. Master Sgt. Samuel L. Jones, coach for Nothing Personal, said the whole objective was to not punt in the whole tournament.
"We go for it on fourth down," he said. "We are a confident team and have a potent offense. Why not go for it?"
Fate was not with Nothing Personal as the USARCENT team held strong on fourth down.
"We did not play well in the first half," Fry said. "We had to come out and make a statement on that first drive in the second half."
USARCENT took the opening drive and, once again, made it to with in a few yards of scoring. Two plays later, Simpson threw an interception in the endzone killing the scoring opportunity.
The Gladiators got the ball back however after they intercepted a pass bound for the endzone, which then led to touchdown reception by John Tulifua. The PAT was no good but USARCENT cut the lead in half at 12-6.
Midway through the second half, Nothing Personal made it 18-6 when Michael Brim scored on a quarterback keeper. This time the PAT was good and Nothing Personal led 19-6. USARCENT, in one final desperation drive, moved to within 20 yards of the goaline but the drive stalled and the Gladiators turned the ball over on downs. Nothing Personal ran out the clock to win the game and the title.
"You have to give them credit," Fry said. "We knew they had a talented team. It showed today."
Jones said the team played hard and earned the championship.
"I'm proud of these guys," Jones said. "They could have given up (Saturday night) when we were down by double digits in the semifinals. They did not quit and now we're champs."
Former Washington Redskin Bobby Wilson, honorary coach for Nothing Personal, said the team relied on quickness and speed to win.
"We just get to the flags and find the quarterback," Wilson said.
Wilson said the tournament was a great chance to spend time with the service members.
"I was blessed to be here," he said.
Bobby Bell, a former New York Jets and Chicago Bears player and defensive coach for USARCENT, said time just ran out on them.
"Give us a few more quarters and we (could have) beat them," Bell said.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2008 02:50 |
| Story ID: | 18434 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 136 |
This work, 1st TSC sacks USARCENT during Operation Gridiron, by SGT Wesley Landrum, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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