MBA football player Fitz Lassing helps Susan Gray School student John Cobb try on equipment as Sophia Nyman looks on. (photo by Joe Howell)
Teams set to square off in Clinic Bowl Kickoff Classic
Montgomery Bell Academy and Pearl Cohn High School will face off in the 59th annual Vanderbilt Orthopaedics Clinic Bowl Kickoff Classic on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. at M.B.A.
For the second year, Vanderbilt Orthopaedics will present the Clinic Bowl, continuing its relationship with the Nashville Area Junior Chamber of Commerce, which has organized past games. Funds raised will benefit various programs and services provided by the Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute and Rehabilitation Services.
From left, Pearl Cohn football players Jake Moore, Derrell Fitzgerald and David Delatour greet students during a tour of the Susan Gray School. (photo by Joe Howell)
This match-up recreates the 1966 meeting of these two schools, the first integrated high school football game in Nashville.
“It's a really big game, and we're all excited to play in it,” said Jake Moore, a Pearl Cohn receiver. “We work hard for every game, but this adds something. Pearl Cohn has a big history, and we hope to continue that.”
MBA football player Luke Colbert plays with Cordarius Taylor during a visit to the Susan Gray School. (photo by Joe Howell)
A community dinner will be held Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at M.B.A. The event will feature a silent auction and special guest speaker Gene Stallings, former head football coach at the University of Alabama. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at http://clinicbowl2009.eventbrite.com.
On the eve of the game, the high schools will host a joint pep rally at 1:30 p.m. at Pearl Cohn.
On game day, there will be a 9-10-year-old youth football game at 3 p.m. and a 10-11-year-old game at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 and will be sold at the gate.
Pearl Cohn’s David Delatour was all smiles during the visit. (photo by Joe Howell)
A tailgate party begins at 4 p.m. on M.B.A. grounds.
Tickets for the Clinic Bowl are $7 in advance and $8 at the gate. They are on sale at M.B.A.
Delivering on the traditional Clinic Bowl motto, “Strong legs run so weak legs can walk,” this year's beneficiary is the Susan Gray School, a research-oriented school on Vanderbilt’s Peabody campus that integrates children with developmental disabilities with typically developing children.
Football players from both high schools made several visits to the school to develop a deeper appreciation for this game's impact.
“This was a great opportunity for us,” said Katie Hallquist, a teacher at the Susan Gray School. “The kids are in awe of the players, like celebrities. And the players are so good with the kids, especially the ones with disabilities.”
On one visit, the children had prepared cheers for each of the teams, and the football players brought their helmets and shoulder pads for the children to try on.
Pearl Cohn High School and MBA players pose with students at the Susan Gray School during a recent visit. (photo by Joe Howell)
“The kids have been really fun to play with. Some of them latch onto us and start smiling. That's a good feeling,” said Tee Griscom, a linebacker at M.B.A.
For more information on the Clinic Bowl, visit www.vanderbiltorthopaedics/clinicbowl.