National Team Defeats American Team 20-14 in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Story by L.T. Willis

The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game had great weather for fans
to come out and support. Rams fans showed their support for
for former assistant coach Dick Vermeil. All photos are
by Eric Wade/T.G. Sports.





It was a beautiful day in Carson for some football as the 2012 Inaugural Astro Turf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game was about to get started. During the media day for this event  Carl Francis  Director of Communications for the NFLPA had ask us to pray for some great weather and prayers were answer as the sun was out and the game was finally here. Tom Flores leading his team out on the field and Dick Vermeil gave you the feeling that pro football in Los Angeles was on it's way back.

Tom Flores leading his American Team squad on to the field.

The National team got on the score board first when the University of Miami's quarterback Jacory Harris drove the offense down the field and Washington's Eric Folks kicked a 26 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the game. You could tell that both teams were trying to establish a running game first to get a rhythm going. The National Team defense came out hitting hard to set the tone for the game. The American Team offense just seem they could not get anything going early in the game. The National Team scored again when Syracuse running back Antwon Bailey scored on a eight yard touchdown run to make the score 10-0.

University of Miami's quarterback # 1 Jacory Harris starts the game
for the National Team.

Syracuse's #26 Antwon Bailey had a nice first half and scored a
touchdown and the National Team now led 10-0.



Late in the second quarter the National Team recovered a fumble by UNLV's B.J. Bell when Jared Green wide receiver from Southern miss handle the ball on a end and around and the National Team had the ball near the twenty yard line. Moments Later Tulsa's  quarterback G.J.Kinne on a keeper ran up the middle and now the National Team led the American Team 17-0. Jarrett Lee would get another chance as the American Team offense was on the move and got on the  score board with about 1:50 left in the second quarter connected with Hampton's wide receiver Isaiah Thomas on a thirteen yard touch down pass in the back of the end zone.

USC's wide receiver # 82 Brandon Carswell picks up extra
yardage after a catch in the first half,



LSU # 6 Jarrett Lee has the American Team offense driving for
a score to get back into the game.





In the third quarter the American Team's defense begin to tighten up and put the clamps on the National Team offense trailing 17-7 after a late score in the second quarter the gave their offense great field position late in the third quarter that would help set up another scoring drive. American Team quarterback Bo Mitchell from Eastern Washington connected on a eleven yard touchdown pass to Oregon's Lavasier Tuinel and cut the lead to 17-14 and now the National Team was in a dog fight.

Oregon's wide receiver # 85 scores on a touchdown pass from
quarterback Bo Mitchell and now American Team
is now trailing 17-14.

Washington State's linebacker Alex Hoffman intercepted one of the
two passes from quarterback Nick Stephen/Tarleton State.





Early in the fourth quarter Washington's Eric Folk kicked another field goal to push the National Team lead up to 20-14. Bo Mitchell had the American Team driving again how ever he was intercepted by Washington State's linebacker Alex Hoffman who save what could have been a tying or go ahead score for the American Team. The American Team defense held and got the ball back to their offense scored on another touchdown pass  from Mitchell to Miami's wide receiver Aldarius Johnson was nullified by a holding penalty.



The National Team defeated the American Team 20-14 in the
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game.



The American Team still had a chance to tie or take the lead in the game but  quarterback Nick Stephens from Tarleton State was picked off again this time by cornerback Jonte Green from New Mexico State. Despite the two interceptions the American Team still had hope as they were driving inside the National Team's side of the field on a big fourth down Baylor's Tracy Robertson sacked quarterback Nick Stephen and seal the victory for the National Team as Dick Vermeil and his team defeated the American Team 20-14.



NFLPA's president DeMaurice Smith presents
The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game trophy to
the National Team's Coach Dick Vermeil.





DeMaurice Smith, Carl Francis, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game Committee, and the entire staff of coaches have put together a wonderful event at the Home Depot Center in Carson giving hope to fans in Los Angeles that pro football will be coming to our city  very soon .You can check out all the post game interviews on our YouTube channel at TGSportstv. All photos and video are by Eric Wade/T.G. Sports and EW Gems Images.





NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game Media Day

Story by L.T.Willis

All photos by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.



As i stood on the field during the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Media Day i was thinking to myself is this a sign that pro football will be coming back to Los Angeles? Well one thing i know the players from both teams  the National and the American  were all ready prep for the spot light as they were not camera shy as media day was about them having fun and what this game means to them. Dick Vermeil and Tom Flores set the tone for what would be for many of the players a taste of what life is all about in the NFL.





American Team head
coach Tom Flores.

The National Team head coach Dick Vermeil greeting former
Washington Redskins corner back Darryl Green.



The players that were selected to play in this event were very excited by playing in this game and you could tell by the way they carried themselves, The NFL are going to  be very proud of these young men from all parts of the country who are giving  fans a chance to see them showcase their skills in the inaugural  AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game  at the Home Depot Center in Carson on January 21, 2012.

From left to right # 29 Jaquise Terry/Kent State # 33 Bryce Beall/ Houston
# 28 Ronnie Weaver/ Central Florida and # 26 Antwon Bailey/ Syracuse.

This game has some of the best quarterbacks in the country playing and are very grateful to be playing in a game of this magnitude and great weather than playing in a very cold region for some of the players.  University of Miami's Jacory Harris was on on hand talked about how great the field was and that everyone here was having fun getting ready to play on Saturday afternoon. Other quarterbacks were LSU Jarrett Lee, Tulsa's G.J. Kinne and Patrick Witt from Yale just to name a few.

 University of Miami's Jacory Harris.

From left to right: # 5 Patrick Witt/Yale
# 2 G.J. Kinne/Tulsa # 6 Jarrett Lee/LSU.



Now if i am coach and i wanted a player on my team that would keep the players on his team laughing and in good spirits than every team need to have a defensive tackle like Asa Chapman from Liberty on there team. From the time the teams were getting ready for the team pictures, media day photo shoot and final walk thru this young man was a joy to be around. This young man stole the show when his team mate Phillip Thomas from Syracuse  were doing back flips that had amaze at what they saw.



# 27 Jordan Bernstine/Iowa # 30
Ben Wells/Stephen F. Austin State.



# 72 Asa Chapman/Tulsa



The one thing all the players agreed on it was nice to see all the former NFL players and two coaches who led their teams to Super Bowl victories giving back to NFL in a way that can never be measure. Watching Tom Flores and Dick Vermeil having fun doing what they do and that is teaching and coaching the game they love football. Former corner back Darryl Green from the Washington Redskins was near so i had a chance to talk with him about playing the Dallas Cowboys in his rookie year and how he ran down  Dallas Cowboys' running back Tony Dorsett from behind and tackled him.

#79 Keith Newell/Delaware State # 95 Jerome Raymond/Morehead State



Darryl Green today is still consider one of the best corner backs that ever played that position and you can check out  his interview along with one on one interviews with University of Miami's Jacory Harris, Tom Flores and Dick Vermeil  who also took out time to share with me what the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game means to both of them on video on our YouTube channel TGSportstv. All photos and  video interviews are by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.

 

Players Having Fun During NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game Practice

Story by L.T. Willis




The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game will be the start of a new era on how
college football players become men in the NFL.



The smell of football lurk in the air as players from across the country were selected to play in the inaugural  Astro Turf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl  Game to be held on January 21, 2012 at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Media Day for the event was very special  because of what the game would mean to future NFL players and to be coach by two coaches who won Super Bowls Tom Flores from the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and Dick Vermeil from the St. Louis Rams.



Players working hard at the NFLPA Bowl practice during agility drills.





Dick Vermeil would be coaching the National Team which feature former players from the NFL Issac Bruce who was on the the St. Louis Rams Super Bowl Team coach by Dick Vermeil, Priest Holmes, Eric Hicks, Terry Shea, Darnell Dinkins just to name a few. Tom Flores coaching the American team  his coaching staff included Rod Martin from the Los Angeles Raiders Super Bowl team, Robert Griffith, Marlin Bayless, Matthew Hatchette just to name a few for his staff.





Tulsa QB G.J. Kinne & University of Miami QB Jacory Harris



Some of main players like LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee and some other players were just glad to be invited to take play in a all star game that would set the tone for future NFL players to have a brighter  career and a system that would help players become better businessmen and educate players about life in the NFL. Another quarterback was fun to talk with was  University of Miami's Jacory Harris how this game was a honor for him to be selected and to play against guys who he also admire as players.

National Team defense during practice.



Watching the guys having fun and a chance to talk with other players from the other squad you could sense  the excitement the players and the coaches were going thru for some their second collegiate all star game, others just glad to be in southern California for some warm weather. Many of these young men we will be watching on Sunday as the get a taste of life in the NFL. The NFLPA are doing something that i feel is the right thing to do and that is looking out for the future of young men coming to the NFL and what two better coaches to have to show them the right way of being professional football players than Tom Flores and Dick Vermeil. All photos are by Eric Wade/ T.G. Sports and EW Gems Images.



Dick Vermeil



Tom Flores.