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Lily Loves Sports!

Tom Cooney – The Deaf American and Camie Gallo – Lily the Love Frog, Inc.
Reporting From Clearwater, Florida

OUTBACK BOWL 2008
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa Florida

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January first, New Years day. A day many be busy
recuperating from a night of celebration Iowinians and
South Carolin’ers flocked to sunny Florida, the skies
were clear with a gentle breeze a perfect beach day,
instead of flocking to the white sands of Clearwater
Beach these snow birds flocked to sit in the red plastic
seats at Raymond James Stadium, home of the
Buccaneers, for the 23rd year of the Outback Bowl.

January 1st 2009, the start of a New Year these young football players are poised to achieving a goal, the honor of representing their school. The numerous fans that traveled for miles as if they were summoned by an angel to head east, playing in the Outback bowl means a considerable cha-ching to each of these schools. Each team was strongly supported.

Thirty minutes before kick off each teams band proudly garnered the field tooting their horns and banging their drums in support of either the South Carolina Game Cocks or the Iowa Hawkeyes, while in respective locker rooms anxious young men awaited to take the field to represent their college in this all important football game.

Sitting next to me in the press box are two South Carolina students their excitement radiating. They are so thrilled to be at the game, win or lose; they indicated they felt fortunate to have made it to the Outback Bowl. Kick off has yet to occur.

Yellow pom-poms pulsate the air below my perch in the press box, Iowa is in the house, while it seems South Carolina fans are equal to Iowa fans it is not until the pom-poms erupt that it appears the entire population of Iowa has come to Florida in Support of Iowa University.

The first touchdown in the game came within 13 plays after the kickoff, a 6 yard pass from RICKY STANZI to TREY STROSS, wide receiver of Iowa.

The second touchdown also in the first quarter 5 play later, within 1 min 58 seconds, a 1 yard run by number 23, SHONN GREENE, this is his 18th touchdown of the season , an Iowa record, announced over the press box intercom.

The first quarter comes to an end, Iowa in the lead, 14 to 0. The Blooming Onions were passed.

The second quarter begins, with 15 minutes on the clock, second down, pass complete, the yellow flag thrown onto the field, a personal foul on number 35 - Defensive MIKE NEWTON of South Carolina, receives a penalty, next to me the two GameCocks sigh “Way to go Mike,” Then finally, in the second quarter like a speeding bullet, TOUCHDOWN, SHONN GREENE, of Iowa, this young man is truly making a name for himself.

With 37 seconds left on the clock several incomplete passes, a personal foul, illegal hands to the face by number 77 garnering a 50 yard penalty to the Gamecocks the first half comes to an end, each team leaving their field of dreams, headed to the locker room to give thought of what transpired.
The South Carolina Band takes the field once again, there tubas glistening in the noon day sun, the temperature reaching its high of 71 degree, flag twirlers spin the blue silken flags proudly spelling out “S_O_U_T_H C_A_R_O_L_I_N_A. Whatever may come to pass, they were still here, New Years day, at the Outback Bowl, 70 degrees verses high 30’s, sunscreen verses chap stick, t- shirts verses parkas:

Pass another Blooming Onion please.

Half time: Show time: each team struts it stuff, once again Iowa dominated the field, and did they leave anyone behind in Iowa? The field is filled with little Dorothy’s and Munchkins, Little 7 year old Kaitlyn, whom we met in the media room prior to the game, said she was here as a munchkin, she was from Virginia and very excited to be performing, so Iowa recruited people from other states, no wonder there were so many Hawkeyes! The Dorothy’s and Munchkins waved pompoms and noodles, the Tin man, the Wicked Witch and Good Witch of the East after giving tribute to America and the armed forces, along with Cowardly Lion they departed from the field, the crowd in awe of the performance that compared to previous super bowl half time shows.

As the Hawkeyes took the field for the second time, these young men did so with pride and courage, there was no cowardly lion among them, running from the tunnel , they all held hands, indicating this team has deep roots connected by a bond of brotherhood that far exceeds the game of football.

The third down, third quarter, so close to another goal for the Hawkeyes, going for the kick, it’s good!
Score Iowa 24 – South Carolina 0: 18 yard kick by #1 Daniel Murray.

Once again kicking, Murray makes that ball fly through the air landing in the Iowa 30 yard zone and bumbling its way up the field landing in the 20 yard line vicinity. South Carolina is in possession of the pig skin; then a personal foul, 15 yard penalty, and that pig in a blanket is further than it should be for the Hawkeyes.
Still in the third quarter, Quarter back Chris Smelley of the South Carolina Game Cocks, standing poised for a goal, hands open wide, waiting for the opportunity to salvage his team and get points on the board, the ball in the air…floating above him in the light blue sky, arms wide open…waiting waiting.

The ball misses him!

Another chance occurs, a 51 yard field goal kick, yellow pom-poms fill the air – those Iowans support everyone! The North North East breeze that had been filling the stadium was just too much to permit a completed kick, had the Gamecocks’ had the wind blowing their way surely #14, RYAN SCOOP would have succeeded.

The Hawkeyes, are excited, beginning the “Wave” through the stadium; inebriation fills the stands of Raymond James, 08 left on the clock, 3rd quarter and SHONN GREENE does it AGAIN! This kid is on fire! His record will fill Hawkeye history books.
2nd down 4th quarter, 1342 left on the clock – closing up this game is done, Iowa 31 South Carolina 0; South Carolina, Came, played and…… wait 1345 and just as the sun screen was wearing off, SMELLEY gets points on the board! Way to go kid! Kick and the extra points are good too! Score 31-7.

The intercom god announces, until that touchdown Iowa scored 86 points straight without any points being scored against them.
Carolinas STEVEN GARCIA who graduated from Tampa’s Jefferson High School had the chance to shine before a Florida home crowd, in the 23rd annual Outback bowl, but he threw 3 interceptions and lost a fumble in the first 4 series that he had his hands on the ball and all but ruined whatever chance Florida Coaching legend STEVE SPURRIER had of racking up his 151 straight win of a 19 year college coaching career when South Carolina fell to a well disciplined Iowa football powerhouse 31- 10. SHONN GREENE the winner of the Doak Walker Award as the Nation’s top running back of College football for 2007-2008 had 77 yards and two touch downs as Iowa built up their 21-0 lead by half time, the 5’11” 235 pound power house might be playing in the NFL next year. GREENE finished with 121 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns Iowa defense forces South Carolina to turn the ball over 5 times including 2 interceptions by Safety TYLER SASH and 2 fumble recoveries by Linebacker A.J. EDDS. South Carolina did not score until the 4th quarter when backup Quarterback Chris Smelley connected on one of his 31 passes to End JARED COOK at the start of the 4th quarter and RYAN SUCCOP kicked a 48 yard field goal with 2 min left to make the final core Iowa 31 South Carolina 10.

Leaving the field of college dreams this Outback Bowl season, SHONN GREENE has the NFL‘s interest and Iowa Coach KIRK FRENTZ may interview for the Cleveland Browns Head Coaching position’ what away to start the New Year Iowa will go back to wearing parkas, keeping warm, if only they could bottle some Florida Sun. South Carolina head northward having with fond memories, the Game cocks in the press booth, grumbling “We played like a JV team” as for us, Pass a Blooming Onion.

Tom Cooney provides sign language interpretation for sporting events.

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