>> National Championship Blog:

Saturday, December 12:

"Richmond Giants Cap Off Perfect Season”

The Richmond-Perrine Giants (FL) came to the Pop Warner Super Bowl this week with one mission in mind, to equal their achievement as 2008 Pop Warner Jr. Midget National Champs with a Pop Warner Midget Championship in 2009.

And, when all the lights, fireworks and action were over, that’s exactly what they accomplished this afternoon at Disney’s Wide World of Sports as they knocked off the Oak Ridge Colts (NC) in impressive fashion, 29-0 for their 33rd consective victory.

"We wanted to get out to a fast start, and that's what we did," said Richmond head coach Eddie Alford. "The kids came out and made a couple of big plays early, and kind of got them out of their game a little bit."

Richmond’s speed was simply too much for the Colts and that speed helped the Giants to strike early and often. In the first quarter, Richmond connected on a halfback pass to Ermon Lane for 50 yards to the Colts 15-yard line. 

From there, Jaquan Johnson raced into the end zone for the Richmond touchdown. Devin Delancy’s kick for the two-point conversion split the uprights and at 9:35 to go in the first quarter, the Giants had the lead 8-0.

With 9:49 to go in the second quarter, Richmond scored again on a two-yard carry by their outstanding running back Tim Irvin. Delancy’s kick was good again and the score grew to 16-0.

"He's doing what he's always done," Alford said in reference to Irvin. "He's the best football player I've ever coached, and the most exciting player I've ever had. I depend on him to do a lot of things, and he kind of spoils me a little bit. He just came in did what he does, and made a bunch of plays for us."

At 7:50 to go in the first half, Tim Irvin reeled off a 50-yard punt return. Pushing into Colts territory, the Giants scored again on a touchdown pass to Irvin. This time, the one-point conversion was good and the score stood Richmond 23- Oak Ridge 0.  

With 2:54 in the half, the Giants defense forced another Colts punt that Tim Irvin returned 36 yards. From there, the Giants tallied again on a run by Nigel Dillard. The PAT try was no good and, at the end of the half, the score stood Richmond 29-Oak Ridge 0.

Playing under “running clock” rules, the second half showed no further scoring. As the clock ran down on this classic display of Richmond speed and power, the Giants had their Pop Warner Division I Midget National Championship 29-0.

During their amazing performance this week at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Richmond outscored opponents 93-0 for one of the most dominating championship runs in the history of Pop Warner.

"Watkins Hornets Sting Razorbacks for Pee Wee Title”

The Florida City Razorbacks (FL) fell to the Watkins Hornets (D.C.) today in the Pop Warner Pee Wee Division I National Championship Game played at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

The Razorbacks struck first when Florida City’s tailback Dionte Mullins took the opening kickoff and raced 77 yards untouched for a touchdown. The two-point kick conversion by Antonio Calloway was good and before Watkins knew what hit them, Florida City had the lead 8-0. 

But, the Hornets came back on the ensuing possession when running back Malonta Patterson caught a swing pass and rolled 62 yards for the answering touchdown.  The two-point kick was good and, at the end of the first quarter, the game was tied up at 8-8.

Midway through the second quarter, the Hornets Floyd Little III raced 55 yards to the Razorback 10 yard line. From there, Malonta Patterson tallied on a slant pass. The two-point conversion kick was good again and, at the end of the first half, Watkins’ lead climbed to 16-8.

Watkins took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove downfield to the Razorbacks two-yard line. From there, the Hornets’ Demarcus Jordan slammed through the Razorbacks line and into the end zone.  The PAT attempt was no good and, at the end of the third quarter, the score stood Watkins 22- Florida City 8.

In the fourth quarter, Florida City kept battling. Time and again, running backs Dionte Mullins, Antonio Callaway and Robert Burns followed the Razorback “O” line to churn up yardage.  Late in the game, the Razorbacks moved the ball to the Hornets 13 -yard line. But, an apparent touchdown pass from Maurice Alexander to Traylon Burns was called back on a holding penalty. Then, with fourth and long, the Hornets defense stormed through to sack Alexander and squash Florida City’s last threat. The game ended with Watkins hanging on to win 22-8.

"Liberty City Warriors Snuff Out Shaker Fire, 27-6”

The Liberty City Warriors Jr. Pee Wee team, pride of Greater Miami, added to their accomplishments Saturday by defeating a tough Shaker Fire-Raider team from Shaker Heights, Ohio to capture the 2009 Pop Warner Division I National Championship at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. 

The Warriors wasted little time getting on the board today.  Known for their devastating running game, Liberty City struck for their first score through the air.  With 5:01 to go in the first quarter, Warrior quarterback Tyreek Benton lofted a beautiful spiral to Eugene Witherspoon for a 32-yard touchdown.  Benton tossed to Nakia Robinson for a one point conversion to make it 7-0.

Liberty City’s hard-hitting defense managed to contain the Fire-Raiders’ talented running backs Terence Law and Darrius Jones, and at the end of the first quarter, the score remained Liberty City 7- Shaker Heights 0.

In the second quarter, the Fire-Raiders came charging back. Riding big runs by Law and Jones, Shaker Heights marched down to the Liberty City 34 yard line.
From there, the Fire-Raiders connected on a 24 yard pass from Jalen Davis to Keon Williams .  On the next play, Terence Law bulled off tackle and into the end zone.  The try for the PAT was no good and the score now stood Liberty City 7- Shaker Heights 6. 

Then, with 1:46 to go in the half, the Warriors took over the ball on the Fire-Raiders 20 yard line. Two plays later, tailback Trent Gordon raced around left end and followed a wave of Warrior blockers into the end zone.  Nakia Robinson toted the ball in for the 1-point PAT and the score at half time stood Liberty City 14 and Shaker Heights 6. 

The third quarter started with the Warriors taking the opening kickoff to the Fire-Raiders 46.  On the first play from scrimmage, Nakia Robinson took the hand-off, raced around the right end and bolted down the sidelines for another Liberty City touchdown. The run for a 1-point PAT by Jamir Washington was good, and with 8:24 left in the third quarter, the Warriors lead climbed to 21-6.

In the fourth quarter, Shaker Heights again moved downfield. But time and again, the fired up Warriors defense denied the Fire-Raiders on critical fourth down situations.  Then, with 7:48 to go in the game, Nakia Robinson again rolled out to his left from the Shaker Heights 24-yard line and sprinted into the end zone for another Warrior touchdown. The kick attempt for the PAT was no good and the score stood Liberty City 27- Shaker Heights 6.

The Fire-Raiders never quit. But today it was just too much Liberty City speed and power, and the final score remained Liberty City 27- Shaker Heights 6.

Friday, December 11:

"Douglas Tiger-Pride Shows!”

When the Douglas Tigers of Gardnerville, Nevada took to the mats today in the Pop Warner Midget Cheer Championships, they continued a tradition of “Tiger-Pride” that has become an inspiration to Pop Warner families all over the country.

Back in 2005, the Douglas Pop Warner Football Tigers included Geordan Gutierrez, a young man whose teammates rallied ‘round his fighting spirit. What made Geordan so popular with coaches and players alike is that, despite being autistic, he communicated with everybody on team through sign language and played his heart out to become a trusted member of his tough Tiger squad.

Now, four years later, the Douglas tradition of team-play continues.  Middle school student/athlete Meagan Clark-Daugherty has been cheering for only one year, yet despite cerebral palsy, she’s become a key member of her Tigers Midget Cheer squad.

Watching the Douglas Tigers compete, it’s great to see how flawlessly they flow through their routine. How do they do it?  Says Cheer Coach Marissa Beck, "You know what? Meagan worked it out for us.  She’s amazing!" 

Said Meagan, "I just do whatever I can do."  Modestly spoken.

But, honestly, Meagan weaves so easily into the ever-changing Tigers Midget Cheer competition sets that you lose sight of any physical challenge she’s overcoming. Just one smile from this engaging young lady, and seeing the hugs she, her squad and coaches exchanged at the end of their routine here at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, showed you that whether or not they come home with a trophy, the genuine love between these girls is something they’ll treasure for a lifetime.

"ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit Urges “Balance” In Sports & School”

Popular ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit made a special visit to Disney’s Wide World of Sports during Pop Warner Super Bowl Week offering both his support, and some words of wisdom, to a couple of well-deserving Pop Warner teams.

The Division I Shaker Heights Fire-Raiders Jr. Pee Wees and the Division II West Lynn Rams Jr. Midgets, heading into their respective national championship games, heard Herbstreit tell them, “Football is such a great game because it’s not about individual achievement. It’s about everybody working together. If you score a touchdown in the next game, show some love to the guys who blocked for you and the coaches who got you there. Be good teammates. Be good leaders. Pull together.”

Herbstreit also told the youngsters, “Every Pop Warner player dreams of playing in the NFL. When I was your age scoring touchdowns, throwing touchdowns, I just knew I was going to the NFL.  Well, guess what happened? It didn’t work out for me. If I hadn’t taken my classes serious, if I’d just played video games and chilled out, where would I be now? I learned at an early age that I had to have a balance between doing my schoolwork and playing ball. ”

That message carried even more meaning for both Pop Warner teams when the guys realized that , at one point, Kirk Herbstreit was “All-Everything” of Ohio football, both for Centerville High School and later as the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

In fact, during his senior year at OSU, Herbstreit passed for nearly 2,000 yards in an option-oriented offense. He guided his team to an 8-3-1 mark, second place in the Big Ten, a Florida Citrus Bowl appearance and a No. 18 final Associated Press ranking.  For his efforts, he was named team MVP and most motivational player. But, even with all those gridiron accomplishments, his goal of playing in the NFL was not to be.

And, that’s why Kirk pointed out to the Pop Warner players that, through his major in business administration at Ohio State plus a solid background in communications, he was able to achieve rapid success as a college football sideline reporter, and soon after, as a key member of the ESPN College GameDay team. Herbstreit told the guys from West Lynn and the Shaker Fire, that as a result of his education, “Now, I get paid to watch and talk about the game I love so much.”

Thanks to ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit for carrying the important message of “balance” between education and athletics to Pop Warner Little Scholars everywhere!  

Herbstreit earned a degree in business administration in 1993 from the Ohio State University, where he was a four-year letterman with the Buckeyes as a quarterback (1989-92).  As the starter and team captain during his senior season of 1992, he passed for nearly 2,000 yards in an option-oriented offense, guiding OSU to an 8-3-1 mark, second place in the Big Ten, a Florida Citrus Bowl appearance and a No. 18 final Associated Press ranking.  For his efforts, he was named team MVP and most motivational player.  Known for his quickness and scrambling skills, he had TD runs of 32 yards (Wisconsin) and 72 yards (Minnesota) as a junior.  He was former Ohio State coach John Cooper’s first signee.

A Centerville, Ohio, native, Herbstreit was the Ohio Player of the Year as a senior for Centerville HS (10-0 as a junior), as well as a standout baseball player.  His father, Jim, a former player and captain at Ohio State (1958-60) went on to serve as an assistant coach (1960-61 -- national champs in 1961) under the legendary Woody Hayes and also coached with Bo Schembechler at Miami (Ohio).  Jim and Kirk are one of only two father-son tandems to each serve as captain of their Ohio State teams in the history of the program. 

Tuesday, December 8:

“Rams And Blue Bishops Stage Instant Classic!”

Well fans, every year, just when you think you’ve “seen it all” at the Pop Warner National Championships, it’s a sure thing that two teams will lock up in a game that becomes a new instant classic. And that’s exactly what the nail-biter between the Asbury Park (NJ) Blue Bishops and the Goulds (FL) Rams became for fans who filled the stands and lined the fences around Field 4 at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports late this afternoon.

For the first three quarters of this tense D-II Midget semi-final, both teams hammered at each other with ball control offenses and equally tough defenses. As a result, they entered the fourth quarter all knotted up 8-8.  That’s where things got REALLY interesting!

Midway through the 4th quarter, Asbury Park recovered a Goulds fumble at midfield. Unleashing their pounding, grinding ground attack, Asbury Park marched relentlessly down field . Finally, with 3:55 left, the Blue Bishops quarterback slammed off right tackle from the Rams one yard line for the touchdown.  The kick for two points was blocked, but the Blue Bishops had the lead 14-8.

“Game over, right?”  No way…no how!  In fact, the action was just beginning. Fighting the clock, and the determined Blue Bishops defense, the Rams drove down to Asbury Park’s five yard line. Then, on fourth down and goal to go, with 2:20 to go in the game, the Rams quarterback smashed into the line, straining to get over the Asbury Park goal line. But, the ball squirted loose and the Blue Bishops alertly fell on it in the end zone for a touchback.

The Blue Bishops tried pushing up-field. But, this time, the Rams refused to give ground. On 4th down on their own 20 yard line, Asbury Park dropped back to punt. But, the kick went straight up in the air, netting a meager 7 yards. With 55 seconds left in the game, the Rams took possession.  With their quarterback rolling out and firing down field, the Rams connected on two quick passes to the move the ball to the Blue Bishops 13 yard line. Then, with 11 seconds to go, the Rams QB rolled out again. With defenders all around him, he launched a high floater into the right corner of the end zone.  The Rams wideout went high in the air , ripped the ball away from the Blue Bishops safety, and tumbled into the end zone for the tying score. The Rams kicked coolly kicked the two-point conversion try through the uprights and the Goulds fans went crazy. Rams 16-Blue Bishops 14! 

With one second left to play ,Asbury Park had one last shot . After fielding the ensuing kickoff at the 50 yard line, they lateraled twice. The Blue Bishops halfback fired a long pass into the end zone. But, an alert Ram safety batted the ball away and the Goulds Rams sealed their amazing victory! 

Congratulations to both the Goulds Rams and the Asbury Park Blue Bishops on one of the best games ever seen at the Pop Warner National Championships. And, get this. Our fantastic week of football action at Pop Warner Super Bowl ’09 has just begun! 

Sunday, December 6:

“Slam–Bam Sunday Rolls On!”

“Speed, strength and perseverance” are the words to describe some of the big games today at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. One of the best of the “big” ones involved newcomers Saddleback Valley (CA) Wolverines and the always tough veteran Virginia Beach (VA) Mustangs in an opening round Division I Jr. Midget tilt.

Virginia Beach took a 12-8 lead late into the second quarter. But, with 3:19 to go in the half, the Wolverines moved to the Mustangs’ 35 yard line. The Saddleback QB then rolled to his right, set up and lofted a bomb to his wide receiver who leaped up, snared the ball among three defenders, and toppled into the end zone for the touchdown.  Saddleback’s fine kicker hammered the ball through for a two point PAT and the Wolverine’s had the lead 16-12.

But, on the very next play from scrimmage, the VA Beach tailback burst through the Saddleback “D” line and raced 60 yards for an answering TD. The PAT was no good and, with 3:00 to go in the first half, the Mustangs led 18-16.

With the clock running down, Saddleback got their second wind and stormed back downfield. Then, with 00.4 to go in the half, the Wolverines lined up for a field goal from the Mustangs’ 28. Again, the Saddleback kicker swung his leg and the ball sailed long and true through the uprights to give the Wolverines the lead once more at 19-18.

In the third quarter the two teams traded drives that were stopped by inspired defensive play. But, early in the 4th quarter, the Mustangs raced up the middle for  an 18 yard touchdown. The snap on the ensuing try for a PAT was bobbled. But the ‘Stangs resourceful kicker snared the ball, rolled right and lofted a completion to a receiver in the end zone, and with 9:08 to go in the game, Virginia Beach again had the lead at 25-19.

But, on this day, the speed, strength and perseverance of the Wolverines would be the deciding factor.  Pushing downfield in a determined ground attack, Saddleback set the Mustangs up for a big play.

And, with a little over three minutes to go in the game, it happened. The Wolverine’s quarterback rolled right and pitched a short pass to his halfback who blasted 30 yards down the right sideline into the VA Beach end zone. The PAT was good and Saddleback again grabbed the lead in this see-saw affair at 27-25 .

The ensuing kickoff squirted away from the front line of Mustang receivers and the Wolverines alertly recovered. Then, with 2:04 to go in the game, following a long drive, the Wolverines struck again at go up 35-25. The Mustangs fought back, but the Wolverines held on to win this tough test of wills by the same 35-25 score.

Hats off to both the Mustangs and the Wolverines on a fantastic game. And, true to what many fans predicted, the “newcomers” continue forging a name for themselves at this year’s  Pop Warner Super Bowl Week 2009.

Watch for more action-news soon!

“Slam-Bam Sunday! “

We’re back at it this morning on Hess Fields at Disney’s Wide World of Sports under sunny skies and cool temps for the first round of Division I football ; and like the weather, the action’s been top notch! 
I can tell you this, Pop Warner fans in San Francisco Bay are breathing a big sigh of relief, and folks in Cleveland and Philly are already dreaming of a solid run to a championship. Here’s why!...

“FIRE Up!”:  Shaker Heights Downs Nanakuli 19-7

Overcoming adversity has been the name of the game for the Shaker FIRE all season, and today was no exception. When this determined bunch from the Cleveland area kicked-off to the lads from Nanakuli , Hawaii today , they soon found the Hawks were ready to soar.  Nanakuli took the opening possession and drove to midfield. Going to their bag of tricks, the Hawks then reeled off a beauty, with a sweep to the left and a halfback pass to a wide-open receiver who streaked down the sidelines for a TD.  The extra point was good and,  at 7:15 of the 1st quarter, the Hawks led 7-0.

After the teams traded possessions near midfield, the Hawks drove into FIRE territory again, only to see the alert FIRE secondary pick off a Nanakuli pass. The first quarter came to an end with the Hawks still perched atop a 7-0 lead.

But, at the start of the second quarter, Shaker Heights drove downfield with a tough inside running game, finally punching it into the end zone on an off-tackle plunge.  But, the try for the extra point was no good and the Hawks clung to a 7-6 lead.

That slim margin held up at the half.  But, at the start of the third quarter, the FIRE’s tailback tore through Nanakuli for a 40-yard touchdown run. Again, the PAT try was denied, but Shaker now had the lead 12-7. Then, with 1:34 left in the quarter, the Shaker halfback stormed through a wall of swarming Hawks, breaking tackle-after-tackle and not to be denied, finally tearing free for a 29 yard touchdown blast. This time the PAT was good, and the FIRE increased their lead to 19-7.

The Hawks never gave in. But, as the clock ticked down, the the FIRE defense engulfed Nanakuli’s running backs and the game ended with Shaker Heights victorious by the 19-7 score.  

The FIRE now goes on to play the tough East Bay Wolverines in a D-I Jr. Pee Wee semi-final game on Wednesday at 9:00 am, while the Hawks tangle with the Union City Jaguars in a consolation game- also Wednesday at 9:00 am.

More “Slam-Bam Sunday” action from Disney’s Wide World of Sports soon.

Saturday, December 5:

“New NAME - Got GAME! 

Hi there, Pop Warner fans! Bob Field here, welcoming you to the first day of competition for Pop Warner National supremacy on the football field!

Ask any long-time Pop Warner fans what excites them most about the anticipated kickoff to this year’s slate of games and the answer is unanimous, “ All the new teams!” Amen to that, brothers and sisters! Just one look at the pairings board here at the complex will tell you that Pop Warner Super Bowl Week ’09 is already a record-setting “original.” 

Conspicuous in their absence from this year’s field of regional champs are such traditional powerhouses as Everett, MA, Oak Grove, CA, Marshall Heights, MD, the Alaska Eagles, and last season’s Midget Division champs Frankford, PA. And, that’s precisely what makes the buzz around the pairings board, at the weigh-in stations, and up and down the sponsorship concourse all that more energized.

That’s not to say familiar Pop Warner names aren’t here at all. Just look around on the practice fields. You’ll see the Division II Pee Wee Lee Summit Titans team from Big Mo, and the Edgewood Seminoles from the Lone Star State, along with D-I’s East Bay Wolverines (CA) Jr. Pee Wees and the always feisty Virginia Beach Mustangs Pee Wee and Junior Midgets teams. These “repeaters,” and more, are all rip-snortin’ ready to race for a Pop Warner national championship trophy in ‘09.

But, the big time buzz surrounds the teams that will line-up against the “repeaters” at Disney this year, including such first-time regional champions as the Saddleback Valley Wolverines of Northern California, and the Watkins Hornets from D.C.

Now, before you turn to a buddy, pull your best Butch-to-Sundance impersonation and ask, “Who are these guys?  And, are they any good?” Let me oblige with the answer, “Haah! You bet your bippy they are!”  But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what Joe Tobia – Region Coordinator for Pop Warner’s Pacific NW had to say about two of the newcomers.

“The Santa Cruz Seahawks are from a small community on the coast. They’ve been with Pop Warner for close to 35 years, but they’ve never won a Division I of Division II championship. This year they’re now in a Division II championship. Their President is Wayne Morgan. Their treasurer is Bob Camacho, who’s been Volunteer of the Year. The community over there is very small. But, they’ve all pulled together to help this team get here with the fund raising and uniforms and the like.” 

And, Pacific NW isn’t the only area to send first-timers to Pop National Championship Week ‘09.  The Mid-America Region has some newcomers here as well, including the Michigan City Wolves Jr. Pee Wees from Indiana, and the Shaker Fire Jr. Pee Wees and the Bedford Saints Midgets, both from Cleveland, O-H-I-O!  

As Mid-America Region Coordinator Jack Arnett tells us, “It’s very exciting for all three of these teams to be here at Nationals. The Michigan City program has been with Pop Warner for several years now. But, they’ve just never been able to get out of their league competition. With this first-time trip to Nationals, the Michigan City community has really played it up. At the state championships, fire trucks paraded them all up and down town, and their fans have been incredible. It was quite a deal.” 

And, what about the Ohio teams? “ Well, that Cleveland area is a relatively new program,” Jack tells us. “It’s a league that’s been with Pop Warner maybe five or six years. But, the Shaker Fire is a brand new. They are very good, and very organized from the coaching and administrative side. It doesn’t surprise me at all that they’ve made it down here to Florida. And, Bedford is the other Cleveland team. This is their first time here, as well, and everybody in their association is just as excited.”

There’s no doubt that the newcomers will all have their work cut out for them from veteran associations like the Oak Ridge Colts from North Carolina, last year’s Runner-Ups to Frankford, PA in the Midget Division National Championship,  and the Nanakuli Hawks from the beautiful Hawaii, National Pee Wee Consolation Champs in 2005. But, will the stars align in ‘09?  Will “David” knock off “Goliath” in this year’s showdowns between the first-timers and the repeaters?

Stay connected!  I’ll keep you posted with all the action from this record-setting original week at wonderful Disney’s Wide World of Sports! 

Thursday, November 12:

“Magic Memories- Golden Days!” - Pop Warner Super Bowl is Sweeeet! 

A BIG shout-out to all you good folks in the Pop Warner Family! 

As everybody knows, the days are flying by now.  Football, Cheer and Dance Regionals are underway. Big hopes, and bigger dreams, are springing up faster than new grass on a Florida gridiron   And, before you know it, we’ll be teeing it up at Disney Wide World of Sports for Pop Warner Super Bowl Week 2009.

What’s more, I’m as happy as Mighty Mites who just won the coin-flip to say that you’re in for more great connections to game-action, more live web-casting of floor competition, and more ‘round the clock features on cheer/dance squads, football teams, fans-in-the-stands, NFL greats, and super Pop Warner people (with extra special stories to tell) than ever before!

This marks my 15th year of working on the Pop Warner Media Team to help keep you up to date, and in the know, with all the fun and thrills of Pop Warner’s magical championship week at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

And, speaking of magic, over the past decade and a half of covering Pop Warner Super Bowl Week, through game reports , interviews, feature stories and “Field Notes” videos , I’ve been privileged to log more magical memories than they could cram into a year-end issue of ESPN The Magazine. Gosh, where to start?...

Well, there was the incredible 2001 triple overtime game between the Northwood Rams and the East Anchorage Eagles , won by the Rams in a “Kansas City Shootout” 24-18.  Whew! What a battle! No losers there!

And, how about 2002, when the Dale City Cowboys powered their way to a national championship in their very first year of Division I play, nosing out a powerful Marshall Heights team by a score of 7-6.

And, I’ll never forget the very first Challenger Division game, key to the magic of Super Bowl Week 2005. Yeah, the skies opened-up that day , but it was raining pure happiness on those kids and parents living a dream.  The image of players in muddy, grass stained gear, with smiles a mile wide , posing arm-in-arm for a group photo at game’s end  still brings a tear to my eye.

Then, “how ‘bout those Bison!” Yep, legendary Marshall Heights coach Jay Ford and his Marshall Heights Bison team at long last holding up a well-deserved national championship trophy at the Pop Warner Super Bowl 2006.

And yo!  The echoes still resound from Super Bowl 2003 when 11 year-old Jasmine “Jazzy” Plummer (pictured right) of the Harvey Colts became the first female quarterback to run and pass her team into a Pop Warner Super Bowl Week. Yep, that’s right, five years later her story would be told in the feature film “The Longshots.” 

But, that’s just the start!  Remember the cheer squad of girls from Russia easing their way into international cheer with a first-ever performance at The Milk House in 1998?  Then, remember them coming back as the “JOY!” squad with a routine that wow’ed the crowd into a standing ovation in 1999? Talk about fast learners!

And, what about those AMAZING duels between the Tom’s River Little Indians and the Tom’s River Angels for large cheer supremacy, especially the 2005 edition? Man, that’s athleticism!

Can’t forget “DANCE!”  Wow, did THAT ever take Pop Warner Super Bowl Week by storm the minute it came on the scene! 

What about the “Spirit of Sport” Award, and the fun with friends cheering with newfound friends on the sidewalks outside The Milk House before each day’s “Parade of Champions”? As they say, “Priceless”!

Gotta tell you, what an absolute pleasure it’s been, every year, working with and listening to “the voice of Pop Warner”, everybody’s favorite Cheer/Dance Championship announcer, Mr. Scott Pinner.

And, brothers and sister, there’s nothing like the BIG annual Pop Warner Night party held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly “MGM”) Hey, race you to the “Tower of Terror’!”

Would you believe that’s just the beginning of the golden memories?  Yes, every time I hear the cheer buses pulling up in front of WWOS in early morning, and every time I see the lights shining over the emerald green of Hess Field after a loooooong football day, I know that , year-in, year-out, there’s “magic” aplenty for everyone who heads to Disney’s Wide World of Sports for Pop Warner’s incredible national championships. 

Looking forward to sharing the magic of my 15th year at Pop Warner Super Bowl Week with y’all.  Good luck at Regionals! Hope to see you in Lake Buena Vista real soon.

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