Camellia Bowl football teams pay a visit to veterans at Montgomery hospital
Army veteran Grady Morris tries on an Ohio cap. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl coaches Scott Satterfield of Appalachian State and Frank Solich of Ohio brought all the players they need to play one another Saturday at Cramton Bowl.
But if either needed an extra reserve, he had a willing volunteer in Army veteran Grady Morris.
Willing but admittedly not able.
“If I wasn’t so broke up, I’d get out there with you,” Morris told the Appalachian State Mountaineers and Ohio Bobcats Wednesday as team members visited him and other veterans at Central Alabama Veterans Medical Center.
Seniors from the respective squads made their way from room to room, giving good wishes and leaving caps and other souvenirs. Players appeared to enjoy the visit as much as the veterans.
Appalachian State defensive end Donald Blair said it was great to meet people who paved the way for American freedom.
“I’m just grateful we could have an impact on their lives,” he said.
Ohio kicker Josiah Yazdani agreed.
“There are some amazing people here,” he said. “It’s great to see some of the best our country has to offer.”
Yazdani recalled Air Force vet Nathaniel Powell saying he had been a quarterback in his playing days.
“Another gentleman said he played on an aircraft carrier,” the kicker said. “They actually played football on the deck, which was pretty cool.”
Earlier today, both teams visited the Rosa Parks Museum before getting in some bowl practice. On Friday, the teams are scheduled to have lunch with former Auburn head coach Pat Dye. Pep rallies and a Christmas parade will close out the day Friday.
The second Raycom Media Camellia Bowl pits a representative from the Sun Belt Conference against one from the Mid-American Conference. The game kicks off Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets are available here.
