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NCAA coaches 'touchdown' in AOR

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Servicemembers here pulled out their team banners and school spirit May 22 when five National Collegiate Athletic Association football coaches from various universities throughout the states stopped to thank Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines for their service on the first leg of the Armed Forces Entertainment Coaches Tour traveling throughout the Middle East. 

The 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron hosted the event, which gave NCAA head coaches Mark Richt, University of Georgia; Randy Shannon, University of Miami; Jack Siedlecki, Yale University; Tommy Tuberville, Auburn University; and Charlie Weis, University of Notre Dame, an opportunity to interact with hundreds of fans and learn a little bit about the base's missions. 

U.S. and coalition forces members filled the base theater for an open question and answer session and had a chance to toss a football and have memorabilia autographed at memorial plaza. The coaches stayed for hours, until the last fan had a chance for a handshake or photo. 

The coaches, who hail from rival universities, came with similar goals; to boost Airmen's morale show appreciation for their service. 

"Everyone thinks that I'm a celebrity, but it's the troops in the Middle East and those who are supporting them who are the celebrities," said University of Miami Coach Randy Shannon, whose daughter is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. "Look at the [servicemembers] doing their jobs and executing it with precision. It's not just the guys on the ground and in the field, it's the ones who take care of the pilots, refuel planes and [secure] the base, they are all an intricate part of making the whole operation work. I'm proud of their work, and they make me feel good and safe at home." 

Coach Charlie Weis from the University of Notre Dame, feels there are a lot of similarities between the military and football. 

"Anytime you get a group of people together who work as a team, such as the armed forces, whether it's about chain of command, camaraderie [among servicememers] or not letting your team down, there are a lot of parallels and analogies between football and the armed forces." 

For Coach Jack Siedlecki of Yale University, the armed forces are like the ultimate team and he wanted to see it firsthand. 

"The attitude of the [servicmembers] has made it a very inspiring tour," he said. "I've told many people that I'll gain a lot more inspiration from this [tour] than I could give anyone else and it's been proven true." 

Coach Siedlecki also talked about sacrificing one's ego for the team, and would love to have his team come out here and talk with [servicemembers] to observe their attitude.
"It's been a tremendous exposure for me," he said. "Its 110 degrees and [they're missing home], but everyone is rallied together. It's what every coach wants his team to be." 

Despite the jet lag and gritty desert air, the coaches remained focused on the trip's benefit to the servicemembers they were able to meet. 

"We wanted to come here and thank the troops, not have them thank us," Coach Weis said. "We are just a small microcosm of the society in the states who have come here to thank them for protecting our country."