While most people are looking forward to Thanksgiving,it’s the day after that has Tony Johnson excited.
That’s because it’s the one day that Johnson, a former State College High and Penn State wide receiver, gets to lace up his cleats again.
Next Friday is State College’s annual Turkey Bowl at Memorial Field, when alumni of the State High football congregate at Memorial Field for a charity touch football tournament.
“Oh you know I’ll be playing,” Johnson says. “My folks were saying to me, ‘I think you’re getting a little old,’ but I look forward to it and it’s a great chance to see some people you don’t get to see that often.”
The Turkey Bowl was started over a decade ago by former State College High and Nittany Lions quarterback Chris Ganter. What began as simply a fun activity however, has grown into a significant charitable event.
The past eight years, proceeds from the Turkey Bowl have gone to a number of good causes. This year, the money will be split among funds dedicated to the memories of five individuals, former State High athletes Kevin Dare, Brandon Ream, Matthew Weakland and Jeremy Wise, and Ganter’s mother Karen Bruno-Ganter.
The fund dedicated to Ream raises money for area people battling serious medicals conditions while the other four pay for scholarships given out at the high school’s senior banquet.
While there is no required fee to play, most individuals usually donate about $20 when they arrive.
“It started casually, I have three brothers and us and some friends would play up at Holuba [Hall at Penn State],” Ganter said. “It started eight years ago that we would do it for a cause. It’s amazing where it is now.”
Over 100 people participate each year. According to Johnson, one of the biggest reasons for the surging popularity is the charitable aspect.
Most of the people suiting up next Friday grew up knowing either one of the individuals who passed away or a member of their family. For them, Friday will be a day to honor their friend’s lives.
“Kevin Dare was one of my best friends,” Johnson says of the former Nittany Lions track and field star who died in a tragic pole vaulting accident in 2002. “Then Mr. and Mrs. Ream [parent’s of Brandon] have been like parents to a lot of us. We all have a lot going on in our lives but we all look out for each other.”
Last year, the game raised an incredible $15,000. Though Ganter thinks that lots of people to come out next week, he expects the event will raise significantly less money this year.
“It’ll probably be around $5,000,” Ganter said. “It’s the right size right now.”
With so many players, there is expected to be between 12 and 14 teams, with each team representing a different State High graduating class, usually dating back to the late 1990s.
The tournament is an all-day affair as well. The gates will open at 9:30 a.m. and the winning team is expected to be crowned around 3:00 p.m.
“We make sure that everyone has time to play,” Ganter says. “Each team gets at least two games. Everyone will start warming up when they arrive, then there’s a speech at 10:30 and then we’re off.”
In many ways, the game is a high school reunion that spans over a decade of former students. Both Johnson and Ganter have moved away from State College (Johnson lives in Columbus, OH, Ganter in Los Angeles) yet neither can imagine not returning home for the holiday and the game.
For them and many others, the Turkey Bowl represents what is special about their hometown.
“Our community is so tight-knit, every kid comes home for Thanksgiving,” Johnson says. “State College kids are spread up and down the East coast and even the West Coast but we’re all still kids of the community.”
“State College is a special place,” Ganter says. “Even if I’m in my 30s now [the game] is still great. I’ve barely been home this year so I’ll get to see some old friends.”
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