Alumni set to ring Bell
by Justin Lafferty
Nov 03, 2011 | 1037 views | 1 1 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Liberty and Freedom football grads looking for one more moment of glory under the Friday night lights will get their chance next week during the Alumni Bell Game.

Organized by Alumni Athletics USA, the game will join those who played for the Lions and Falcons for a fundraiser for both schools’ athletic departments. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at Freedom.

“That same energy is there,” said game coordinator Kevin Lee. “What’s also nice is that they know it’s for a fundraiser. You now have adults out there playing with a different mentality about life.”

Alumni Athletics has coordinated alumni games all over the nation, but this will be the first one in the Bay Area. The event features pre- and post-game festivities plus a $25,000 car-giveaway football-toss contest at halftime.

Lee said players range from recent graduates to 40-somethings (for Liberty). Nearly 60 athletes have signed up so far. CJ LeVeque, a 2003 alumnus, and Ryan Ng, a 1989 grad, will suit up for Liberty. Freedom will be coached by the current varsity team’s special-teams coach, Jeff Walters.

“It sounds to me that the Liberty community is really behind it, and I think the Freedom community will be as well,” said Freedom Athletic Director Steve Amaro. “If this first one goes really well, I have a feeling there will be a bunch of high schools throughout the area that will probably move to do it next year.”

Amaro hopes to make this an annual tradition for one of East County’s most spirited rivalries.

Liberty and Freedom alumni can still register to participate at www.alumniathleticsusa.com or by calling Lee at 707-849-6777.
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ryanng
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November 05, 2011
Thank you for plugging our game, Kevin. I'd just like to add, as a footnote and as a twist to this plot - which hopefully will entice a few more people to attend - that there is another local-interest angle: Although having graduated from Liberty in 1989, I also began my teaching career at...Freedom HS (1998-2003)! Loyalties somewhat divided, it'll be nice to see some of my former students again at the game - and hopefully, some of them lined up opposite me on the field!
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