Sports : Alumni Football players already looking ahead to 2012

Randy Scheel had planned to spend the days after Vinton-Shellsburg loss to the Center Point-Urbana team in the July 8 Alumni Football USA game making preparations for the 2011 rematch.

But instead, he has spent much of the month of July the same way other Vinton and Garrison residents have – cleaning up the results of the July 11 storm. In addition to the many buildings and houses affected by winds in excess of 100 miles per hour, the Old Creamery Nature Trail, which Scheel has spent years helping to maintain, sustained significant tree damage. The trail was visibly blocked on both sides of Garrison.

Now that the clean-up has slowed a little, Vinton Today asked Scheel for this thoughts about the first Alumni Football game, and plans for the 2012 game in Vinton.

“With the game ending in a loss, every player I have spoken with has a goal to play again, only this time to come out with a win,” said Scheel, the 2011 V-S captain.

One player whom Scheel had convinced to play walked up to him after the game in Center Point and thanked him for encouraging his participation. Other former football players who watched the game have decided to play next year.
“Several of the players came up to me afterwards and commented how much they enjoyed the game. Some who had joined the team late wished they could have started sooner,” said Scheel. “Several players are already sharing ideas on how we can improve in 2012. Now that everyone has seen how everything is set up for the game and practices, we are identifying areas we can improve upon.”
Some of the older players, Mike Kaufman and Dwayne Simnacher (both from Class of '83) both said they were very happy to play again, said Scheel.

“Each said the time and pain was worth every second of it,” said Scheel. “It was certainly a ‘Bucket List’ item for sure!”
Already, six Viking alumni who did not play in this year's game express very strong interest in playing in 2012. And, said Scheel, word has it there are quite a few more.
“I received many comments after the game from people who said the game was very entertaining and played at a better level than they expected. They mentioned the hard hitting and organized play on both sides,” he said.

The Alumni Football USA organizers counted more than 1,200 fans in attendance; Scheel said another estimate was closer to 1,500. There is already a place to sign up online at www.AlumniFootballUSA.com.

Scheel also thanked the sponsors: Betterton Family Chiropractic, Koop's Automotive Sales and Service and McDowell's Building Supplies. “They all helped make this happen,” he said.
“We also want to thank Randi Walker and the Vinton-Shellsburg and VS alumni Cheerleading Squad for helping us out on game night! It really meant a lot to the players to not only have such a large amount of vocal fans make the trip to Center Point, but also to have such a great group of young ladies leading the cheers,” said Scheel.