Red Bay’s Jason Vinson gets ready to throw a pass to Pablo Makepeace during the Red Bay alumni football practice. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT

Former Red Bay and Belmont football players have long since hung up their cleats and turned in their uniforms, never dreaming that they would one day meet each other again on a football field.

Thanks to Alumni Football USA, that will soon be a reality for the former Tiger and Cardinal players.

It all started with one man’s dream to just play one more football game.

From that dream, Bob Cazet, a former National Championship head coach decided to make it happen for his old high school football buddies.

Soon Cazet realized guys all over the nation had the same dream of playing just one more game – a full contact, alumni football game.

From that first game, Cazet’s Alumni Football USA was born and has since helped schools raise over $400,000.

It has also helped reconnect former players, renew old friendships and create some new ones.

The graduates from last year will play with the graduates from the 80s and 90s.

Several months ago, alumni football players from both Red Bay and Belmont High Schools started signing up for the big rematch that will take place on May 3, at 7 p.m. at Fred G. Bostick Jr. Stadium in Red Bay.

“This all got started locally when a former football player from Red Bay attended an alumni game in the Shoals area,” said Alumni Football USA representative Archie Letson.

“They contacted us through our website and expressed an interest in getting a game together with rival Belmont. From there it just started growing until enough had signed up for a game.”

“We’ve had a very good response,” said Red Bay team captain Jason Vinson.

According to Vinson, the Red Bay alumni have been practicing every Sunday afternoon for several months and are putting together a competitive team for the Red Bay vs. Belmont game.

Red Bay’s team ranges in age from 18-34 and includes standout graduates like Kurt Kennedy, Randy Lowery, Bradley Rhodes, Cody Wooten, Jason Vinson, Rickey Esparza, Josh Senkbeil, Pablo Makepeace, Brandon Colburn, Bradley Patterson, Chad Holcombe, Chris Strickland, Cody Armstrong, and Anthony Lindley, just to name a few.

The Red Bay alumni team will be coached by former football/basketball coach Greg Cash.

According to Belmont team captain Joey Triste, over 53 have signed up to play in the alumni game that will benefit their respective school.

From all pre-sale tickets sold, each school will receive 50 percent.

“We urge everyone to buy the pre-sale tickets,” Red Bay head football coach John Ritter said. “That’s where we will benefit.”

All money for ticket sales at the gate on the night of the game will go to Alumni Football USA.

Coach Ritter said this will be one of the big fundraising projects for the Tiger football program this year.

Ritter added that between the cost for the officials, the paint for the field, and bus expense, the program must raise $25,000 to prepare for each football season.

Along with 50 percent of the pre-sale, the football program will benefit from all concessions sold and from a raffle that will be held at the game.

Ritter said right now they’re looking at raffling off some Alabama and Auburn football collectables.

Those who wish to purchase tickets are urged to see any alumni team member or any current Red Bay High School football player from now through game day.

Tickets may also be purchased from any Belmont alumni football team members.

Alumni cheerleaders and band members will also participate to cheer on their team.

The Alumni Football USA games unite towns, old high school friends, families and communities as everyone comes together to cheer their guys on.

The stands are filled by little kids with their dad’s jersey number painted on their faces, little girls with pom poms, and wives in team colors cheering for their husbands. For one day a year, it’s about him.