BLUEFIELD, Va. — The Bluefield College Rams and a local grocery store will kick off the 2013 Sack the Quarterback hunger relief program with a special Rams Football Day at Food City in Bluefield on Aug. 17.
From noon to 2:30 p.m., members of the BC football team will be on hand to greet customers, hand out season schedules, distribute Rams football apparel and give away a few 2013 game tickets.
“This should be an exciting day for Rams football, Food City and the entire community,” said BC athletic director Peter Dryer about the kickoff. “It will be a great opportunity for the community to meet our new head coach Ordell Walker and to get to know the players who make up Rams football.”
Members of the 2012 Bluefield football team present sacks of groceries to Bluefield Union Mission as part of the Sack the Quarterback program.
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The BC Football Day at Food City will also include an appearance from the Ram mascot and the distribution of more information about the Sack the Quarterback campaign. Launched in the fall of 2012, Sack the Quarterback is a community service project that recognizes outstanding defensive effort on the Rams’ football team, while at the same time rewarding disadvantaged families with much needed groceries.
The way the program works is that every time the BC defense sacks an opposing offensive quarterback during a Rams football game, Food City donates a “sack” of groceries to a local food bank or ministry center to give to someone in need.
“Bluefield College believes passionately in service above self. It’s a core value, a way of life for our students, faculty and staff,” said Dryer. “Through programs like this and other community service outreach projects, our hope is to prepare compassionate, community-minded, globally-minded students who impact their world.”
During the Rams Football Day at Food City, the team will also be promoting football tailgate food items available for purchase at Food City just in time for the 2013 season. The team begins play Aug. 31 with two consecutive weeks on the road before returning to Bluefield for the home opener Sept. 21, against Kentucky Christian University.
“Food City is a proud sponsor of Bluefield College football,” said Steve Remines, the store’s manager, “and we’re committed to addressing area hunger with the Sack the Quarterback campaign. This is a good way to support the football team and to support the community.”
Through the Sack the Quarterback project, BC and Food City are demonstrating to student-athletes just how fortunate they are, compared to those less privileged in the community. More importantly, the program is providing the football players with an opportunity to help those in need.
“When asked to find a local grocer who would be willing to support our Sack the Quarterback program, I immediately thought of Food City,” said Annette Tabor, BC’s associate vice president for advancement. “Steve [Remines] is a BC alumnus and has always been supportive of Bluefield College. So, I knew he would love the opportunity to be part of this new program, and he was.”
Chris Shoemaker (cshoemaker@bluefield.edu) is director of public relations and marketing for Bluefield College.