Home Official News Releases Drake Bulldogs to face CONADEIP All-Stars from Mexico in Global Kilimanjaro Bowl

Drake Bulldogs to face CONADEIP All-Stars from Mexico in Global Kilimanjaro Bowl

News PhotoThe Drake football team departed this morning on its once-in-a-lifetime journey to play the first organized American football game on African continent. The May 21 game vs. an all-star team from Mexico’s CONADEIP Conference serves as the centerpiece for the numerous life-changing events that will take place. Kickoff is set for 1:15 p.m. local time (5:15 a.m. CT) in Arusha, Tanzania.

“The Drake football program is about more than winning games,” said Head Coach Chris Creighton. “Our program’s vision is to make playing football at Drake one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. This trip exemplifies who we are and what we are about. We want to do something special with our lives.”

Drake’s players and coaches will conduct clinics for more than 1,000 kids, build additions onto orphanages and schools and perform other service projects. Accompanied by Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb and President David Maxwell they also will climb 19,340-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro.

THE GAME: Kickoff is set for 1:15 p.m. local time (5:15 a.m. CT) at 20,000-capacity Sheik Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium in the city of Arusha in Tanzania.

TELEVISION: The game will be broadcast live across the African continent by ITV, the largest private television network in Tanzania, and beamed to parts of Europe, Asia and Australia. Mike Carlson will call the play-by-play. No live carriage was able to be arranged in the United States, but satellite coordinates for television stations to access footage are as follows:

Satellite: IS 906; West Hemi Beam (red contour-left lobe); ITV Receive Parameter Sat position: 64deg E; Downlink Frequency: 3643; Transponder: 10/10; Polarization: R Circular RH Circular; Symbol rate: 8545; FEC: 2/3; Compression: MPEG 2. Media with questions regarding the satellite feed may contact Michael Preston MP@MPrestonSports.com. Direct number in Tanzania: (011-255) (0) 757 894-392 / U.S. number: (781) 363-0305.

GAME OFFICIALS: The “Kili Bowl” will be officiated by an accomplished crew, it was announced March 14. Veteran Big 10 official Bill LeMonnier, who refereed the 2011 BCS National Championship Game between Auburn and Oregon in Glendale, Ariz., will serve as referee. The rest of the officiating crew includes Umpire Chris Fivek, Head Linesman Todd Desmond, Line Judge Mark Armstrong, Side Judge Jeff Holter, Back Judge Mario Matos and Field Judge Alexander Zarganis.


ONLINE/SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Websites and social media will provide stories, pictures and video from Drake’s two-week journey to Tanzania. According to Kilimanjaro Bowl organizers, connectivity should be sufficient to allow internet access for the transmission of email and text messages up to and including the team’s climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Between official Kilimanjaro Bowl accounts, Drake Athletics, Drake University, local media and players’ blogs/websites, the opportunity exists for friends, family and fans to follow the team on its journey.

Official Website: www.kilibowl.com

Drake Athletics Website: www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com

Drake University Website-Kilimanjaro Bowl Section: www.Drake.edu/kilimanjaro

Drake President David Maxwell’s Blog: www.dupeakpeformance.blogspot.com

Drake Football Players’ Blog (E.J. Walter, Cam Good, Jim Nelson, Denzel Ray, Patrick Cashmore): www.DrakeFootball.Blogspot.com

Des Moines Register Blogs-Drake Football in Africa (Avery Fuhs, Naser Hanoon, E.J. Walter): http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/category/sports/drake-africa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DrakeFootball, www.facebook.com/globalkilibowl, www.facebook.com/IRISinIowa

Twitter: www.twitter.com/GlobalSportsGuy, www.twitter.com/DUBulldogs

YouTube: www.YouTube.com/GlobalSportsGroup

National Football Foundation blog by E.J. Walter: www.footballfoundation.org/nff/community/blogs

Cam Good’s Website: www.CamGoodVideo.com


ABOUT CONADEIP: The CONADEIP All-Stars are a select group of student-athletes from eight Mexican institutions of higher learning: Universidad de las Américas Puebla; Universidad Regiomontana; and Tecnológico de Monterrey campuses in Puebla, Santa Fe, Toluca, Monterrey, Estado de México and Ciudad de México. Founded in 1977, the National Commission Collegiate Athletics of Private Institutions (CONADEIP)-is composed of 128 private schools and universities throughout 16 states in Mexico.

CONADEIP added American football to its list of conference sports in 2010, with eight teams participating in the newly formed Premier League. Participation is expected to increase to 20 teams next year. Prior to 2010, CONADEIP’s eight inaugural football teams participated in the National Student Organization of American Football (ONEFA). Tec de Monterrey’s campus in Monterrey dominated that league with five consecutive championships from 2004 to 2008.


KILIMANJARO BOWL ITINERARY:

Tuesday, May 17

8:30 a.m. Leave Des Moines for Minneapolis departure

Wednesday, May 18

Arrive Amsterdam / Depart Amsterdam

7:45 p.m. Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)

8:30 p.m. Transport JRO to The Arusha Hotel

Thursday, May 19

9 a.m. Practice at Target Game Trackers Facility

11:30 a.m. Youth Clinic/Team photos with youth

1:30 p.m. Press Conference (Coach Creighton, Michael Lahart)

9 p.m. Team Meeting

Friday, May 20

9 a.m. Practice at Target Game Trackers Facility

11:30 a.m. Youth Clinic/Team photos with youth

9 p.m. Team Meeting

Saturday, May 21

10 a.m. Team Meetings/(dress for game, carry pads/helmet)

11:30 a.m. Team warm-ups

1 p.m. Pre-game ceremonies, national anthems

1:15 p.m. Kickoff Global Kilimanjaro Bowl

4 p.m. Postgame photos, awards

6 p.m. Awards Banquet outside at The Arusha Hotel

Sunday, May 22

8:30 a.m. Depart for Moshi

Safari Group #1 departs for Tarangire National Park

10 a.m. Arrive Moshi hotel

10:30 a.m. Transport to orphanages and schools for service work

4 p.m. Safari Group #1 departs Tarangire N.P.

7 p.m. Return to hotel; check-in

Monday, May 23

6 a.m. Safari Group #2 departs for Tarangire

8 a.m. Transport to orphanages and schools for service work

4 p.m. Safari group #2 departs Tarangire

7 p.m. Return to hotel

8:30 p.m. Team meeting

Tuesday, May 24

6 a.m. Safari Group #3 departs for Tarangire

8 a.m. Transport to orphanages and schools for service work

4 p.m. Safari group #3 departs Tarangire

7 p.m. Return to hotel

8:30 p.m. Team meeting/Mt. Kilimanjaro climb presentation

Pack gear for Kili!

Wednesday, May 25

9 a.m. Transport to Mt. Kilimanjaro trailhead

Injured players/non-climbers to Tent Safari

Thurs.-Sun., May 26-29 Kili Climb

Sunday, May 29

Sunrise, Kili Summit! 19,340′ Uhuru Peak


Monday, May 30 Pickup and transfer from trailhead to Moshi

2 p.m. Lunch and goodbyes with CONADEIP

4 p.m. Transport to Arusha/Tent Safari group to Arusha

Tuesday, May 31



9 a.m. Team Meeting

10 a.m. Transport to Cultural Heritage Center

3 p.m. Return to Hotel; stop at Alley Market

5 p.m. Transport to JRO for flight home

8:50 p.m. Flight home!


Wednesday, June 1 Arrive Minneapolis, Bus to Des Moines