“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