United Indoor Football

All-Star Classic Week in Bloomington Shaping Up

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August 13, 2007 - Bloomington, IL - High school bands from Normal West, Normal University High and Olympia will join forces to play the national anthem and then perform separately during halftime of the inaugural Casey’s United Indoor Football All-Star Classic at U.S. Cellular Coliseum on Saturday (Aug. 18). Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Both the Normal West and University High are preparing for appearances later in the year at college bowl games. Normal West will take part in the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, while the University High band will perform at the Outback Bowl in Tampa.

“The kids are excited and looking forward to playing at the (UIF) all-star game,” said Normal West band director Lisa Preston. “With the high school football season just around the corner, it gives us an opportunity to perform before a football crowd.”

There will be plenty of other opportunities for fans to participate in the UIF All-Star activities leading up to the game, which pits the top players from the Eastern Conference against the top players from the West.

The All-Star Classic weekend begins with teams arriving in town Wednesday. The teams will practice Thursday and Friday in the morning and afternoon.

The UIF awards banquet will be Thursday night at 7 p.m. with a Youth Football Camp scheduled for Friday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Following the Youth Camp, there will be a Fan Fest from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the coliseum.

Youngsters participating in the Youth Camp will receive instruction from the All-Star players and coaches in several skill areas. The Fan Fest will be a great opportunity to obtain autographs and interact with players. There will also be a skills competition between the Eastern and Western Conference’s kickers and quarterbacks.

The first 200 people attending Fan Fest will receive the first of five strips of all-star trading cards. The first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles at the game will receive a commemorative strip of trading cards with the opportunity to purchase other strips to complete their 30-card sets at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum gift shop during the game.

Following the game, 10 all-star jerseys will be auctioned off live, including those of Bloomington Extreme all-stars Dusty Burk, James Walton, Terrill Mayberry and Chad Walker.

The other six live auction jerseys will be worn by Terrance Bryant and Nate Fluit of Sioux Falls, Anthony Candler of Billings, Ben Sankey and Maurice Simpkins of Rock River and Spetlar Tonga of Sioux City.

The other 40 all-star jerseys are currently available on-line for bid at the league website unitedindoorfootball.com/playoffs/classic/. Minimum bids are $125 and must increase by increments of $5. On-line bidding ceases at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets for the game are available at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office, 101 S. Madison Street; by calling (866) 891-9992 or (309) 434-2679; or by e-mail at www.uscellularcoliseum.com.

Schedule of events

Wednesday (Aug. 15)

Noon to 8 p.m. - Players arrive and check-in

Thursday (Aug. 16)

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – West team practice

10:30 a.m. to Noon – East team practice

Noon to 1 p.m. - Media luncheon in media room at Coliseum for players, media, staff
(Interview opportunities for the media)

1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – West team practice

3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – East team practice

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. - VIP banquet in Coliseum restaurant

Friday (Aug. 17)

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – East team practice

10:30 a.m. to noon – West team practice

4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Youth football camp with All-Stars

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Fan Fest at Coliseum

Saturday (Aug. 18)

9 a.m. to Noon – Player combine at Coliseum

6 p.m. – Doors to Coliseum open

7 p.m. – Kickoff

United Indoor Football is the premier indoor football league of North America and is committed to serving its teams and fans. Please contact the UIF league office with any comments, concerns or suggestions.

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