Tostitos Bowl features undefeated Head Hunters

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Bruce Adams , orderly room non-commissioned officer-in-charge with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), a Prichard, Ala., native, and captain and wide receiver/safety for the Head Hunters, runs a route during practice in preparation for the Tostitos “Salute the Troops” Bowl Dec. 17 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. (Photo by: Sgt. Gaelen Lowers)  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

12.16.2010

Courtesy Story

103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Story by: Sgt. Gaelen Lowers

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Dedication, perseverance, intensity and high expectations are a few words used to describe the Head Hunters, the football team from the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, that strives for perfection by remaining undefeated through eight games and two tournaments.

The team was selected to participate in the 2nd annual Tostitos “Salute the Troops” Bowl, sponsored by Frito-Lay and the USO, on Dec. 21.

The bowl puts teams of former college and NFL stars and coaches together with active duty service memebers, in this case the 13th CSSB’s Head Hunters, in a head-to-head flag football game. The highlights of that game are scheduled to be played at halftime of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day.

“I am very excited and very amped up for this game,” said Capt. Brian Harper, operations officer-in-charge with the 13th CSSB, a Forest, Miss., native, and running back for the Head Hunters. “This is going to be an experience that a lot of people do not get to go through.”

The experience was a hard-fought victory for the Head Hunters. Every morning, each player goes to practice before the sun rises so they can perfect and hone their skills on the field, said Staff Sgt. Jamiaen Slade, the 13th CSSB human resources noncommissioned officer, a Newport News, Va., native, and center and tight end for the Head Hunters.

“A lot of people work 12 to 18-hour shifts, but regardless of their workload, they are up every morning to practice with the team,” he said.

The team’s motto is, “Go hard,” said 1st Sgt. Ryan Willis, senior enlisted leader of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 13th CSSB, a New Iberia, La., native, and coach of the Head Hunters. The team believes and lives that motto on every play and every facet of their lives, at work and on the field.

“The thing that drives these guys is their competitiveness,” said Willis. “Because of their competitiveness and the way they all sync together, they make it look easy. At the end of the day, they will be rewarded by being able to play in something of this magnitude. This is going to be a good, fun day and the HHC Head Hunters will represent and lead the way.”

The team will play head-to-head with some of greats of the game, including Andre Reed, Antonio Freeman, Jim Kelly, Jevon Kearse, Lavar Arrington, and coaches Bobby Bowden, Gene Stallings said Sgt. Louis Davis, motorpool noncommissioned officer-in-charge with the 13th CSSB, a Washington D.C., native, and defensive and offensive line backer for the Head Hunters.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for us,” said Davis. “I’m very excited about it.”

Each teammate agreed with Davis, saying that they are honored to be able to participate in the game. They were also unanimous in saying that although their team worked hard for this opportunity, the game isn’t about their reward or recognition; the game is for all of the troops and their families back home.

“It’s not all about us,” said Sgt. Bruce Adams, orderly room NCOIC with HHC, 13th CSSB, and a Prichard, Ala., native. “It’s about saluting the troops, the real heroes, the real celebrities.”

• Date Taken: 12.16.2010
• Date Posted: 12.19.2010 06:22
• Story ID: 62254
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ