Aug. 16, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Former Notre Dame defensive end Frank Stams (’84-’88) and ex-Penn State tight end Brad Scovill (’77-’79) will coach the two teams competing in the inaugural Fantasy Bowl at Bigler East Field on Friday, September 7.
Before they cheer on their heroes in the season opener, two rosters of 35 players averaging 40+ years in age will proudly wear the colors of the Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish in the unique game that will kick off at 6.30pm. They will do battle in an 11-on-11 semi-contact flag football game with school pride and bragging rights at stake.
Stams was a Consensus All-American who developed into all-star defensive end on Notre Dame’s 1988 national championship team. He started all 11 games at fullback as sophomore in 1985, then switched to defense when Lou Holtz became head coach. He was named Lineman of the Year by the Moose Krause Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame as senior in 1988 and was also named MVP the Miami game that year after forcing two fumbles and recovering another.
Stams was the 1989 Fiesta Bowl defensive MVP for his two sacks and three tackles vs. West Virginia and in his Irish career had 47 rushing carries for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns; 14 receptions for 100 yards and a 7.1 average; 65 tackles and eight sacks for minus-63 yards. He was a second-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1989 NFL draft and also played for the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.
He now lives in his hometown of Akron, where he is a healthcare consultant, is the radio color voice for the Akron University Zips and coaches JV football, along with having ventured into politics by running for lieutenant governor in Ohio in 2006.
“I know from having witnessed first hand the commitment that these guys show in camp that they will be fired up from the moment we take the field against Penn State,” said Stams. “I am honored to be their head coach and I intend to lead them to victory.”
Scovill played three years at tight end with the Nittany Lions before being selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He led the Nittany Lions with 26 catches for 331 yards in 1979 and his top performance came against Syracuse, when he caught seven passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, tying a school record for the most touchdown catches in a game.
Scovill was the team’s fourth-leading receiver in 1978 with 14 catches and was described by his head coach Joe Paterno as being “an extremely steady, fine, football player.”
He is now a Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Sterling Financial and has 21 years of banking experience. He joined Bank of Hanover in 1991 as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 1994.
“Having coached these players at the Penn State Fantasy Camp the past two years, I am excited to be leading them into a game with school pride on the line,” said Scovill. “I am thrilled and honored to be a part of this event.
“These men are competitive when we play an intra-squad game at the end of camp, so I can only imagine how passionate their will to win will be when we come up against Notre Dame.”
Both Fantasy Bowl I rosters are comprised of participants from the annual Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp, which has run successfully since 2003, and the 2006 and 2007 Nittany Lion Football Fantasy Camps. The campers experienced a true insider’s view of the respective schools, being coached by current coaches and former college stars, while using the stadium locker rooms and finally playing an intra squad game inside Beaver Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium.
The Fantasy Bowl I players will enjoy an action-packed weekend that will include two on-campus practices, a Friday post-game party, a tailgate party on Saturday, and of course Fantasy Bowl I to be played at Bigler East Field. The teams will wear authentic Notre Dame and Penn State uniforms and fans in town for Saturday’s game from both schools are encouraged to attend and cheer on 70 men who believe you are never too old to try.
Fantasy Bowl I ScheduleThursday, September 66:30-8:00pm Penn State practice8:30-10:00pm Notre Dame practice
Friday, September 78:30-10:00am Notre Dame practice10:30am-12:00pm Penn State practice5:30pm Game Warm-ups6:30pm Fantasy Bowl I Kickoff
All practices and games will be held at Bigler East Field, just behind Holuba Hall on University Drive, across from Bryce Jordan Arena. Admission is free, with limited parking available at Bigler East parking lot.
Fantasy Bowl I is produced by Global Football, whose president, Patrick Steenberge, is a former Notre Dame quarterback and also produces football events with the NFL, Super Bowl, USA Football, AFCA, Pop Warner, and various other colleges and international football federations.
— ND —