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Turkey Bowl XXV Celebrates its 25th Anniversary Thanksgiving Day
25th Anniversary of the Turkey Bowl in Los Gatos Flag Football Thanksgiving Day
Los Gatos, Saratoga: Turkey Bowl celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special sock donation
By Dick Sparrer
Find out what's happening in Los Gatosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
POSTED: 11/18/2015 06:10:37 PM PST0 COMMENTS| UPDATED: A DAY AGO
It’s a special anniversary, so Matt Ober wanted to do something special for the 25th annual National Turkey Bowl that returns to Los Gatos on Thanksgiving Day.
Find out what's happening in Los Gatosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In addition to the series of flag football games that will be played on Nov. 26 at the Creekside Sports Park on University Avenue, the day will also include a special tribute to Loukas Angelo, the teen who died earlier this year in front of his high school at Archbishop Mitty.
“In September, my good friend and the owner of Purple Onion Café and Catering lost his son Loukas,” said Ober. “Loukas loved wearing crazy-colored and multi-colored socks, so his dad asked if I would do a sock drive that they are starting called Socks for Loukas.”
Those participating in the National Turkey Bowl League XXV as players and spectators are asked to donate a new pair of socks for the drive (visit loveforloukas.com).
“We will have a drop off bin on the field,” added Ober, the organized and founder of the Turkey Bowl.
Ober was still a teenager when he decided to gather a few friends together to play a little football on Thanksgiving Day 25 years ago. Two and half decades later, the game that he organized more than two decades ago is still going strong.
What started as a pick-up tackle football game on the grass at Los Gatos High School back in 1991 has developed into a regular Turkey Day event in town.
“It has definitely grown into a big traditional success,” Ober has said on the league’s website. “Over the years this traditional event grew and grew with more family, friends and colleagues attending.”
And so it continues next week with more than 40 players and 50 spectators expected to participate in the Turkey Bowl: “Where athletes are reborn once a year--on Thanksgiving Day.”
So everyone is encouraged to visit Creekside Park on Nov. 26 to either participate in or watch the games scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to noon, but don’t forget your socks ... the brighter, the better.
For more information, visit nationalturkeybowlleague.com.