2008 FCA Outback Bowl Breakfast

What a way to finish the calender year! 7 in the morning, Tuesday, December 30, 2008 with 380 of FCA's closest friends.

Just shy of 180 Bay Area FCA supporters joined 110+ bay area students and coaches plus 90 student athletes and coaches from the University of Iowa and the University of South Carolina for a combined crowd of  380 at the 21th Annual FCA Outback Bowl Breakfast.

Coach Hendricks from University of South Florida's coaching staff opened the morning in prayer. Then Coach turned Pastor, turned Chaplain, turned Evangelist, turned Pastor (again), Ken Smith (also pet funeral director) mingled the testimonies of Iowa's Seth Olsen and South Carolina's Brian Suckoff  through the program before Tommy Bowden shared some of the lessons God has taught him through his years involved with playing and coaching athletics.    

The decorating team assisted by a group from Leto HS and Coach Pasley worked for hours the evening before to make sure all was in place and looked perfect for our special guest. 

Little gets accomplished in today's society without the funds to pay for an event. We have so many companies, individuals and ministries to thank for such a successful Outback Bowl Breakfast that listing them all will cause us to run short on space. However, we would like to mention a few of our key sponsors: 

Our Title Sponsor Publix Supermarket Charities made a contribution that enabled many of our high school coaches and students to attend at no cost. 

All Phase Electric and PODS paid for the college teams and their coaches to attend at no cost.  

Chris Gould and his staff from WTBN 570 promoted our breakfast on the airwaves.
                                                                                                     
Mary and Rick Holbin, Debbie Shamblen, Hugh Quimby all arrived well before the rooster crowed and before the coffee was hot to make sure all was ready and to greet the attendees as they arrived. There must be special jewels and crowns for Godly servants that work so hard for so long. Well done my good and faithful servants.  (Matthew 25:21)

Co-chair for this year's breakfast was Dan Sullivan and Mike Babb. Thank you for your many hours of labor and all those many many phone calls finding sponsors for the breakfast and the students. 

Several others made contributions for specific needs and for the general budget so we thank you and greatly appreciate the gifts.

Huddles from around the Bay

Think you got up early to attend the 7 am breakfast that is always scheduled during the school system's Christmas vacation? Then talk to Pat Kavanagh the FCA rep that brought Huddles from Pinellas County - some of them had a 90 minute drive or better to get to breakfast. Jason Golden, from Gulf Coast FCA also brought students, coaches and adults. Can you believe some of the Sarasota players had driving times approaching 2 hours? Charlie Warren FCA of Lakeland brought a group that made a huge impact by helping teach the "Athletes of Excellence Program" after the Breakfast. Thank you for making the trip and helping to make the breakfast successful.  


Below is a list of schools represented at the breakfast (that we are aware of) - 

High Schools:   
              Blake      Chamberlain        Cambridge        Leto            Plant  
              Dunedin       Dixie Hollins     Seminole         Calvary        Northside Christian                               
Colleges:
             
              University of South Carolina          University of Iowa                              
              University of South Florida            Clearwater Christian College