Muddy American Football Festival Celebrates 50th Year
Young American football players grow up dreaming of playing in the Super Bowl.
But for a bunch of amateur footballers in New Hampshire, their only goal is to get muddy! Forget the Super Bowl, this is the Mud Bowl.
At the start of September, this sloppy, muddy, unusual event celebrated its 50th year. Players battle through knee-deep muck, trying to reach the end zone.
For these athletes, playing in mud brings out their inner child.
"You're playing football in the mud, so you've got to have a smile on your face," said Jason Veno, the 50-year-old quarterback of the North Country Mud Crocs.
"It's just a different game in the mud. It doesn't matter how good you are on grass."
A dozen teams with men and women competed in the tournament. It's "touch football," so players must touch one another with two hands to make a tackle.
Ryan Martin said he's been playing mud ball for almost 20 years and said it's a good excuse to meet up with old friends.
He enjoys the mud but said it gets everywhere!
"It gets in the eyes. You get cracks in your feet. And you get mud in your toenails for weeks," he said. "You get it in your ears too. You'll be cleaning out your ears for a long while."
Mahala Smith said there's great camaraderie at the event.
She said she fell in love with football early in life and has been playing the sport since she was small. Smith said the mud festival is like being on vacation.
"People hang out at the hotels and restaurants, people camp, we all have fires and stuff, just like a nice group event."
Even though it's fun, the teams are serious about winning. Some retired professional players have even taken part over the years.
Officials said that the event has raised more than $1 million for charity during its 50-year history.
