RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
On any given Sunday during the season of the National Football League, Randolph Air Force Base club members can win prizes during "Football Frenzy" -- but first they have to enter the contest.
In fact, officials from the 12th Force Service Support Squadron will heavily promote the fifteenth year of the program beginning Sept. 10 by hanging banners near the front gates of Randolph AFB and passing out flyers. That will happen because Football Frenzy begins at the Kendrick Club at 6:30 p.m. that day, when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Tennessee Titans on one of many TVs set up in Gil's Pub.
"We hope we have a big winner this year," said Shelta Reese, 12th FSS marketing director. "With twelve TVs and seven satellite hook-ups in the Kendrick Club, every game, every Sunday, will be on."
Ms. Reese reminded patrons of the Kendrick Club and the Parr O'Club that playing involves filling out Football Frenzy entry forms, which are screened for duplication, and that no purchase of food or beverages at either club is necessary to enter. Club membership, though, must be verified, to win.
What's at stake? For starters, door prizes; gift cards worth up to $500 from sporting good stores and football-related web sites; t-shirts, bar mirrors, coolers, coozies, lawn furniture, six months of free club dues -- and tickets to NFL games - plus lodging and transportation to those games - all courtesy of the clubs system, which is discounting drinks at Gil's Pub.
Last year's Football Frenzy produced a Team Randolph winner who got tickets to see the Super Bowl in Florida.
"I was totally surprised," said Geoff Morgan, 12th FSS Randolph Bowling Center recreation assistant, who saw the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Arizona Cardinals during last year's world championship in Tampa Bay for free.
Additionally, he also won free airline tickets, free lodging for the long Super Bowl
weekend at nearby Mac Dill AFB, the use of a rental car, free meals during the weekend stay and a chance to meet Tampa Bay Buccaneers former All-Pro lineman Lee Roy Selmon at the restaurant Mr. Selmon owns in Florida.
"I would do it all over again in a heartbeat," said Mr. Morgan of playing Football Frenzy.
"The camaraderie makes it fun. There are so many games on in the clubs on so many TVs. You can go with your friends on a Sunday, relax all afternoon, and enjoy yourself."
Jack Hayes, 12th Logistics Readiness Division data entry technician, won a free trip from playing Football Frenzy in December, 2007. That win enabled him and his wife to fly to a playoff game featuring the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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We flew in, had a rental car, some free meals, a free place to stay and tickets to the game," he said. "We and the winners from all of the participating bases also had a limo take them to the game, where there was a tailgate party. We had a great time, a lot of fun. It was worth it."