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Bring it on: Gridiron battle to put Guns vs. Hoses
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Published: November 7, 2009
Statesville's firefighters and law enforcement officers have a question for its citizens:
Are you ready for some football?
Because its time for Guns & Hoses.
That's the name of the gridiron contest between Statesville's police officers and firefighters. Leaders of both the city's fire and police departments hope it will be an annual event, which, at least this year, is being played at Statesville High School.
Assistant Police Chief Bill Halliburton said the whole thing started as kind of a joke that was floating around the fire department.
The gist of the joke, apparently, was that the firefighters could beat the police at a game of pigskin.
When Halliburton caught wind of the jocular rumblings over at the fire station, he interpreted it as fighting words and put forth a challenge.
"They said, 'We were just kidding around,' " Halliburton said of his initial contact with some of the firefighters. "But I said, 'Well, let's do it for real.' "
The next thing anyone in either department knew, the gauntlet was thrown.
And it was game on.
Ideas began to form, and leaders of both departments realized they were sitting on something that had the potential to cover several bases, to mix sports metaphors.
"There has always been a kind of rivalry between the two departments," said Police Chief Tom Anderson. "I mean, it's a good rivalry. But this was a perfect way to funnel that rivalry into a good cause."
That's when Outback Steakhouse got involved.
Craig Just, the proprietor of the Statesville Outback franchise, was approached by a member of the police department soon after the idea was baked.
"I just thought it was a great idea," Just said, and explained that Outback often gets involved in community fundraisers.
But in this case, the funds raised would actually benefit Outback's corporate charity, which is research on a form of muscular dystrophy called Friedreich's ataxia.
"They said they'd raise money for our cause," Just said. "And we are really excited about that."
Outback is playing a significant role in putting the game together. Aside from providing the players with their jerseys — which, appropriately enough, will be blue for the officers and red for the firefighters — the restaurant will be responsible for helping sell tickets and collect the monies raised.
On Thursday, Just said he was still shopping for the least expensive jerseys so he can minimize the overhead and maximize the amount of money actually going toward the cure of Friedreich's ataxia, a rare neurological disease that often results in speech and physical coordination problems.
But the game is the thing.
And Lt. Jamie Wawaoli with the fire department is ready.
Wawaoli, who has picked up the nickname, "the Flyin' Hawaiian" (which, he said, is more a product of his home state than his foot speed), said his department is going to take it.
"There has been a lot of trash talking between the two departments," Wawaoli said. "But I think we're going to do it, and all the fans are pulling for us."
Not so, says Anderson.
"Let's face it, deep in the heart of every firemen is a guy who wishes he was a cop," the chief said.
Anderson then admitted he was "just fueling the fire" and that the game will all be in good fun.
"At the end, we'll all shake hands," he said. "I hope."
Sr. Firefighter James Case is the player coach for the red team.
He believes the whole affair will probably boil down to attrition.
"I think it's going to come down to who has the most left in the fourth quarter," he said. "There are some big, strong guys on both sides."
Along with Outback, Halliburton said Statesville High School has been an important partner in pulling the game off.
He said that aside from the use of the field, the school's football team is suppling equipment, including the players' pads.
The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 at Statesville High's football field.
Case said individual fire and police officers will be selling tickets, which will all be going for $5. But the best place to get them will be at the gate on the night of the game.
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