The 73rd annual BJU Turkey Bowl and its after-party, the Fall Festival, is taking place this Saturday, Nov. 14 as a welcome continuation of tradition during a year of uncertainty.
“The Turkey Bowl is the end of season for society soccer, the big championship game,” Heath Parish, the men’s president of the ISC, said. The Fall Festival occurs right after the Turkey Bowl. “It’s a party afterwards to celebrate the [soccer] teams that the ISC throws for the student body,” women’s ISC president Rachel Anderson said.
since 1953. Photo: Samuel Hadley
The Fall Festival will have free food and several activities, including a planned surprise for students. Outside of Rush, the Fall Festival is one of the biggest events that the ISC plans. The Turkey Bowl has been tradition ever since society sports began on campus. Before the University had intercollegiate sports, the Turkey Bowl was arguably one of the biggest events of the school year. It used to be on Thanksgiving Day after the noon banquet since students stayed on campus for the holiday and many friends and families came to visit the campus.
“Even if it’s not your society . . . you can still show up and go all out,” Parish said. “It’s a really hype crowd. Definitely show up and cheer them on.” The University pep band will be playing at the Turkey Bowl to add to the atmosphere.
Photo: Harmony Wallace
The Turkey Bowl will have the same physical distancing guidelines that have been in place. “We still want to be cautious, but it will be easier since it’s in an outside zone,” Parish said. All food provided at the event will be prepackaged or served by attendants with masks and gloves. “It’ll have the feel of Ignite, but it’s run by the student body,” Parish said. There are two brackets for society soccer. The sevens bracket has three final games on Monday, Nov. 16. In the Women’s Rec League: Tigers Team B vs. Flames B at 6 p.m. In the Women’s Champion League: Classics A vs. Colts at 7:30 p.m. In the Men’s Champion League: Sigma Spartans vs. Phi Kappa Pi Rams at 9 p.m. The Turkey Bowl game will be the men’s elevens between the Pi Gamma Delta Royals and the Sigma Alpha Chi Spartans and will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m.
