This year’s event raised $20,000 for the cause, and plans are already underway for the 6th Annual Music City Blitz in Music City.
The weather was picture perfect for this always fun fundraiser for Special Olympics Tennessee. The 5th annual Music City Blitz took place on May 01. This official five-on-five five flag football tournament is played over the course of one day on the Nissan Stadium field that is usually reserved for the NFL Titans. Thus, the Blitz incorporates the slogan “Play Where The Pros Play” to generate interest and participation in the event. Divisions were available in Competitive (Top Gun), Recreational, Co-ed, 35 and Over, and Battle of the Badges.
Music City Blitz is an Adult Flag Football Tournament where teams from the Nashville (TN) region get the opportunity to play on a professional football field.
At 9:30 am, the 22 participating clubs were announced as they ran through a pair of Titan swords for team photos. Some squads had threatening names, such as the Suicide Squad. Others represented first responders, and one group of officers had a sense of humor, calling themselves the MP Donuts with matching uniforms featuring the sweet treat.
The first match showcased athletes from Special Olympics. Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel mentored this lineup. Retired NFL players Jared Allen, Marc Bulger, and Matt Cassel served as guest celebrity coaches for the Special Olympics athlete exhibition game.
Four different games took place at once throughout the day, so it was a bit of a circus-like atmosphere. Friends and family could watch their teams on the field and the big screens. But, players take the competition seriously, doing their best to score touchdowns, and these battles ran for much of the day.
In partnership with the Tennessee Titans, we found out that Nissan Stadium is one of four NFL venues that host this type of win-win fund-raiser via competitive flag football. A representative from Music City Blitz told us that a long-term goal is to have the winners from each city face off against each other in a “Super Bowl” type championship at some point in the future.
In addition to athletes and supporting businesses raising money, volunteers gave their time to help the event run smoothly. With so much bad news in the world, it is always inspiring to see how many caring people come together under the banner of a good cause.
All proceeds raised by Music City Blitz benefit Special Olympics Tennessee athletes and helps foster their mission of providing year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Congratulations to all the participants, including the champions in their respective categories.
Top Gun Division: Finalist – The Replacements; Champion – Mean Machine
Battle of the Badges Division: Finalist – MNP Donut Squad; Champion – Front Line Heroes
Co-ed Division: Finalist – Suicide Squad, Champion – Mean Machine Co-ed.
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Related Links: Published originally in Music City Nashville. For more information on MUSIC CITY BLITZ and the other organizations mentioned, please visit the following links – Music City Blitz | Music City Blitz – Report From 2021
