MARINES AT THE OUTBACK BOWL 3:34

Outback Bowl Organizer:
The Bowl originally was in Birmingham, Alabama; it was called the Hall of Fame Bowl, and it didn’t do very well up there, and a group of businessmen here in the Tampa area said, “Let’s take a chance and bring the Bowl here to Tampa.” The Tampa area, as you know, is steeped in military history. It made absolute sense when we started talking with the Marine Corps to have that kind of a relationship.

Marine 1:
I think the uniqueness of the Outback Bowl for us as a military organization, and specifically as the Marine Corps, is the partnership that we’ve established with the Outback Bowl and the city of Tampa. And this partnership has grown through the years and has given us tremendous access to show off—showcase—the colors, and everything Marine Corps.

Outback Bowl Organizer:
The reaction during the games, when the guys are out on there on the field, and they’re waving—the crowd reaction and the greetings that they get, and the respect and love that they show––it’s great; it’s just magnificent.

Marine 2:
It really shows how much the people of Tampa really care about the Marine Corps and the service members.



Fan 1:
One of the reasons we’re here at this Outback Bowl is because of the security we have with the Marine Corps. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here; we wouldn’t be traveling this country; we wouldn’t be safe as we are now today.

Fan 2:
I thank God for the Marine Corps because freedom’s not free and they’re out fighting for people that can’t fight for themselves.

Fan 3:
This is the safest country that I ever lived [in]. I feel at home––simple.

Marine 2:
It’s awesome. You appreciate the band of brothers you have in the Marine Corps—some things you really can’t replicate.

Marine 3:
The interpretation of the Marine Corps when I was still a civilian in high school: I thought everybody was hard-nosed, hollering all the time––nobody was nice. It’s not like that at all. My favorite thing about this is that we’re all a band of brothers.

Marine Officer:
They come together and they all really focus on the same goals. And it’s just a beautiful thing to be able to have the privilege and the honor––in my instance––to be an officer and to take charge of some of these Marines and have them hopefully look up to me as a good example

Football Player:
I get goose bumps every time I think about what they do for our country. It’s so great and from the bottom of my heart I can’t even say how grateful I am for them and all they do for us.

Fan 4:
Both our nephew and our grandnephew, they are so proud to be a Marine. That’s the life for them, and we’re proud of them too.




Marine 3:
It’s amazing. Everyone’s coming up, thanking me, appreciating everything, but I tell you what: they shouldn’t be thanking me; I should be thanking them. I appreciate their support.