Dozens of NFL, College Football Coaches and Players Golf for Charity in Eatonton
EATONTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Some of football’s biggest names hit the links Tuesday at Great Waters Golf Course.
“I can tell you, I don’t play golf at all except for charity events,” says former UGA and Cincinnati Bengals player David Pollack, with a laugh. “It seems like everybody likes to have the golf events, and to have it out here is obviously nice. It’s always good to see somebody giving back, and if you can be a part of it and help out, then you try to.”
That somebody is Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, who lives right here in middle Georgia.
“We’ve made this our permanent residence,” says Arians. “We feel very strongly about having it (the inaugural Arians Family Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic) here.”
The Cardinals hired Arians earlier this year after he led the Indianapolis Colts to a 9-win season in 2012 as their interim coach. Cardinals president Michael Bidwill remembers one of their first conversations.
“He wanted to set up a foundation to help children in particular,” says Bidwill. “The first time he got a chance to have vacation, this is what he’s doing with it.”
“Being a cancer survivor myself, there’s things that we want to do,” says Arians. “We’re not sure yet which direction we may lean into helping families who are stricken with cancer, but (we’re also involved with) CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). They help neglected, abused children in the court system.”
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, who also has ties to the Peach State, says any time you can do something to help somebody else, it symbolizes true selflessness.
“We’re very fortunate in our profession, because it’s media driven,” says Smart. “Salaries are media driven, so for us to be able to give something back, it’s the least we can do.”
Arians plans to host another tournament later this year in Phoenix. He says if you missed out in Eatonton Tuesday, make plans to stop by next year.
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