Fort Bliss Monitor

Bliss Helps Stage Rumble Inaugural Home Game

MASTER SGT. STEVE MILLER,
Public Affairs Chief

With the help of a color guard, the ADA Bagpipers of the 62nd Army Band and at least 650 military ID card holders who attended the game free as part of Freedom Fiesta ’04, the El Paso Rumble hosted their first home game ever Saturday night at the El Paso County Coliseum.

The Rumble is El Paso’s entry in the Intense Football League, a six-team arena football circuit whose members are made up solely of Texas teams. The other five teams are from Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Odessa and San Angelo.

The ADA Bagpipers helped get things started Saturday by piping in the colors, which were presented by a color guard from 3rd Battalion, 2nd ADA. Sgt. Thomas of the 62nd Army Band sang the national anthem to further represent Team Bliss in the pre-game festivities.

Once the action started, the Odessa Roughnecks were rude guests, rolling up a 30-0 halftime lead. But knowing that points can come quickly and often in arena football, the home fans hung with their team.

“It’s a little one-sided right now, but who knows?” Staff Sgt. Brett Eason of A Btry, 3rd Bn, 2nd ADA, said at halftime. “There’s no out of bounds here. You gotta get hit (into the sideline padding).”

Eason and Pfc. Phillip Grant of HHB, 3-2 ADA, provided part of the halftime show by donning giant boxing gloves and trying to knock each other silly. A knockdown would have meant victory, but neither of the combatants faltered despite absorbing numerous blows.

“I was going for the knockdown, but it didn’t happen,” Grant said. “It was a whole lotta fun, though.”

Also at halftime, Staff Sgt. Arnulfo Rios, a drill sergeant with D Company, 1st Bn, 56th ADA, publicly thanked Prime Irrigation for sponsoring Soldiers and their family members to attend the game free.

The home fans had fun in the second half, as the Rumble stormed back. They outscored Odessa 30-7 to pull within seven and even had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minute, but an interception by the Roughnecks with 7.7 seconds left sealed the deal.

El Paso slipped to 0-3 with the 37-30 loss. Their other seven home games – all at 7:05 p.m. – are Saturday with Lubbock, June 5 against Odessa, June 19 against Amarillo, June 26 and July 9 against San Angelo, July 24 against Corpus Christi and Aug. 14 against Odessa. For ticket information, call 581-7277 or visit www.elpasorumble.com.



www.bliss.army.mil		Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 27, 2004

	Bliss Helps Stage Rumble Inaugural Home Game MASTER SGT. STEVE MILLER, Public Affairs Chief With the help of a color guard, the ADA Bagpipers of the 62nd Army Band and at least 650 military ID card holders who attended the game free as part of Freedom Fiesta ’04, the El Paso Rumble hosted their first home game ever Saturday night at the El Paso County Coliseum. The Rumble is El Paso’s entry in the Intense Football League, a six-team arena football circuit whose members are made up solely of Texas teams. The other five teams are from Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Odessa and San Angelo. The ADA Bagpipers helped get things started Saturday by piping in the colors, which were presented by a color guard from 3rd Battalion, 2nd ADA. Sgt. Thomas of the 62nd Army Band sang the national anthem to further represent Team Bliss in the pre-game festivities. Once the action started, the Odessa Roughnecks were rude guests, rolling up a 30-0 halftime lead. But knowing that points can come quickly and often in arena football, the home fans hung with their team. “It’s a little one-sided right now, but who knows?” Staff Sgt. Brett Eason of A Btry, 3rd Bn, 2nd ADA, said at halftime. “There’s no out of bounds here. You gotta get hit (into the sideline padding).” Eason and Pfc. Phillip Grant of HHB, 3-2 ADA, provided part of the halftime show by donning giant boxing gloves and trying to knock each other silly. A knockdown would have meant victory, but neither of the combatants faltered despite absorbing numerous blows. “I was going for the knockdown, but it didn’t happen,” Grant said. “It was a whole lotta fun, though.” Also at halftime, Staff Sgt. Arnulfo Rios, a drill sergeant with D Company, 1st Bn, 56th ADA, publicly thanked Prime Irrigation for sponsoring Soldiers and their family members to attend the game free. The home fans had fun in the second half, as the Rumble stormed back. They outscored Odessa 30-7 to pull within seven and even had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minute, but an interception by the Roughnecks with 7.7 seconds left sealed the deal. El Paso slipped to 0-3 with the 37-30 loss. Their other seven home games – all at 7:05 p.m. – are Saturday with Lubbock, June 5 against Odessa, June 19 against Amarillo, June 26 and July 9 against San Angelo, July 24 against Corpus Christi and Aug. 14 against Odessa. For ticket information, call 581-7277 or visit www.elpasorumble.com.