FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov. 12, 2014) -- Football fans from across Fort Benning got a special treat Nov. 9, as FOX Sports broadcast segments of its FOX NFL Sunday pregame show live from York Field.
FOX Sports analysts Jay Glazer and Jenny Taft were the on-air personalities in attendance, and attendees were also treated to a parachute jump by the Silver Wings parachute exhibition team, military vehicle displays and free games and inflatables for children.
Fans from nearly every NFL team were in attendance, including one Family with a variety of allegiances.
Shara Avery, a Green Bay Packers fan, attended the event with her sons Gavin, a Houston Texans fan, and Conner, a Dallas Cowboys fan, and her daughter Lauren, also a Cowboys fan. Avery's husband is Fort Benning Medical Activity commander Col. Scott Avery, and she said he is a Seattle Seahawks fan.
"Gavin was born in Texas, so he kind of likes the Texas teams, and I'm a Green Bay fan from childhood," Shara Avery said. "My husband is a big Seahawks fan. It was an interesting first game of the season since it was my team against his team. It was a real house divided."
The Seahawks were represented well during the broadcast, including one fan that said he has attended nearly every Seahawks home game over the last four seasons.
"I really fell in love with the atmosphere and the fans," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Hernandez, who recently arrived at Fort Benning to serve with the 5th Ranger Training Battalion. "It's deafening. No aircraft or anything else compares to the deafening sound of everyone cheering at once. It's definitely an experience."
After the live segments had concluded, the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints was shown on a jumbo screen, making it a full day of activities for Soldiers and their Families.
"It's wonderful to know that the media and the people outside the military really do care and that they're willing to show up, support our troops and uplift our spirits," Shara Avery said. "It really is an uplifting experience to have these guys here and have this event for all the Soldiers."
Hernandez agreed with Avery's sentiments.
"It's great to come out to things like this where the public shows its appreciation," he said. "You'd be surprised, but a lot of Soldiers really do appreciate it when the public shows them some love, whether it's a 'thanks' or a pat on the back. To see a big corporation like this take the time to come out and support the troops is great."
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