Contenders Find Common Goal at Alamodome

By Mr. Jorge Gomez (USAREC)January 19, 2011

Wisconsin Coaches Visit Center for the Intrepid
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wisconsin School Coach Attends All-American Bowl
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Coach Bruce Larson, Somerset High School, Wis., with Sgt. 1st Class Stephen E. Buford, Bowling Green recruiting station commander, Nashville Recruiting Battalion. Larson was selected as an Army advocate to attend the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Bufo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

MILWAUKEE -- Two rival football coaches from St. Croix County, Wis., laid down their differences Jan. 8 and rooted for the same team - the U.S. Army All American team.

Coach Bruce Larson from Somerset High School and Coach Dan Keefer from Baldwin-Woodville High School both attended the All-American Bowl in San Antonio and participated in events leading up to the game.

Larson was nominated by the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion and selected by the 3rd Recruiting Brigade as an Army advocate to attend the national sporting event now in its 11th year.

Only a handful of community leaders were selected by recruiting brigades across the U.S. Army Recruiting Command to participate as guests in the events.

As a result of their selection, the coaches were privileged to meet with the command's top brass, tour military facilities, and interact with the nation's top high school players and Soldier Heroes throughout the week. Coaches also participated in a clinic with NFL coaches, such as Sam Wyche, former head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Keefer received a coach's invitation resulting from the selection of his son, Jake, to play as an All-American.

Just being able to see the game in person would have been a treat, but getting to meet and greet the people involved made the event educational, said Larson.

"I was impressed by the level of organization of the All American Bowl," he said. "It was well done and I got to meet a lot of interesting people."

Larson speaks from experience - he coached a Wisconsin all-star high school football team during the summer of 2010.

"You bring kids from all over the place [Wisconsin] and within a limited time you have to want them to work together. You'd better be organized to accomplish that," Larson said.

Shortly after checking in the coaches received a personal address by Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, the U.S. Army Accessions Command commanding general, who talked about leadership, teamwork and courage as it relates to the Army and coaching.

"He's an unbelievable speaker," Keefer said. "I got goosebumps listening to him."

Larson said Freakley was one of the best speakers he's ever listened to.

He "was genuine. He tells it like it is because he believes in what he's doing," Larson said.

The coaches were also privileged to visit the Center for the Intrepid, a facility adjacent to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, and hear four wounded warriors speak.

"Meeting those combat veterans will always stick with me," Keefer said.

The center provides amputee patients with techniques and training to help them live and work productively. Keefer said he was impacted by one wounded warrior who lost his leg in Afghanistan. The warrior used multiple prosthetic legs to use on various ground surfaces.

The center "spares no expense to treat [the Soldiers] physically and mentally. I'm amazed at how we are taking care of our combat veterans. It made you have a great sense of gratitude for those who serve our country," Keefer said.

Both Keefer and Larson said they learned a lot about the Army and the various opportunities available for youth, but their memories of the experience fall back on the people they saw and heard, such as living Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Salvatore Guinta.

"When you are surrounded by quality people it makes you want to operate at that level," Larson said. "These are people who got where they are through hard work, you can see that, and it makes you want to be like them."

Larson said he was pleased to see Jake Keefer play in the bowl in spite of school rivalry.

"He's an outstanding kid, he's a hard worker and a self-made guy," Larson said. "He's the closest thing to representing our area (St. Croix County) so I wanted to see him do well."