PHOENIX, ARIZONA: For half a century, two families from Arizona have upheld a heartwarming tradition that has become synonymous with Thanksgiving - a spirited game of touch football known as the 'Turkey Bowl'.

What began as a casual gathering has evolved into an annual reunion marked by friendly competition, camaraderie, and cherished memories.

According to 12news.com, Michael Gregoire and Nick Vakula, the pioneers of this enduring tradition, could hardly have foreseen that their Thanksgiving football games would endure for five decades.

A Tradition spanning decades

“We always joke, ‘staying sore since ‘74’, because we’re definitely not going to be in shape for work the next day,” Vakula remarked.

Their early games, which began during their days at Trevor G. Browne High School, evolved from wrestling competitions to matches in the great outdoors.

The passion for the game and the bonds they formed in their younger years have withstood the test of time.

Despite residing in various states, every year the families and their friends eagerly reunite for the Turkey Bowl, demonstrating their deep devotion to this annual ritual. They even managed to keep the tradition alive through the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Everybody comes together, it’s just been a good family of friends and we do it every year,” Vakula shared.

Over time, the game’s competitive edge has mellowed, transitioning from rough tackle football to a gentler game of flag football. Yet, the heart of the tradition remains the same – a communal celebration of unity during the Thanksgiving season.

The Elliot family's time-honored Thanksgiving football tradition

Similarly, the Elliot family from another part of Arizona has its own Thanksgiving football tradition.

According to wdtv.com, Rusty Elliot said, “We were all with my grandmother’s house. Of course there’s so many cousins heirs. The house was quite big now if you guys go out and play do something. So Terry and my cousin Mark and John and everybody was said, well, let’s just go play some football. So we grabbed the football went to Charles Phillips Tool Company, and...”

For half a century, members of this family have gathered for their annual Turkey Bowl, tracing its origins back to a casual game organized by cousins at their grandmother's house.

Their motivation to sustain this tradition lies in honoring their expansive family legacy, rooted in the profound love and unity cultivated over generations.

Celebrating family, gratitude, and unity

For Mary McClain Betts, “Love of the family as Rusty said we have a very unique family. Our grandparents had 12 children. They have over 300 descendants from those two people. And we play to honor them and our family.”

What sets these traditions apart is not just the football but the significance of family bonding and expressing gratitude.

Rusty Elliot said, “Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for stuff. We’re thankful for great family we have in this tradition. We got guys that flew in from, actually drove in from, North Carolina, and some from West Virginia, and some from all over the place here. They’ve just, this is their day they come in, we have big thing and we go down my brother drawers have some soup and sandwich and make it a day that way.”

Beyond the touchdowns and tackles, these Thanksgiving football games symbolize the enduring spirit of familial love, unity, and the importance of preserving cherished traditions.

They serve as an annual reminder of the significance of gratitude, togetherness, and the profound bonds that tie families together, transcending time and distance.