Tug of War With 80,000 Pound Airplane!
NFL Players Compete With Local Law Enforcement Officials & Firefighters to
Pull Boeing 737 Down the Runway for Charity
WHAT: As the official airline of the Super Bowl, Southwest Airlines
(NYSE: LUV) sponsors the "Pro Tow" event. A team of NFL players
participates in a timed contest to pull a Boeing 737 aircraft 50
yards against a team of heroes from the Broward County Sheriff's
Office and the ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Firefighters). The charity
of the winning team will be awarded $2,500 and 20 airline tickets
by Southwest Airlines, and the charity of the second place team
will be given 20 airline tickets. The Broward County Sheriff's
Office and the ARFF will be pulling for Sheriff's Foundation, and
the NFL Heroes will be pulling for Player Assistance Trust Fund.
WHO: NFL Pro Tow Team:
Cornelius Bennett (Retired) Buffalo Bills 1987 - 95, Atlanta Falcons
1996 - 98, Indy Colts 1999
Vernon Carey Miami Dolphins 2004 - 06
Mark Clayton (Retired) Miami Dolphins 1983 - 92, Green Bay Packers
1993
Zack Crockett Indy Colts 1995 - 97, Jackson Jaguars 1998, Oakland
Raiders 1999 - 06
Troy Drayton (Retired) LA / STL Rams 1993 - 95, Miami Dolphins /
STL Rams 1996, Miami Dolphins 1997 - 99, Kansas City
2000, Green Bay 2001
Mark Duper (Retired) Miami Dolphins 1982 - 92
A. J. Feeley PHL Eagles 2001 - 03, Miami Dolphins 2004, San Diego
Chargers 2005, PHL Eagles 2006
Robert Gallery Oakland Raiders 2004 - 06
Terry Kirby (Retired) Miami Dolphins 1993 - 95, SF 49ers
1996 - 98, Cleveland Browns 1999, Oakland Raiders
2000 - 02
Erik McMillan (Retired) NY Jets 1988 - 92, Cleveland Browns /
Kansas City Chiefs / PHL Eagles 1993
James Pruitt (Retired) Miami Dolphins 1986 - 88, Indy Colts 1989,
Miami Dolphins 1990 - 91
Steve Reese (Retired) NY Jets 1974 - 75, Tampa Bay 1976
Local ARFF and Broward County Sheriff's Office Team: Robert Crum, John Wright, Dominic DePerna, John India, Troy Wilkins, Neal Richter, Carl Sosnowski, Richie Betensky, John Brawner, Tom Johnson, Kevin McNamara, John Spiliotopoulos
WHEN: Thursday, February 1
1:00 P.M. Media Check in
1:15 Participants available for interviews
1:30 Coin Toss for Event Start
WHERE: Broward County Aviation Department Offices, Ft. Lauderdale
Hollywood Airport
Directions: From US1 South or 595 East, take US1 South to
Griffin Rd, make a right and continue about 500'. Make another
right at the 3-way intersection and continue bearing right. This
will put you on east Perimeter Rd. Remain on Perimeter Rd. for
about 1/4 mile. The first left is the Aviation Department
Offices. Follow personnel to the back side toward the terminal.
From US1 North, make a left on Griffin Rd, and then make a right
about 500' at the 3-way intersection and continue bearing right.
This will put you on east Perimeter Rd. Remain on Perimeter Rd.
for about 1/4 mile. The first left is the Aviation Department
Offices. Follow personnel to the back side toward the terminal.
Visual/Photo Opps:
* Interviews with NFL players, local heroes from Broward County
Sheriff's Office and the ARFF
* Boeing 737 being pulled by a specially designed tow rope by 12-man
teams
* Interviews with winning team members and sponsors
* Presentation of oversized check to winning team
For Story Information contact: +1-214-792-4847 or on site Melanie Jones, +1-214-914-2405, both for Southwest Airlines
SOURCE Southwest Airlines
Released January 31, 2007