Goodyear sets Guinness World Record with Cotton Bowl-themed World's Largest Game of Cornhole

   A big game was made even bigger yesterday as Goodyear staged the World's Largest Game of Cornhole in honor of this year's Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
   Goodyear gathered cheerleaders and mascots from Michigan State and Alabama to play the traditional tailgating game of cornhole with a board measuring 64 feet by 32 feet - an official Guinness World Record for the largest game of cornhole every constructed.
   To play the game, the cheerleaders dropped giant beanbags from more than 200 feet above in Wingfoot One, Goodyear's newest blimp. As the mascots for Alabama and Michigan State cheered from the ground, the hotly-contested game ended in a 1-1 tie.
   The actual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year's Eve between the Spartans and Crimson Tide will be even more intense, but it's hard to imagine how it could be much bigger.

Making a difference: MSU visits Scottish Rite Hospital

Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun summed up his team's visit Monday in a tweet.

   Head coach Mark Dantonio and the entire Michigan State Spartan squad spent their Monday afternoon visiting at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Patients, staff members and supporters of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic gathered around the hospital’s cafeteria and welcomed the football team along with their coaching staff in grand fashion.
   President and CEO of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Bob Walker, started the event thanking the Spartans for visiting with them, followed by remarks from Chairman of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Dan Novakov.
   During the remarks, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital received a $10,000 donation from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
   “I want to thank Scottish Rite Hospital for having us back, Goodyear for everything that you do for the Cotton Bowl, as well, and just the Cotton Bowl in general. One of our goals as a group is to always try to be a light for everybody,” said Dantonio. “Our young people out here, that we’re going to be able to share a little bit of time with, have a day-to-day challenge in a lot of ways that they have to be able to overcome. A lot of it certainly is physical, but probably four times as much is mental and being able to work through the day-to-day things.”
   Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Orthopedic Surgeon, Amy McIntosh, also gave thanks to her alma mater, Michigan State, for their attendance.
   As the event continued, each Spartan student-athlete, sporting Texas Scottish Rite Hospital caps they were given upon entering, went around the room signing autographs for everyone attending.      Along with autographs, each child received a teddy bear provided by American Airlines; an ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ stuffed animal cow provided by Chick-fil-A; a stuffed Goodyear Blimp provided by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and a Cotton Bowl T-shirt and poster. Attendees also got to enjoy drinks and snacks provided by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
“We were able to do this last year and had a fantastic time. It’s something that all of us were looking forward to doing again this year,” said linebacker Darien Harris. “With the position we’re in, we feel like we can touch a lot of people in the community and in all communities throughout the country. The main thing for us is that [the kids] are a light for us, too, in many senses of the word.”
   Quarterback Connor Cook went around the room making each child smile and laugh while signing autographs. He appreciates football for providing him and his teammates the opportunity to spread smiles and make a difference.
   “Coming here and the impact we can have on kids by playing a simple sport is crazy,” said Cook. “If it wasn’t for football, I would have never impacted these people’s lives. For us to come out here and hang out with the kids and see them smile is great.”
   Director of Marketing for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Seth Klugherz, was present to meet the children along with the team. The afternoon was an inspiring experience for him and something he looked forward to being a part of as a supporter of the Cotton Bowl Classic.
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications

Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA

Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, Scottish Rite patient Rowan Fitzsimmons and Goodyear's Seth Klugherz. Fitzsimmons and the Spartans have a special connection. Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA

A Special Experience: Alabama visits Children's Health/Children's Medical Center

   Head coach Nick Saban and the entire University of Alabama football team spent their
afternoon sharing inspiration and cheer to patients of Children’s Health/Children’s Medical
Center Dallas. Joining them were staff members, Cotton Bowl Chairmen, past and present and President and CEO of Children’s Health System of Texas, Chris Durovich.
   “What a great privilege it is for us to have Coach Saban, and Derrick Henry, this year’s Heisman trophy winner,” said Durovich. “We are happy to be a part of the Cotton Bowl Classic each year, and it is a great honor to have a team like Alabama here.”
   Children under the hospital’s care sat at tables inside the Butterfly Atrium as they welcomed the team in joining them in arts and crafts including make your own pennants, elephant heads and paper chain links with images of a football field on them.
   Several student-athletes, including quarterback Jake Coker and running back Derrick Henry joined Coach Saban and patients inside the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, Seacrest Studios, to be interviewed and have some fun. After the interview, the student-athletes, Coach Saban and children accepted a challenge from Texas Rangers Pitcher Derek Holland to sing along to Aladdin’s “A Whole New World.” Coker then challenged the next celebrity guest, who is scheduled to visit tomorrow, to sing the Alabama fight song, to continue spreading Alabama cheer.
   “We are so appreciative to be invited here today,” said Coker. “It means a lot that we can make a difference to these children, and it is a very special experience for us.”
   Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, a Fort Worth native, was excited about coming back home and taking part in the traditions of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, which included the visit today.
   “It’s great coming back home and having the opportunity to come here today and put a smile on these children’s faces,” said Robinson. “There is nothing better than visiting with them and seeing their smile light up.”
   During today’s ceremony, Director of Marketing for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Seth Klugherz presented Children’s Health/Children’s Medical Center with a check for $10,000. Following the presentation, Coach Saban came up and matched the donation in honor of the great hospitality given by Goodyear, the Cotton Bowl Classic and Children’s Health/Children’s
Medical Center.
   “We are grateful for to Goodyear, the Cotton Bowl and Children’s Medical Center for giving us the opportunity to be here,” said Saban. “We appreciate the staff who works with these children and who take the time to cure, prevent and help these young people have a better quality of life.”
   Each child who took part in today’s event received a gift bag from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and American Airlines. The goodies inside were an 80th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic T-shirt, a commemorative poster, a stuffed Goodyear Blimp and a teddy bear given by American Airlines. Dr Pepper/Snapple provided drinks and snacks for all guests and staff to enjoy.
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications

Alabama's players have some fun with the kids in the center's radio studio. (Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA)

Alabama coach Nick Saban joins in the fun. (Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA)

Goodyear's Seth Klugherz and Nick Saban (Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA)

The Kilgore Rangerettes were also on hand to entertain patients. (Photo by Melissa Macatee./CBAA)

Signing Day

   One of the duties of the players and coaches at a major bowl game like the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is to sign souvernir footballs. On Monday, it was Alabama's turn to practice its penmanship on dozens of pigksins. (Photos by Ian Halperin/CBAA)

Michigan State Monday Practice Report

DANTONIO: MENTALLY, SO FAR SO GOOD

   ARLINGTON, Texas – Michigan State’s focus has sharpened each day since beginning on-site practices for the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
   How that will carry over to game day is hard to know, Head Coach Mark Dantonio said Monday.
   “My wife asks me that all time, how it’s going to be,” Dantonio said. “I just say, ‘Hey, we’ll see when the game gets here.’”
   “I think our attention to detail is very good. I think the focus is good. You have to have great attention to detail. You have to play great fundamentally and tackle in space, get off blocks, play the ball, catch the ball. There are so many fundamental things to do in football that you may know what to do but you have to transfer that to the field.”
   The Spartans (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten), who are third in the CFP rankings, practiced at AT&T Stadium for the third consecutive day. They play No. 2 Alabama (12-1, 8-1 SEC) on Thursday.
   The game plan has been installed and the Spartans are refining it as they go through the week.
   “We keep preparing,” Dantonio said. “We keep looking and trying to make sure everything is squared away and look at every different aspect of the football game situationally, special teams, offense, defense.”
   The team was scheduled to attend the Dallas Mavericks game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at American Airlines Center. After that, the entertainment part of the week will downshift as the team concentrates on the game in the final 48 hours.
- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Communications

Alabama Monday Practice Report

CRIMSON TIDE CONTINUES PREP FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOWDOWN WITH MICHIGAN STATE

   ARLINGTON, Texas – The No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide put in another elongated practice session with more than two hours in full pads at AT&T Stadium.
   Intensity continued to build and focus continued to sharpen as the Crimson Tide ready for its College Football Playoff Semifinal clash at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten) three days away.
   “I feel pretty good (about today’s practice), said LB Reggie Ragland. “Guys were flying around, being in the right position to get better today, so overall it was good.”
   The Tide (12-1, 8-1 SEC) has been more than good following the loss to Ole Miss, reeling off 10 straight wins, most in convincing fashion, including the 29-15 victory over Florida just over three weeks ago in the SEC Championship Game.
   “Guys are really chomping at the bit and trying to get right to play in this game,” said Ragland. “The closer the game gets guys are really ready to play. It’s been almost a month since we have played so guys want to get those jitters out.”
   After practice, Alabama took an opportunity to get away from its Classic preparation for a visit to the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. The team then retired back to its headquarters hotel for the remainder of the day. On Tuesday, the Tide has another busy day on tap with its official Media Day in the morning prior to its third practice at AT&T Stadium.
   The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic celebrates its 80th anniversary on New Year’s Eve while hosting its first College Football Playoff Semifinal. Airtime on ESPN is set for 7 p.m. CST, with kickoff slated for 7:10 p.m.
- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications

It's not all fun and games at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl (but sometimes it is)

   The pressure of playing in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, which this year is a semifinal in the College Football Playoff, can get to a guy. Fortunately, the Cotton Bowl provides plenty of opportunities for players to blow off steam - or blow each other up in a game of laser tag.
   Sunday night, both Alabama and Michigan State were treated to a night of all-you-can-play at Main Event, an entertainment emporium. Alabama, pictured here, was allowed to take over the Lewisville, Texas location for a few hours. (Photos by Ian Halperin/CBAA)