By Dale Avery
Recently, my wife Laura and I took in a Bloomington Edge indoor football game. I am a huge NFL and College football fan, but it was Laura who turned me onto indoor football when we lived in California. We used to watch the games on television as where we lived they did not have a local team.
When we relocated to Bloomington over eleven years ago we continued to watch the games on television until 2006 when the Bloomington indoor football team, the Extreme, was formed. As soon as we could, we bought season tickets for the family. We attended all the games and really got hooked on the team.
As our season of life changed and our girls got older and more involved in school activities, our attendance at the games started to dwindle. My wife and I became more involved in volunteer work and we eventually dropped our season tickets. Then one night earlier this year one of the new owners contacted me to ask how the Edge players could get involved with the mentoring efforts and mentees of the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois. We chatted for some time about how to get kids to games and how to get the players to spend time with the kids. One thing led to another and the next I thing I knew, my wife had purchased season tickets for this season.
On March 6, we attended the first game of the season against one our rivals – the Omaha Beef. We remembered attending games against the Beef before because their fans show up with cow bells. I can still hear the ringing in my ears.
The game was exciting, and also offered some great things during time outs and half time to keep the fans entertained. The Edge even brought in Dan Hampton from the 1985 Bears to sign autographs – it was nice seeing all the Bear fans, big and little, talking to him. The players engaged the audience and showed they were truly happy to be playing for the Bloomington Edge.
Even though we lost the game, we had a great time and it was nice to be supporting the team again. We plan on attending as many games as we can to help support the team, the coliseum and the new owners. I encourage all of you who hear this to take in a game or two and tell others to do the same. We always say there is nothing to do on our town, well this is an event you and the family can enjoy. The ticket prices are reasonable and the concession stands are usually manned by local organizations as well. The next home game is April 16 – Go Edge!
Dale Avery, CPCU, is the assistant vice president – Enterprise Services at State Farm® Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Ill.
Avery began his career with State Farm in 1982 as a personal lines underwriter in Lincoln, Nebraska and assumed his current position in 2006. Avery, a native of Missouri, received his bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University. He earned his CPCU in 1991.
Dale resides in Bloomington with his wife, Laura and their two daughters; Megan and Jenna.
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