One of our long time readers Charles Hunsaker is to be honored at this year's college all-star Hula Bowl. Congratulations, Chuck. Earlier Bill Schnier reviewed Chuck's book "Angels in Combat Boots". Here is the link to that post. Angels in Combat Boots - Review
Press Release:
January 13, 2024
The Hula Bowl’s Military Ambassador Program also recognizes and honors distinguished military personnel!
Hula Bowl Military Ambassadors have distinguished themselves in both military and civilian careers. Like the players on the field, this year’s Military Ambassadors were also outstanding collegiate athletes. Last year’s Hula Bowl honored 50 years of Title IX, the law enacted in 1972 to prohibit discrimination based on gender in education programs or activities, creating a pathway for exceptional growth in women’s sports. The 2023 Hula Bowl made history by having the first all-female crew to officiate a college football game. As we approach the 50th anniversary of women attending our service academies, this year’s Hula Bowl takes great pride in recognizing its 2024 Military Ambassadors: Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Charles Hunsaker and representatives from the first West Point women’s cross-country teams.
Coach Hunsaker’s cross country and track resume includes an NCAA championship team, two NCAA runner-up teams, 22 All-Americans, and two individual national champions. Twice he was selected as the Division II Cross country Coach of the Year. Coach Hunsaker was the first cross country and track coach for women at the U.S. Military Academy, serving from 1978 to 1981. Called an “unsung hero of women at West Point during the early years” by members of his teams, his leadership, courage, and commitment to the success of his female athletes, both as military cadets and runners, was instrumental in overcoming institutional and cultural barriers and helped to integrate women fully into the service academy. His coaching impact with a startup program was immediate as his first teams garnered success, winning the Collegiate Eastern Championships in 1980 and finishing in the top ten in the National Championships. He was selected as the Eastern Women's Cross country and Indoor Track Coach of the Year. Coach Hunsaker chronicled this journey in his book, “Angels in Combat Boots.”
Joining Coach Hunsaker as Hula Bowl Military Ambassadors are team members from the first few years of women at West Point!
Coach Hunsaker said, “I spent 21 years in the Army, and I loved all of it, but my time at West Point was, without question, the highlight. To be able to teach and coach as such a special place, to be able to work with such a special group of young women and to help women cadets be accepted into the academy that had been all male since 1802 was definitely the highlight. When I got my first coaching job in a small rural junior high, I never imagined I would have such an unbelievable opportunity. To be honored with this group is just extraordinary”
The Hula Bowl is the Nation’s premier College Football All-Star Game. The Hula Bowl is an event where all NFL, XFL, USFL and CFL teams will be represented by top scout players during Hula Bowl week.
100 of the top senior athletes will be selected to play at the Hula Bowl in Orlando, Florida. This is the ideal venue to showcase their talent up against the best the game has to offer. Our players will be coming in from across the United States, Canada, Australia and JAPAN
SATURDAY January 13, 2024 | 12:00PM | UCF FBC Mortgage Stadium | ORLANDO, FL
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