Take 1,250 pounds of brawn, spread it across five football players who bench press an average of 400 pounds each, then corral them into a 23 million dollar flight simulator for about three hours. The result of that mix: harsh takeoffs, even rougher landings, poor aerial refueling procedures and plenty of laughs from the powerhouse leviathans huddled inside. Players and staff from the Orange County Bulldogs, a Hudson Valley semi-pro football team who had an opportunity to tour the 105th Airlift Wing's C-5 flight simulator, quickly learned that using finesse rather than their big biceps and brute force was what it would take to tackle the "Galaxy."
"I knew our military had technological stuff, but I didn't know it was as advanced as that simulator," said Co-President Frank Williams after the tour. "With equipment like that and with the people we have serving in the armed forces; I now understand why we have the best military in the world. It was a great experience and we had fun," he said.
This year marks twelve years of football in the Orange County area for the Bulldogs. The team's record is 70 wins, 12 losses and one tie. Having won several minor league titles, earning them the right to be called the 1996 and 1997 Northern Division Champions as well as the 1997 Big Apple Bowl Champions, the Bulldogs climbed even higher on the semi-pro totem pole in 2002 when they won the Empire Football League Championship.
"In 1997, our first season as part of the Garden State Football League, we went undefeated at 9-0 and were nationally ranked third in the East by Minor League News. Then in 2000 we finished the season at 10-2 and ranked 14th nationally among all semi-pro teams in the country. I think we're making excellent progress as a team and with a little luck we'll have better seasons and more championships to come," said Paul Williams Jr., also Co-President of the Orange County Bulldogs.
According to their mission statement, as an organization the team is focused on achieving and maintaining a winning tradition, committed to excellence and leadership, and seeks to provide opportunities for personal development through participation in athletic competition. Defensive Tackle, Dave Smart added, "We're much like the military because we believe in similar things, such as teamwork and fitness. Having said that I appreciate what the military does and what they stand for. I don't know anyone who thinks differently."
He added, "The sad thing is most people don't realize what the military does on a daily basis because they simply don't see it in action, in person everyday. I know one thing though, when we pulled up to the front gate in our van and guys with guns stopped to check our credentials, all of us knew our visit was for real."
So, beyond the front gate and onto their tour, how did the band of colossal football players accustomed to arduous practices and punishing games, which often yield cuts, bruises, sprains and strains, think they would do against their unknown foe, the C-5 flight simulator?
"It looks like an alien spacecraft. Not that I've ever seen one before," said defensive end, Michael Boykin, who first thought flying the simulator would be easy. His assumption changed a few engine fires and rainstorms later, when he had a chance to sit in the co-pilots seat adjacent to Maj. Steve Grant from the 137th Airlift Squadron.
"Honestly, it was tougher to fly than I thought. But it did move around like a spaceship," he said while laughing. "It was a great experience; I never knew technology like this existed in Newburgh. I always thought they kept stuff like this locked up with the aliens."
After 320 pound offensive end Joe Zoffoli had his turn in the hot seat, having been tossed a little fog and wind while trying to land the simulator at LaGuardia Airport; he too had a change of heart. "I didn't expect it to fly like a plane. I really thought it would be simple. I was wrong. It wasn't like playing Top Gun on X-Box," he said.
Also deceived by the seemingly innocent looking flight simulator was Ron Alindogan, offensive center for the Bulldogs, who said the simulator was a contraption that bore a stark resemblance to a gigantic meat locker on hydraulic stilts. "Ok, when I first looked at the thing I thought, 'Where's Gilligan and the Skipper for my three hour tour?' I was wrong; it wasn't a big freezer with a bunch of hoses sticking out the sides. It was a really hard to fly freezer with hoses sticking out the sides," he said.
All shattered misconceptions aside, when the tour was over and it was time to head home for the night to rest up for another day of pushups and pull ups of course, everyone said they had a great time flying the simulator, even if it was a bit "boxy" looking.
"It was a real experience. We just need to learn a little more grace when it comes to flying aircraft," Frank Williams said. "It was also nice to have an opportunity to say thanks to our men and women in uniform for all they've done and for all they've sacrificed. We're lucky to have a few star players on our team, but the military is even luckier to have individuals willing to give up everything for this country. You're all heroes."
* Note: As a token of their appreciation to the men and women of the 105th Airlift Wing for their participation in "Operation Iraqi Freedom," the Orange County Bulldogs dedicated an autographed football and a championship t-shirt to the unit. Both are on display outside of the 105th Dining Facility. To see a season schedule for 2004 or for additional information about the team, visit www.orangecountybulldogs.com.
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