2005 National Collegiate Invitational

Nashville, TN - Vandy Aussie Rules Club, in conjunction with the USAFL and the Australian Festival are pleased to announce that Belmont University Sports Administration masters student, Adam Bishop, will direct the 2005 2nd Annual National Collegiate Invitational. The event, which will be held in Nashville’s picturesque Centennial Park on September 10 and 11, will see 4 college teams battle it out for the coveted title of Collegiate Aussie Rules National Champion.

Bishop comes to the position of tournament director with a wealth of experience in the sporting sector. The native Australian, who is studying in Nashville for the remainder of the year, has competed with a great deal of success in track in Australia with a national junior 800m Australian title to his name. Growing up in South Australia, he was surrounded by the game of Australian Rules football, with his dad being a star player at club level. Adam played the game himself for a number of years before deciding to focus on his track career. At this time, he decided to take up umpiring which he participated in successfully for a period of 5 years. Adam continues to follow the game at all levels and regularly helps his dad who is currently a highly renowned coach at the club level.

The USAFL, which is sponsoring the invitational is establishing a new and distinct focus to the college club level where the greatest potential for growth of the game in the United States appears to be at present. Bishop will run the tournament, but will also focus on building a package and implementing infrastructure that universities and specifically, university recreation centres can use to form teams. These clubs will then be encouraged to form links - with existing and newly formed clubs in the amateur leagues linking colleges with teams in big cities. It is envisioned that the game will not only grow at the college level, but also at the amateur level by way of a flow through effect from college to amateur level. 

“This is an exciting time in the history of Aussie Rules in the United States”, said Bishop. “When you consider that there are approximately 4000 colleges and universities in this country, then it is easy to see that this market has the potential to become the largest Australian Football playing nation in the world. To achieve this we must market the game appropriately and put measures in place to ensure future growth.”

Bishop, Australian Festival Director Peter Beare, and USAFL board member Randall Upton are currently establishing concepts and ideas to develop a truly unique game for the United States market at the college level. The Vandy Aussie Rules Club and Vanderbilt Associate Sports Club Director – LaDonna Meuchel are also contributing as our event host and primary participants. These concepts will be presented and promoted at the 2005 Australian Festival and ANZACC National Business Conference in September.

SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Official Sponsors & Organizations – Vandy Aussie Rules Club (Host Club), United States Australian Football League, 2005 Australian Festival, Vanderbilt Recreation Department, Select Inn at Vanderbilt, BeareWare
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Aussie Rules Collegiate National Invitational - September 10, & 11, 2005
Centennial Park
Nashville, Tennessee
http://www.vandyaussierules.com/collegenationals/index.htm
Adam Bishop - Director
Aussie Rules Collegiate National Invitational
P.O. Box 128156
Nashville, TN 37205
United States
(615) 460-1401 (p)
E-Mail: collegenationals@australianfestival.com
Randall Upton – USAFL College Director
124 S. Main Street
Delavan, WI 53115
Phone: (262) 740-1353
Fax: (262) 740-7243
E-mail :  memberatlarge@usfooty.com
Peter Beare - Festival Director
Australian Festival
P.O. Box 128156
United States
Nashville TN 37212
(615) 460-1401
E-mail : director@australianfestival.org

- Peter Beare
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