More than a game
For 68 years, the Nebraska Shrine Bowl has brought together some of the state’s finest high school football players for one final game. Scores change. Records fade. Touchdowns become memories.
The true impact of the Shrine Bowl has never been measured by the scoreboard.
Aurora graduates Canon Allen and Collin Stolpe reminded us of that following Saturday’s South victory in Kearney. Allen earned Offensive Player of the Game honors after leading the South in receiving and scoring a touchdown. Stolpe contributed on both sides of the ball in the winning effort. Yet when asked what they would remember most, neither started with football.
They talked about the children.
They talked about the young patients and families connected to the Shriners mission who spent the week alongside players and coaches. They talked about the smiles, resilience and perspective gained from watching children face challenges most adults would struggle to endure.
Allen’s favorite memory wasn’t his touchdown reception. It was watching a young Shriners patient toss a football with players during the week. Stolpe reflected on a teammate’s message: “If you can’t see the light, be someone else’s light.” Those responses capture exactly why the Shrine Bowl continues to matter.
In an era when youth sports can become consumed by rankings, recruiting, social media highlights and individual recognition, the Shrine Bowl offers a reminder of what athletics can accomplish at their best. It brings together competitors who spent years trying to beat one another and challenges them to unite behind something larger than themselves.
For one week, rivalries disappear.
Players from communities across Nebraska become teammates. Athletes accustomed to receiving recognition learn that the spotlight can also be used to serve others. They discover that leadership is about more than making plays on Friday nights. It is about encouraging others, building relationships and making a difference.
The Shrine Bowl’s mission reflects the broader purpose of the Shriners organization: improving lives, supporting children and strengthening communities. Through the game, Nebraska athletes help provide resources and hope for families who need them most. That lesson extends far beyond football.
Communities grow stronger when people invest in causes larger than themselves. Success is measured not only by personal achievement, but by the positive impact we have on others.
Allen and Stolpe will soon begin the next chapter of their football careers. Years from now, they may not remember every statistic from Saturday’s game. Most Shrine Bowl participants probably cannot recite the score from their all-star appearance.
What they do remember are the relationships formed, the lives touched and the perspective gained.
That is why the Shrine Bowl remains one of Nebraska’s most meaningful traditions. The game lasts four quarters. The lessons last a lifetime.
-- Kurt Johnson