Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Miller, Victor Morency, Rich Ezell, and Randall Gordon of Three Piece Suit Football (TPSF)
Cameron, Victor, Rich, and Randall, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
TPSF started in a way most great things do — by accident.
On a cold December day in 2006 in Atlanta, a noble, brave young man decided to go against the norms his friends had set forth by deciding to dust off his grandfather’s old three-piece suit from the 1930s for a friend’s birthday celebration. While first taken a back by this dapper individual’s decision to wear such a finely-threaded suit out to on the town, the friends began to admire and envy the matching vest, jacket, and pants, as well as his coordinating tie.
Two days later, this same group of individuals went out and played a game of tackle football. With the memory of the dapper suit still fresh in their minds, one of those present proposed an idea, “Why don’t we play football in three-piece suits?” The rest is history.
TPSF founder Cameron Miller set up the first TPSF game in Atlanta 10 years ago. He then moved to Boston for his post-doc and told us about his organization and then we went down to ATL to see a game first hand. It was an incredible and awe-inspiring experience. We decided to start a Boston Chapter and played a pilot and our first game in 2014. In subsequent years our events have gotten larger and more successful, having raised money $25,783 in total for 2 military charities Active Heroes (https://activeheroes.org/) (2014) and Operation Delta Dog (OpDD)(https://www.operationdeltadog.org/) (2015, 2016, 2017).
Both these charities deal with providing assistance to veterans suffering from PTSD. We switched charities from Active Heroes to Operation Delta Dog in 2015, because they were a local charity based out of Chelmsford MA. What Operation Delta Dog does is train sheltered/homeless dogs to be service dogs for veterans. Save a dog, help a veteran. That was something TPSF could definitely rally behind and believe in.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Our planning committee (9 people) work extremely hard to put on multiple charity events with a very limited amount of resources. TPSF is ENTIRELY volunteer based. We recruit sponsors, players, referees, and work on permits, promotions/flyers, finalizing venues, prizes, raffles for a charity golf tournament and charity football game every year.
Sponsors and players are particularly challenging to recruit and TPSF greatly appreciates and are extremely thankful to everyone who has ever donated or donned a suit for our efforts. We have sponsors who donate food, gift cards, electronics, gift baskets, gift packages and even suits!
The well-being of our returning veterans means everything to us and motivates us to do everything we do. Operation Delta Dog (https://www.operationdeltadog.org/) does a wonderful thing for our returning veterans and we are honored to raise money for them.
Three Piece Suit Football (TPSF) – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
TPSF Boston hosts 2 charity events throughout the year. We hosted our first golf tournament at Newton Commonwealth on May 20th, where we raised $6,425 for Operation Delta Dog! It was very successful so we intend to host one every year going forward.
TPSF Boston Football charity event takes place on a weekend in Oct at Rogers Park in Brighton (as opposed to Super Bowl weekend in ATL). We typically choose a weekend in Oct because it is close to Veteran’s day and it is typically not as cold as it would be in November.
There are many activities leading up to the event and for the entire weekend! Players are encouraged to be a part of most of the events.
Allston/Brighton Parade (9/24):
We walk in the Allston/Brighton Parade which is usually late Sept., where we enter a float with players and volunteers. We promote our game and sponsors and give handouts, foam footballs and candy to parade goers. This year we met the Mayor Marty Walsh and even took a picture with him! He thanked us for all of our efforts for veterans and the community.
TPSF Pregame Player Introduction Party at Green Briar (Friday 10/20):
We host a player pregame party at the Green Briar in Brighton. This is where players will meet for the first time and will be introduced in their game suits to the introduction song of their choosing, WWE style.
You won’t believe some of the suits players come up with. It is also a great way for the friends and families of the players to meet and to promote and sell raffle tickets for the upcoming game. We provide food and then our friends from the band Patch Of Grass perform! Randy Gordon is the lead singer of Patch Of Grass and our official TPSF mascot, Ronnie ‘Peaches’ Gupton is a member of the band as well. We also try to visit some of our sponsors this night as well with an impromptu pub crawl!
TPSF Boston 2017 (Sat 10/21):
Game Day! Players/volunteers show up Rogers Park at 12:45 PM where we help set up the field, food and merchandise tables. Volunteer Referees and EMTs are also on site to officiate the game and provide assistance in case anyone gets hurt (no one this year!). Teams are decided by rock paper scissors and separated into 2 teams: red and blue. Refs and players go over the rules for the last time. Kickoff is at 2 PM. Cameron was our MC and TPSF volunteer Linh Nguyen was our DJ.
Cameron provides play by play while also promoting our sponsors and charity. Patch Of Grass performs the National Anthem and performs at halftime. Players at the end are given prizes for best dressed, most charitable and game MVP. The game ball is autographed by all players and presented to the player who represents TPSF the best, both on and off the field. The final score was 47-24 red team over blue team. Our crowd has gotten bigger and bigger every year! The game is typically over around 4:30-5.
TPSF Postgame Party at The Last Drop (Sat 10/21):
We also hosted a postgame party at the Last Drop in Brighton with raffle prizes, food, and drinks! Food is typically provided by one of our sponsors.
This year we raised $7,719 for Operation Delta Dog. This is the largest amount we have ever raised at a Boston event and the second largest amount in TPSF history! We raised almost enough to fully support a scholarship for pairing service dogs with MA Veterans through Operation Delta Dog!
Pats/Falcons viewing party at Devlin’s (Sunday 10/22)
On Sunday’s we typically have a player’s brunch, but because the Pats were playing the Falcons this year we decided to do a Pats/Falcons viewing party!
TPSF 50/50 Raffle Tickets:
The 50/50 Raffle is how we raise most of the money for our charity. Tickets are only $10. Each player is required to sell at least 10. They can be purchased either with paper copies or online. The player/volunteer who sells the most tickets prior to the game wins a special prize!
Operation Delta Dog Walk and Wag Event (11/11):
On Veteran’s Day, TPSF attended our Charity’s Operation Delta Dog Walk and Wag Event to show our continued support. We were able to see service dog Chance graduate and be given to veteran Patrick! TPSF was also featured on WZLX!
What sets us apart?
Everyone who is a part of TPSF donates their free time and effort towards a very worthy cause. Our veterans are the backbone of our country and represent everything we stand for as a nation. The sacrifices our veterans have made throughout history should be honored and remembered year round.
We need to do everything we can to support them. It is EXACTLY why we do what we do.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
TPSF is completely committed to our veterans and our charity. Our measure of success is the increasing amount of money and popularity we raise for our charity for each successive game and golf tournament.
Contact Info:
- Address: 925B Peachtree Street NE
Suite 1800 Atlanta Georgia 30309 - Website: http://www.threepiecesuitfootball.com/
- Email: info@threepiecesuitfootball.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threepiecesuitfootball/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThreePieceSuitFootball/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/3PSF
Image Credit:
Kevin Wiles
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