TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama football team members will trade their pigskin for croquet mallets as they go wicket-to-wicket with student Ambassadors from UA's College of Arts and Sciences in the first College of Arts and Sciences Croquet Bowl. The event will be held Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the main Quadrangle of the UA campus and will benefit the United Way of West Alabama.

Crimson Tide football players, including captains, will team up on the lawn with members of the Bama Belles, UA's Department of Athletics hostess organization, to take on the Ambassadors. Plans are to hold the event annually.

“We’re not going to be intimidated by the strength and discipline of the Crimson Tide football players and the Bama Belles. We know the rules of croquet and we've been practicing, so we believe we have a definite advantage over the football team and the Bama Belles. They’re going to be on a different kind of turf now,” said Andy Todd, president of the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors. The Ambassadors is an organization of student hosts in the College of Arts and Sciences.

In the tournament, male members of the Ambassadors will be matched against Bama Belles, while female members of the Ambassadors will take on Crimson Tide football players.

The teams are already competing to see which can raise the most money for the United Way of West Alabama, the results of which will be announced at the end of the Croquet Bowl. Ambassadors and Crimson Tide football team members are seeking donations to the Temporary Emergency Assistance (TEA) fund for people who have experienced financial hardship through no fault of their own.

Admission to the tournament is free and open to the public. Donations in support of United Way will be accepted on behalf of either team, and a donation scorecard will be kept during the tournament. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to watch the game. Team members will be available for autographs at the conclusion of the tournament.

“In the past 20 years, the TEA program has helped many local citizens after unexpected economic or disaster situations. The College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors, the University’s football team, and the Bama Belles are true examples of our community spirit. We cannot thank them enough for helping us to help our neighbor,” said Homer Butler, executive director of the United Way of West Alabama.

A representative of the United Way will serve as referee for the tournament, which will be played according to United States Croquet Association rules for Nine-Wicket Croquet. Three games will be played, with six team members on each side. Assistants on the sidelines will supply the players mint tea to keep them hydrated.

The idea for the Croquet Bowl originated with Dr. Robert Olin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Performing service for the community is something the College’s Ambassadors do each semester. This is a great way to raise money for a good cause in a way that the public can enjoy. And I'm certain our students, on both sides of the lawn, will have plenty of fun as they compete in this very civilized sport.”

The College of Arts and Sciences is the University's largest division and Alabama's largest liberal arts college with 6,000 students and 340 faculty in over 26 departments and programs.