Clemson Legends head field at PlaySafe Classic

PlaySafe announces their Inaugural Kickoff Golf Classic will be a salute to the 1981 Clemson National Championship Team.  The golf classic is scheduled for August 5 at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards. PlaySafe is a 501c (3), non-profit organization, providing certified athletic trainers to high schools and many community athletic events in Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties. The event will be hosted by 1981 National Championship head coach Danny Ford and team captain, Jeff Davis.  Also expected are two NFL Super Bowl Champions, Terry Kinard, Clemson’s first Consensus All-American and Pro Bowl safety with the NY Giants, and James Trapp, cornerback with the Baltimore Ravens.  In 1981, Clemson faced a national powerhouse, the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl with the chance for their first National Championship in football on the line.  Representing Nebraska at this years’ tournament will be 1983 Heisman Trophy running back, Mike Rozier and 1984 first round NFL draft pick, Irving Fryar. In addition, 1980 Heisman Trophy winner, George Rogers of the University of South Carolina and Ed Marinaro, actor and former Minnesota Vikings running back are expected to attend as well. More former Clemson players and special guests are expected to be announced soon. “We wanted our first fundraising event to be special so we chose the magnificent course at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards”, offered Jim Stoker, Chairman of the Board of PlaySafe. The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards features eight holes bordering on Lake Keowee and five offering views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “We will have some great challenges along the course for our participating golfers, with a chance to win Jet Blue round trip vouchers, an 8 day 7 night stay in Puerto Rico, and a Cadillac from the Richard Kay Super Store,  just to name a few of the prizes that have been secured to date.” “Fun at every turn is our goal so that those who play this year will look forward to next years’ event and those that didn’t participate but have heard about it after the fact, will make sure to mark it on their golf calendars for 2014!” added Stoker. PlaySafe works to raise funds from corporations, foundations, and the community at large in order to secure full time certified athletic trainers for the high schools in the tri-county area.  “An estimated 2 million injuries occur each year in high schools. 62% of all reported injuries occur during practice with 23% of injuries occurring to the head and face of the athletes” according to PlaySafe’ Executive Director, Bob Garguilo.  “The State of South Carolina does not provide the funds for certified athletic trainers at our high schools. The certified athletic trainers protecting and caring for the high school student athletes are paid for through the funds PlaySafe has been able to raise through extensive community outreach. We are excited about new fundraising events, such as our Inaugural Kickoff Classic, with hope we can bring much needed awareness of the lack of professional sports medicine services available at the high schools across the state and bring PlaySafe into the forefront of an organization that is trying to improve on that situation. Our student athletes are at a high degree of risk when participating in high school sports without the supervision of qualified sports medicine professionals,” continued Garguilo continued. PlaySafe exists to support our schools, parents, businesses and the community at large in an effort to keep our youth and community Safe, Healthy and Active. PlaySafe is funded in part by Clemson Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, AnMed Health and Blue Ridge Orthopaedics. For more information on the 2013 Inaugural Kickoff Classic, PlaySafe and ways you can get involved, please visit www.playsafesc.org.