College football players aspire to play in bowl games. Professional players dream of competing in the Super Bowl. In New Hampshire, however, a group of spirited amateurs have their sights set on something far muddier.
This past Sunday saw the conclusion of a messy three-day event known as the Mud Bowl, marking its 50th anniversary. This football tournament, held annually at Hog Coliseum in North Conway, involves players trudging through knee-deep muck in pursuit of touchdowns, an endeavor that brings out the inner child in every participant.
“You’re playing football in the mud, so you’ve got to have a smile on your face,” remarked Jason Veno, the 50-year-old quarterback for the North Country Mud Crocs. Veno describes the mud as a great equalizer. “It’s just a different game in the mud. It doesn’t matter how good you are on grass. That doesn’t matter in the mud.”
The festivities kicked off Friday night with revelry and music, drawing participants and spectators alike into the celebratory spirit. The excitement continued with a Tournament of Mud Parade on Saturday. Amid the splashing and squelching, over a dozen teams, composed of both men and women, fought to emerge as the champions of this unique contest.
Ryan Martin, a veteran of mud football for nearly 20 years, sees the event as an excellent opportunity to reconnect with old friends. “You get to a point where you’re just like, I’m not going pro on anything. I might as well feel like I’m still competing day in and day out,” Martin said, reflecting on the camaraderie that mud football fosters.
Nevertheless, playing in the mud comes with its own set of challenges. “It gets in the eyes. You get cracks in your feet. And you get mud in your toenails for weeks,” Martin explained. “You get it in your ears too. You’ll be cleaning out your ears for a long while … you’ll be blowing your nose and you’ll get some dirt, and you’re like, oh, I didn’t know I still had that there.”
For Mahala Smith, the event is all about camaraderie and fun. An avid football fan since childhood, she started playing tackle football with a women’s team in 2018 before being drawn to the Mud Bowl. “It’s like a little mini vacation and everyone’s all friendly,” she said. “People hang out at the hotels and restaurants, people camp, we all have fires and stuff, just like a nice group event.”
Although the atmosphere is festive, the competition remains fierce. The two-hand touch football games can get intense, but once the final whistle blows, it’s all in good fun. Many participants, including high school and college stars, and even a few retired pros, bring their competitive spirit to the muddy fields.
This year’s theme, “50 Years, The Best of Five Decades,” celebrated the event’s rich history. Over the years, the Mud Bowl has raised over $1 million for charity, a testament to the enduring spirit and generosity of its organizers and participants. The Mud Bowl may not offer the glitz and glamour of the Super Bowl, but for these players, it provides something equally valuable: a community, a challenge, and a whole lot of muddy fun.
