USFL teams pay visit to VA Medical Center ahead of Hats Off to Heroes game
This week's USFL schedule will feature a game at Protective Stadium between the Birmingham Stallions and the New Orleans Breakers. The league is taking the opportunity to honor veterans and first responders for this season's Hats Off to Heroes game.
Before the two teams hit the field Saturday, they took a visit Friday to the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Birmingham. Players went around speaking with veterans and listening to their stories while also handing out team gear.
"They gave up part of their lives for our country," Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough said. "So anything we can do to brighten their day or to make them get a moment of joy by seeing some of the guys that they watch on TV play. Just getting to talk to them and hear their stories is really awesome."
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Players collected autographs from the veterans on a football which will be presented to the coach of the winning team after the game Saturday.
"It means a lot to me," McGough said of the game. "My brother is a police officer. Just the first responders and the guys who served in our military service, it just means a lot and we really appreciate what they do and what they did."
