The National Guard Border Bowl is a non-profit organization established to promote high school football in Kentucky and Tennessee. The objective is to provide an ALL-STAR game featuring the top players in Kentucky and Tennessee. This game allows players to have one more opportunity to play, practice and battle it out for the rights to the border. It also allows high school seniors to gain additional exposure and perhaps earn a scholarship for college. This year the game will be played on Saturday, January 17th with kick-off at 1 PM.

To honor the 2009 participants, the 2009 Border Bowl Committee is hosting an Honors Banquet on Friday, January 16, 2009. The banquet will be hosted by Dick Gabriel. Dick Gabriel is a native of Louisville and was graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1978. He has 25 years experience with UK-TV and radio networks. Dick spent 22 years as Sports Manager for WKYT-TV in Lexington. He now works for IMG College. His duties include hosting "Sports Nightly" Monday-Friday on WLAP; anchoring and serving as sidelines reporter for UK football radio network; pre-game and post-game radio shows for UK basketball; and TV play-by-play for UK baseball. He also hosts championship events for the SEC Network on XM Radio. Dick Gabriel is a three-time Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year.

Speakers will include Gino Guidugli, former All-American Quarterback from the University of Cincinnati with the keynote address to be given by Marty Moore, former University of the Kentucky star and nine year NFL veteran.

Gino Guidugli is a native of Fort Thomas, Kentucky where he played at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas. He led Highlands to two state championships in 1999 and 2000 and was also the backup QB when Highlands won state in 1998. He was runner up for Mr. Kentucky Football - 4,367 yards and 54 touchdowns and still holds many Kentucky records for quarterbacks. He played collegiately at the University of Cincinnati from 2001 to 2004 and started the third game of the season as a true freshman. He owns most of the school's passing and total offense records finishing his career at Cincinnati with 11,453 yards on 880 of 1556 passes (56.6%) and 78 touchdowns. He also rushed for 208 yards and scored five times on 235 carries. After an All-American collegiate career, Guidugli signed as a free agent in the 2005 draft with the Tennessee Titans. He later joined NFL Europe with the Cologne Centurions, the CFL with the British Columbia Lions, and the arena league with the Green Bay Blizzard, leading the Blizzard to the af2 playoffs. Guidugli currently has plans to return to the Green Bay Blizzard in af2 this season.

Marty Moore is a native of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky and was graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1994. Moore currently holds the single season tackle record at University of Kentucky (183) and ranks 3rd All Time in tackles at the University of Kentucky (470). He led the SEC in tackles 1991 and 1992 all while also earning multiple awards and honors.

Marty played from 1994-2001 in the NFL. He played from 1994-1999 and 2001 for the New England Patriots and he played for the Cleveland Browns in 2000.

The 2009 Border Bowl Awards Banquet will be held at the Williamsburg Tourism Center in Williamsburg, KY at 7:00 PM. The banquet is open to the general public with tickets selling for $20 for the dinner event. Limited space is available.

To order your banquet tickets or for more information about the 2009 National Guard Border Bowl, please visit www.ky-tn-borderbowl.com, email Andy Croley at croley@2geton.net, or call 606-215-1235.

Attendance at the 2008 Border Bowl held at the University of the Cumberlands James H. Taylor, II Stadium, in Williamsburg, Kentucky exceeded 5,500, including more than 20 colleges. The 2009 Border Bowl Committee is hoping to double the 2008 attendance record with added activities and events for the fans. Tickets are $6 with children under the age of 10 admitted free. In addition, all military and their family members will receive free admission to the game.