By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— Human bowling and Hungry, Hungry Hippos were just two of the competitions teachers at Valley Intermediate School participated in at the annual Teacher Games Nov. 20.

The Teacher Games have been a tradition for more than 20 years as a sort of precursor to the Iron Bowl. The teachers who are fans of Auburn University compete against the ones who root for the University of Alabama.

“I think the kids look forward to it every year,” said fifth grade teacher Richard Powers. “The kids come back talking about the things we do each year and I think the Teacher Games are one of the things they remember most.”

Powers also said the games were a culminating event for the coin and can drive at the school. Each day had a different coin to be donated with a main goal of $3,000. Powers said they raised $6,000 this year, which is more than the past 15 years he has been at VIS.

A portion of the funds raised was donated to Carly’s Clubhouse and the rest will be used around the school to help instruction. The cans that were collected were donated to Oak Mountain Missions in Pelham.

Up first was a game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos using laundry baskets and foam balls. One teacher laid down on rollers to collect the balls and the other teacher pushed and pulled them around.

The first round, the Auburn and Alabama teachers tied 41-41, but the Alabama teachers took the tiebreaker 46-35. The UA fans also took the round of human bowling.

“It’s a chance for the kids to see the teachers have a little fun and cut up a little bit,” Powers said. “(We’re) just teaching them to be good sports.”

Overall the Alabama team won four games to Auburn’s one, although Powers said it usually works out that the team that wins the Teacher Games loses the Iron Bowl.

At the end of the event, the students were in for a special surprise. The administrators promised the kids that they would kiss a pig if they exceeded the fundraising goal, so they brought a pig out on stage.

Although this will be Valley Intermediate’s last year before becoming a kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school, Powers and the teachers said they hope to keep the tradition alive in the new school.

“It’s really a reward for them to come together as a school and cheer for their teachers,” Powers said.