Mission San Jose's Turkey Bowl comes to a close

  

FREMONT, CA (KGO) -- A Thanksgiving obsession came to an end on Thursday.

For the past 40 years, some 12 to 20 guys, all athletes from Mission San Jose High School, meet on Thanksgiving to play a game of football.

Many come from the Bay Area, but others travel from as far as Hawaii, Utah, and Pennsylvania - leaving family behind.

Their only reward is a bottle of whiskey and the camaraderie of old friends.

Now in their late 50s, and football being a contact sport, most agreed it was time to hang it up.

"We still have the heart and we still have the spirit and we still have the friendship -- none of that's changed, but frankly our bodies are fragile," said Brian Sullivan, a Turkey Bowl player.

They're not quite sure what they'll do next year. One man suggested switching from the Turkey Bowl to turkey bowling.

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