The update says the cup was created at the initiative of Blake Elliot’s family, with deep roots linking the occasion to both programs.
That gave the afternoon a rare emotional weight. College football often talks about community; this looked like a day when the word carried its full meaning.
The most affecting words came from Blake’s family. “Sentimos falta dela a cada segundo, todos os dias,” Rob Elliot said, a reminder that even public tributes cannot soften private pain.
Adams also spoke to the wider support system around the family. “Nós apoiamos os nossos e cuidamos dos nossos,” he said, framing the match as an act of collective care as much as competition.
Reports also say the Elliot family have leaned heavily on that support in the months since Blake’s death. The memorial match, in that sense, is not closure. It is companionship.
The update says the family has also created a foundation in Blake’s name, aimed at helping families in need, youth sports and animal causes that mattered to her. That may become the lasting legacy: not a one-off ceremony, but an annual reminder that remembrance can move people to act. Next time the cup is played, the football will still matter - but the deeper purpose already seems clear.