What is the Toilet Bowl? Inside the decades-old New Year's Day football tradition

PHILADELPHIA - In this bowl game, despite the Saquon Barkley and Carson Wentz jerseys being worn on the field, you’re less likely to see the spectacular Barkley catches or the Wentz dimes. 

For this two-hand-touch football tradition, it’s not about that. 

"The holidays are crazy, you get spread all over the place but at least I know on New Year’s Day I’m seeing these group of guys right here," said Mike Deleo.

The Toilet Bowl has served that purpose for 70 years now. The game got started by Deleo’s grandfather, Herk. 

"It started back in the 50’s with my grandfather and a bunch of his friends, neighborhood guys played football on New Year’s Day. Slowly but surely family started getting involved, kids had kids and here we are," said Deleo.

A few of those guys from the 50s, including Mike’s grandfather, are still showing up to watch the games.

"I don’t think there is many annual games being played 70 years with 80-year-olds still coming out to touch the football," said Grant Grissom, a former player.

While these guys are now sidelined, they are very much competitive. 

When we asked who was the best out of the group there was several different answers. 

We would ask Deleo, but back then, as a kid, he spent more time trying to get into the games.

"This was actually like a rite of passage as a kid, we used to beg to play in it, when we were young teenagers and they would be like you’re not ready you’re not ready, and finally you got that call and you were excited," said Deleo.

The same call Herk’s Great Grandson, Ryan Glacken received this year making his Toilet Bowl debut.

"I’m probably going to moss some people," said Glacken.

We didn’t see much mossing, but a nice run he had will probably make Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and Barkley proud.

More importantly, it makes Herk proud to see a long-standing tradition he started live on generation after generation.

"We just enjoy coming and watching the kids play. Now I got a Great Grandson playing and it just blows my mind, I thank god I lived this long to see it," said Herk Whalen.