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ASNN
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AMATEUR SPORTS MAGAZINE
Volume 1, No. 1
COVER STORY
Introducing the Matteson Bears
| As school begins, you can be sure of two things: change
in weather and football. Well, this season is no different… the
temperature is beginning to decrease, preparing us for our traditional
winters and the kick off of f-o-o-t-b-a-l-l!
Once the season starts,
over 500 kids suit up to play, many of those players and teams feel they
have a chance to make the playoffs, even a shot at the youth super bowl.
In the Village of Matteson, it’s no different. This is where you will
find the
Matteson Bears, more
specifically, you will see and hear them at Allemong
Park, running, stretching and shouting out commands to coaches.
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This is where Amateur Sports News Network (ASNN) met and spoke to
President and Coach Hubert “Ray” Evans (commonly known as “Sarge”) and Coach
Sylvester Allen. |
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Favorite Movie? Soldiers’ Story
What’s in your iPod? Roy Ayers,
Frankie Beverly; the JB’s
Favorite Food? Southern-style
Biggest Rival? Richton Park
Raiders |
ASNN:
Let’s start with the team, how long has the Matteson Bears been around?
Coach Ray Evans (CRE):
We started out seven years ago (2001) and we have over 200 kids come
through our program a year.
ASNN: How
many founders were there?
CRE:
We have eleven founders: Sylvester Allen, Pamela Allen, James and Carol
Banks, Cathy Carlson, Ray Evans, Marie Hawkins, George Mason, Keith Vinson,
Curtis Rempson and Tony Mhoon.
ASNN: How
long have you guys been involved with the Will-Cook league?
CRE:
We’ve been in the league five or six years and three super bowls later.
☺
ASNN:
What’s the one thing you would like to improve with the league?
CRE:
Funding and corporate sponsors. We exceeded our expectations this year, as
far as fundraising with the help and guidance of Bob “Mascot” Ferguson and
his lovely wife Coach Linda. This year we had a golf outing, McDonalds
night, and Blitz at Wal-Mart. Those were great but we still have to go in
our pockets to keep things going. We have a solid organization with
volunteers who give just about everything they have to the kids but
additional funds would help lower our fees and provide us with more
resources.
ASNN:
Where would you like to see the organization in five years?
CRE:
Of course, keeping the organization running successfully but also
introducing the kids to other things around sports other than football.
Perhaps running camera, broadcasting and even music – maybe start a band.
ASNN: I
understand you are President and coach. What level?
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CRE: I coach at the widget level.
We are a small organization where our volunteers wear multiple hats and
for me, coaching at the widget level is great. This is our feeder group
that for the most part continues through the program. Once they learn
the basics at this level, they can only get better as they grow. |
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ASNN:
Do you have any academic requirements? If so, what?
CRE:
Oh yeah, we require the kids to keep and maintain a 2.0 minimum along with
no disciplinary problems. We also offer at the end of the year an academic
trophy for best grade point average. It started out around 3.5 but then we
raised it because lots kids were exceeding this mark. Now, we reward kids
with a 3.85 or high average, and I’m certain we’ll hand out even more
trophies here too.
See this is an example of how the kids get it. Sure what the public sees in
physical competition on Sunday but once word started getting out about the
academic trophy, you know, they started competing for that too. And, that’s
perfect. Outstanding!
ASNN:
What do you do to prepare for game day?
CRE:
It’s hard to sleep the night before. Usually up thinking about all of the
things we need to do. When we are playing at home game day starts about 6am.
Load up our trailer, and get to the park early, we get the fields’ setup, of
course, get the grills going.
ASNN:
Speaking of the trailer, what’s up with that?
CRE:
Well, yeah… we are the only organization that travels like this. I
got the idea from John Madden a couple years ago and thought it would be
cool for the kids to see their pictures on something like that. Also, at
the end of our training camps, we take a trip down to Bourbonnais for
the Chicago Bears training camp, and barbeque and hangout with the
players. |
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We were joined during the
interview by one of the other founders, Sylvester “Papa Bear” Allen at this
time.
ASNN:
What’s the one thing you want kids to take away from your program? Why?
Sylvester Allen:
Responsibility. Each player, at every level, is responsible for their
grades, their equipment and their teammates.
CRE:
Respect. Respect for themselves, their family and their community. These
attributes will build stronger and better men for society in the future. See
kids from 95th street to Kankakee are part of special fraternity, the
fraternity of football. And believe me when I say they understand this.
Sure, there’s competitive talk between players but for the most part, it’s
never personal or mean spirited. The kids relate and remember these times of
playing football for the Will-Cook league. That’s there foundation.
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We thank the Matteson Bears
organization for the time and consideration for this interview in our
inaugural edition. We wish them well and a safe journey throughout the
season.
And for more on the Matteson Bears, visit their web site at
www.MattesonBearsFootball.com as
well as our site throughout the season.
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Amateur Sports News
Network also interviewed Coach Ray Evans on our weekly podcast, which
can be heard online via our Podcast center by selecting the Podcast icon
on this page. You can listen to our show live
on Tuesday evenings at 630pm at www.talkshoe.com/tc/23028/ and/or you
can dial in and chat with us at 724-444-7444 Call ID: 23028. |
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