Metro: ‘More than just football’

Fred Doughty stood in an end zone last Wednesday at Memorial Park Middle

Chargers head coach Cornelius Billingsley talks to his reserve players during a break in a game against the reserve Colts.

Colts reserve player Brandon Sanders drinks water during a break in a game against the Chargers reserve team.

Photos by Cathie Rowand/The Journal Gazette Durand Dennis runs the ball for the reserve Chargers during a Metro Youth Sports game Wednesday at Memorial Park Middle School.

The Chargers reserve team huddles up to receive play options during game action against the Colts reserve team.

Colts reserve player Anthony Young, left, runs in a touchdown while teammate Brandon Sanders provides protection.

 School taking his Omega Colts junior varsity football team through drills before its game with the Chargers.

After starting with some simple running plays, the 9- and 10-year-olds executed a couple of option pitches that would make former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne proud.

“You don’t want your kids out there looking sloppy,” Doughty would later say with a smile.

For 30 years, the Metro Youth Sports football league has shaped kids on and off the field.

There are close to 1,000 participants in this year’s football and cheerleading program for ages 7-12. Among Metro Youth Sports’ goals are to develop mutual and self-respect and to grow positive attitudes between youths, family members, peers and the community.

“It keeps kids out of trouble. It keeps them involved in something rather than running the streets,” said Doughty, a coach in the program for the past 13 years. “This league is a really good league for the kids and for the parents as well.

“So many kids get lost. We have a lot of parents working two jobs and a lot of single parents. By us being there, it helps out a lot. A lot of these kids look up to us coaches. I like working with them.”

Doughty can also speak from his experience as a player. Without hesitation – or much prodding – he’ll proudly point out that he was the starting quarterback for the Raiders in 1983 when they won the league’s Super Bowl, 45-0.

“We formed relationships, and bragging rights,” said Terence Bramley, who played for McCullough Center in 1976 and now has two sons participating in the program.

“To this day, we still talk about which team was better than which team at this time. You’ll carry it with you always.”

The program has three divisions: pee wee (7-8), junior varsity (9-10) and varsity (11-12). There are eight teams in the pee wee division and nine each in the junior varsity and varsity.

Wednesday, with several spectators parked in lawn chairs beyond the fence, an announcer called the action and two groups of cheerleaders went through routines – and that was just for the junior varsity game.

Bramley spent the evening cheering on his son Jibri, who plays on the Chargers’ junior varsity team.

“It’s well worth the watch,” he said. “You see some of these kids still coloring in coloring books, but they go out here and they can play the positions they came out here to play. They are tough and mean, but then they will come and hug their mom and dad and ask if they can go to Dairy Queen. It’s a trip how they change.”

Bramley’s 7-year-old son, Malik, is already well versed in the role of a linebacker.

“I learned how to keep my feet moving, from side to side, and if I see the person, just rush in and get him,” Malik said.

Who knows, Malik or Jibri might become the next Vaughn Dunbar. The former NFL running back is one of the famous alums of the program. Others include current college football players Larry Bostic (Ball State), Bernard Pollard (Purdue) and James Hardy (Indiana).

“Over 30 years, we have one of the best programs, not in the city, but across the country, from a black perspective, serving black children,” said Jim Winters, the program’s president. Winters said more than 100 volunteers lend a hand, assisting in everything from coaching to concessions to working the chains. The league is also looking for sponsors to help with the rising costs associated with providing items such as uniforms.

Metro is affiliated with the American Youth Football and Cheer association. Through the collaboration, three of the league’s teams will compete at the AYF championship Dec. 5-10 in Tucson, Ariz. Winters said 118 kids, including a group of cheerleaders, will make the bus trip to Arizona.

Next on the docket are the program’s annual playoffs. The first round begins 9 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Park Middle School. There will be eight games (four junior varsity and four varsity), leading up to the Metro Youth Sports Super Bowl on Oct. 23 at Wayne High School.

Beyond the playing field, Winters said plans are in place to link playing time to education. Some coaches, like Doughty, have already sat out kids as a way to stress the importance of performing well at school.

“It’s more than just football. We try to reach out to them, and help them with tutoring, meals, the league gives out free physicals to people who might otherwise be disadvantaged,” Bramley said. “It’s well worth the time and effort.”