Fightin' Irish Football                

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ATTENTION ST. MARY’S FOOTBALL

REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL THE FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE ON JULY 21, 2008. WE WELCOME ANY PLAYERS AGES 7-14 TO THE FIGHTING IRISH PROGRAM. COST IS $125.00. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL 815-33IRISH OR E-MAIL AT IRISHFOOTBALL@STANS.NET

St Mary's Football will begin on July 21st.

2008 Football Registration

St. Mary's Youth Football 2008 campaign is fast approaching and we would like you to participate. St. Mary's Youth Football program is a member of the Illini Youth Football League (www.illiniyouthfootball.com) which includes teams from Southern Wiconsin and Northern Illinois. The season runs from late July through late October and includes weekly practices and weekend games. The season culminates with a playoff system, including Super Bowl and Championship Bowl games in late October.

The emphasis of the St. Mary's Youth Football Program is to provide sound leadership to the participants in developing the fundamentals of youth football and team sports participation. Players will be schooled in the proper fundamentals of the game of football by coaches with experience totaling:

  • 20+ years of play at the collegiate level
  • 30+ years of coaching at the high school level
  • 4 IHSA State titles and numerous state playoff appearances
  • 5+ years of play at the semi-pro level
  • 2 IYFL Super Bowl titles and multiple playoff appearances
  • 3 St. Mary's teams made the Super Bowl round in 2007

    • The 2008 season is open to all District 200 boys and girls ages 7 (prior to September 1, 2008) through eighth grade. All are eligible for the league and are welcomes and encouraged to play. All necessary equipment for the season is provided. The registration fee for the season is $125.00 and is due at the time of registration. A copy of the player's birth certificate is also required at the time of registration.
    PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO REGISTRATION.

    You can still register for the 2008 St. Mary season by calling the St. Mary Football hotline at 815-33IRISH or email at Irishfootball@stans.net

    Also, we will be having a mini-camp for all current and prospective St. Mary's football players on May 19, 20, 21, 2008. The camp will be held at Marian Central Catholic High School. We will have additional information available at the time of registration.

    If you have any questions or are in need of any additional information please contact Clancy Green at 815-382-0170. We look forward to having a successful and rewarding 2008 Fighting Irish football season.

    St. Mary’s Youth Football program is a member of the Illini Youth Football League which includes teams from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The season runs from late July through late October and includes weekly practices and weekend games. The season culminates with a playoff system, including Super Bowl and Championship Bowl games in late October.

     

    St. Mary football learns from Bears

    By Andrew Dreischarf
    The Independent

    The St. Mary School Fightin’ Irish youth football teams learned some extra knowledge from Chicago Bears coaches and players on the soccer field at Marian Central Catholic High School May 28.

    Young players and even some coaches stared wide-eyed, smiling and listening to Bears defensive coordinator Bob Babich as he preached the importance of having a strong defense. Babich would know, as his defense helped lead the Bears to Super Bowl XLI in 2007. Babich and linebackers coach Lloyd Lee, along with newly aquired rookies Zackary Bowman, Craig Steltz and Ervin Baldwin, helped teach proper defensive techniques to Fightin’ Irish players at the teams’ minicamp in order to help prepare for the upcoming season, which begins in August.

    “I love little kids,” said Babich. “They have a lot of energy and want to learn. This is my fourth year coming here and I love it. Spring has been good and 2008 is going to be great for all.”

    The partnership began in 2005 thanks to Andy Hartleib, who played linebacker for Bears head coach Lovie Smith and Babich at the University of Wisconsin. They stayed in contact, and football is one big fraternity, which allowed Hartleib to forge a partnership with the Bears. Hartleib is coach of the St. Mary middleweight team with Wayne Manning. Hartleib’s son plays for the Fightin’ Irish. Manning also serves as vice president of the Fighting Irish.

    The players all enjoyed learning and participating in various drills with the Bears. This is the fourth season the Bears and St. Mary have worked together.

    “The minicamp teaches not only the players proper technique and fundamentals, but also the coaching staff as well,” said Manning. “We’ve all taken something away from these sessions.”

    All of this leads up to the 80th season for Fightin’ Irish football. Started in 1926, the team has a lot of tradition and continues to be great a building block for local high school teams.

    Many former Fightin’ Irish players have gone on to be standout football players at the high school level and beyond.

    “Both WHS coaches and Marian coaches have commented in the past that they know when a player comes to their program that was at St. Mary’s previously, given the discipline and knowledge of football fundamentals that he exhibits,” said Clancy Green, Fightin’ Irish President.

    All three of the St. Mary teams made the Super Bowl round in 2007. “We’re excited to start,” said Manning.

    Registration for the 2008 St. Mary Fightin’ Irish football season is still open until the first day of practice, Monday, July 21. “All District 200 children are welcome to play for the Irish,” said Manning. For information, call 815-33IRISH or e-mail Irishfootball@stans.net.

    This article was published in the June 4, 2008 edition of The Woodstock Independent.

    Mini Camp:

        

     

     

    Reminder:

    Volunteers are needed for all positions!  Go to Volunteer page for more detail! 

      For questions about this website or the football program mail to irishfootball@stans.net