Feb. 18--Illinois, Northwestern, Northern Illinois and Illinois State players received awards at the National Football Foundation ceremony Monday at Halas Hall, but the show-stopper came when representatives of Wendell Phillips Academy took to the podium.
Located about a mile southeast of U.S. Cellular Field, Phillips Academy has been transformed from a failing (Level 3) school to a top-performing (Level 1) Chicago Public School in which every senior on the football team is on track to graduate.
"We have nothing; we get nothing," athletic director John Byrne told a crowd of about 200. "We have seven homeless football players and 147 homeless students. We're making something out of nothing every day."
Phillips is now a powerhouse football program thanks to head coach Troy McAllister and assistant Michael Larson, who took in defensive back Jamal Brown, who feared for his safety in his neighborhood.
"Two years ago, I didn't know where my life would end up," said Brown, who plans to play for Illinois State in the fall. "Getting this prestigious award means a lot."
Jeff Joniak, the voice of the Bears, emceed the event, put on by the NFF's Chicago Metro Chapter and sponsored by the Bears.
Mental Toughness Awards were given to Illinois offensive lineman Ted Karras, Northern Illinois offensive lineman Tyler Loos, Northwestern receiver Kyle Prater and Illinois State defensive back Dion Starnes.
Illinois coach Tim Beckman praised Karras, who will be a fifth-year senior in the fall, as "the big brother of the football team."
Fitzgerald said Prater, the Proviso West product who recently earned a Northwestern degree, personifies mental toughness. Once the nation's top-rated recruit at his position, Prater overcame a transfer from USC and numerous injuries to lead the Wildcats with 51 receptions. He is training in Florida in hopes of securing a pro career.
Several high school athletes were recognized, and kicker Tom Obarski of Concordia University-St. Paul (Minn.) received the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award.
Fitzgerald advised youth football players to use the sport to their benefit, saying of former NU quarterback and Mental Toughness Award winner Dan Persa: "I don't know what he does (for a living), but he has a nicer suit than I do."
