By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – On Wednesday June 22 the Southern Illinois University Football Team came to Chester to help clean up the community and provide a FREE Mini Football Camp for kids. It was the 2nd Annual SIU Clean-Up Day for the Salukis in Chester, the inaugural event being held last year in the summer of 2021.
SIU Head Football Coach, Nick Hill, who was raised in DuQuoin, Illinois, knows the importance of players giving back to the local communities that come to support them throughout the football seasons.
“I was raised in this area and really appreciate the great support we get from local communities on Saturday afternoons throughout the season. The players realize this and have no problem giving back to those communities via the annual clean up days. This program also teaches the players the importance of community service and helping to make Southern Illinois a better place to live.”
SIU Director of Football Operations, Brett Johnson, meets with Saliki players and coaches prior to the start of the 2nd Annual SIU Football “Clean-Up Day” in Chester to pas out work assignments. The cleanup day began at 10:00 a.m. and proceeded until 3:00 p.m. when the FREE Mini Camp began. Jim Beers Photo
Coach Hill divided his team in half on Wednesday June 22 with half going to DuQuoin with him and several of the other coaches to clean up Indian Territory while the other half came to Chester with SIU Director of Football Operations, Brett Johnson and several coaches to clean up YellowJacket Territory.
The day consisted of three parts with the first beginning with the actual Clean-Up Day at 10:00 a.m., followed by a delicious luncheon at noon at the Chester Eagles, and ending with a FREE Mini Football Camp at 3:00 p.m.
This crew of SIU Football Players worked on the main streets of Chester picking up trash Wednesday June 22 at the 2nd Annual SIU Football Clean-up Day. Pictured are John Czech, Brett Johnson, Director of Football Operations, Stone Norton, Zach Zebrowski, and Nick Baker.
Bethany Weber-Berner, City Treasurer, served as liaison with Brett Johnson, Director of Football Operations, to coordinate the event. As players arrived they gathered at the Mississippi River to organize and get assignments. City Street Department employees were on hand to help supervise and assist with the event.
SIU Running Backs Coach, Nate Griffin said, “Today I brought most of the Saluki offense to help clean up Chester. Many of the boys have never seen the Mississippi River or the countryside of Southern Illinois, so they are stoked and happy to be here!”
Players spent most of the morning walking the entire length of the riverfront from the water plant all the way to the railroad station picking up trash and doing other light work. Another crew walked the streets of Chester from downtown all the way to City Hall before lunch. By noon most of the main part of the city was clean.
SIU Football players meet Wednesday June 22 at the Chester riverfront to take part in the 2nd Annual SIU Clean-Up Day. Approximately 40 Saluki players and coaches came to town for the event. Many had never seen the Mississippi River or toured beautiful Southern Illinois. Jim Beers Photo
Several City of Chester Police Officers followed the players through town providing safety and traffic control and numerous City Street Department workers traveled with the players showing them the way through the streets of Chester and picking up garbage bags of trash that had been filled.
Part 2 of the day included a delicious luncheon for the players and coaches. For the second year in-a-row the Chester Eagles Club prepared a delicious meal for the Salukis including fried chicken, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, bread, and soft drinks.
Mayor Tom Page attended the luncheon and welcomed the players and coaches and thanked them for coming to Chester for the 2nd Annual Saluki Clean-Up Day. Page praised their efforts. As a “thank you” for their efforts, Mayor Page presented Brett Johnson, Director of SIU Football Operations with a donation to the Saluki Football Program from the City of Chester in appreciation for their hard work.
The following Chester Eagles cooks and kitchen staff prepared a delicious meal of fried chicken, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, bread, and soft drinks for the SIU Saluki Football players and coaches Wednesday June 22 for the Chester clean-up Day. Picturedare Larry Dillow, Trustee, Helen Korando, Terry McCormick, Cullen Sonnier, Robert Mathis, and Kayla Garniss. Not only did the Eagles purchase, prepare and serve the wonderful meal, the Eagles also donated the feast for the players and coaches! Jim Beers Photo
Mayor Page was prepared to provide payment to the Chester Eagles for their hard work in purchasing, preparing and serving the luncheon for the event, but Larry Dillow, Eagles Trustee, informed Page that the Eagles had decided to donate the meal in its entirety. Much thanks was offered by both Page and the Saluki Football players and coaches for the wonderful meal!
After lunch players and coaches went back onto the streets of Chester to clean additional portions of the city in outlying areas. All together they spent a total of approximately 4-hours picking up trash in Chester during the clean-up portion of the day.
Phase 3 of the day included a FREE Mini Football Clinic for kids up to the age of 8th Grade. The clinic took place at the Cohen Recreation Area Soccer Fields and was coordinated by Chester Recreation Director Patti Carter and City Hall Staff.
A total of 34 kids attended the camp on a very hot and humid day. Saluki Football Players broke the group into several small groups to teach various aspects of the game of football. Players loved working with the kids and the youth who attended the camp were on cloud nine!
Bethany Weber Berner said, “The SIU players and coaches were fantastic working with the kids. You should have seen the kid’s eyes light up when they interacted with the collegiate players. They really loved it!”
Overall the 2nd Annual SIU Football Clean-Up Day and FREE Kid’s Football Camp was deemed a huge success for the second year in-a-row!
Much thanks goes out to the Salukis for their continued support of the event and to the City of Chester for hosting the event. Furthermore thanks to the Chester Police Department and City employees for their cooperation and support and to the Chester Eagles for donating the delicious luncheon for the players and coaches.
The Salukis open their 2022 season Saturday September 3 in Texas at Incarnate Word. The season home opener will be Saturday September 10 when the Dawgs host local Ohio Valley Conference rival, SEMO at 6:00 p.m. at Salukis Stadium. Saturday September 17 SIU travels to Northwestern to take on the non-conference Wildcats.