When asked about what their vision was regarding the SouthSide Honey Badger organization years from now, each of the coaches proffered up two of the most authentic answers I believe I have ever come across. Coach Leno Green responds, “Not every kid is NFL material, you know? We just want to give them the experience they would have otherwise missed; the socialization, the friendships formed, being part of something real; a team, and the memories, you know? No one can ever take that from them.” Coach Andy Mueller expanded on his best friend's answer, “We want to instill in these kids how important it is to open doors for other’s instead of creating roadblocks and hurdles. That’s what you do in this life. You don’t close doors in people’s faces or create hurdles for them; you do everything you can to help that person succeed.”
What impresses me the most about the entire coaching staff, lies in their resilience, their tenacity. Although there have been issues, it's like they are saying, “You can try to stop us but we will either move right through you, past you, or around you.” And their motivation is clear. It’s not about the money as half the kids are paying for their registration fees in installments. Coach Mueller says that if the kids don't have something to focus on such as football or cheerleading, their lives are likely to take that familiar turn into the world of drugs and violence.
Coach Mueller says, "We don’t coach these kids because we want to become wealthy. We coach them so we can instill in them at a young age that even though their competitors may live in a multi-million-dollar home or government funded housing when everyone puts on that uniform, all bets are off financially. It doesn't matter what type of environment that child grew up in. Before you know it, the kids from the opposite ends of tax brackets are becoming fast friends. That’s what matters to us, to remove the stereotypes or prejudices existing in the world today. On the football field, you are just another kid in pads and a helmet, and whether your parents have cash in the bank is of no concern. They are just kids playing a game they love. They aren’t laying on the couch watching countless You Tube videos, or dealing drugs, or involved in violence of any kind. Kids in our organization can’t help what level of income the home they were born into. They are simply kids who we cherish as our own, and we are giving them something they will never forget; a chance to belong to a team.”
Everything the coaches have laid the foundation for is everything we want our tomorrows to be. FAIR. BETTER. And as Coach Mueller pointed out, “Teach them to unlearn what they have been taught about themselves. We are teaching them to open doors for others, no matter what, and never to put hurdles in front of other people’s successes, regardless of all the hurdles they have had to jump.”
The ultimate vision, as told to me by both Coach Green and Coach Mueller is to have a multi-sportsplex built, where the Honey Badger’s AND NEIGHBORING sports teams of any kind are WELCOMED. The coaches envision basketball teams, gymnastics, wrestling, cheerleading camps, and competitions. They are creating opportunities for kids where there was nothing at all before. Think about it. That’s HUGE. And they are offering educational skills through tutoring and mentoring.
Visit their website: www.Leaguelineup.com/sshoneybadgers.
Right now, anything and everything any football team needs to succeed have yet to find its way to the Southside Honey Badger’s team. Just look at the talent. The photos speak for themselves. The potential. The drive of this organization. Anyone who invests in this team will be wearing their SouthSide Honey Badger shirt with pride. This overlooked team offers unlimited potential. Donations and sponsorships are needed. You can contact me or call Coach Leno Green or Coach Andy Mueller. Contact information is at the end of this article.
There is not one of us that hasn’t needed support at one time in our life or another. Now is the time to pay it forward.
(Continue on next page)