Another fantastic Thursday evening was spent in Hampton with our Bulldog Football players. The Sideliners Program was started by Bulldog & Iowa Coaches Hall of Famer, Coach Jerry Shafrath in the mid 90’s and is a tradition continued today by Head Football Coach Cole Miller. The program brings young football players together with a “mentor” from the community. We have a meal and talk about previous and upcoming games, camps, Iron Dog and other things that are happening within the team. When I was a sophomore in High School I was introduced to my sideliner Dennis Swieter, who I am still very close with to this day, and he has continued to be involved with the program and is currently the Sideliner for my son, Joe Powers. Coach Shafrath, who is now retired, has come back and continues to mentor young men within the program that he created. Last night we had beef burgers with sides and a dessert that is prepared by team mothers and volunteers. We have also been treated to honey lemonade, provided by one of our young football linemen, Emmett Elling. Emmett is a local honey bee keeper/entrepreneur, who you can find on Facebook under the name Iowa Bee and his website iowabee.com. Emmett sells delicious local honey from right here in the Hampton/Latimer area. Big thank you to last night’s meal sponsors Scott Hoegh, Burmester Seed & Service, Rick Schall & Ryan Conlon. Last week’s sponsors were Dennis Swieter, Colt Powers, Jerry Kaldenberg, Miller’s Alignment, Dustin Moorehead & Brent Hansen. The Sideliners program is something I hold in very high regard as because of Coach Shafrath. I have had a lifelong relationship with Sweed, who is my closest friends, my coach, my mentor and a man I consider a father figure. Sideliners is a fantastic program that if you have the opportunity to be a part of, I highly recommend it. It can literally be life changing.
