WENDELL PHILLIPS’ FOOTBALL TEAM ATTENDS CHICAGO FOOTBALL CLASSIC
Phillips’ Football Team Attends Chicago Football Classic
By Christopher Shuttlesworth
Wendell Phillips Wildcats Football team recently received enough equipment for their entire team from former star quarterback Peyton Manning and was able
to attend the 20th Annual Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field due to a ticket donation from Citizen Newspaper Group.
Coach Troy McAllister, who is the head coach of the Phillips Wildcats Football team, said it was a great opportunity and a unique experience to attend the Chicago Football Classic.
In 2010, Wendell Phillips Academy was forced to shut down due to poor academic performance and reopened with a new full staff and only 12 players on the Phillips Wildcats Football team. But today, over 100 student-athletes suit up to play for Phillips’ 2017 football roster.
McAllister explained that Phillips added a freshmen roster this year, but didn’t have adequate equipment. In the state of Illinois, football is decreasing, but Phillips
numbers are increasing each year.
“We never want to turn away a young man that wants to play football because of lack of equipment,” he said. “Peyton Manning really stepped up and to see him come and spend time with the young men was great.”
McAllister said providing steady equipment for his players and being able to track the severity of their tackles and hits during games are crucial to their safety. He continued to explain that the current impact concussion monitor, which is built into the helmets, allows coaches to receive notifications when players experience serious hits during games or practices.
“Obviously, we know the hits that happen during major injuries, but sometimes they are hits that we don’t know about,” McAllister said. “Young football players
are tough young men who don’t always inform you that an injury happens. But the monitor for the impact concussion program allows me to check out any player
who may have had a big hit and helps me decide whether or not to pull them out of the game.”
McAllister said the Phillips Wildcats is on a six-game winning streak and plans to increase their focus as they face the Raby Raiders on Oct. 6.
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