Inner city football team makes history and wins it’s first ever bid to Pop Warner’s National Championship
They need your help to get there!
Submitted by Iseka Harrison
MIAMI, FL – What if Ice Cube’s movie, The Longshots, actually happened in your hometown? Well it has! On Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, the 105 LB TACOLCY Raiders traveled from Liberty City to St. Cloud, Fla. and defeated the Creekside Outlaws 8-0. Now the undefeated team is hoping to head to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando to vie for the national championship. But if they can’t raise the funds needed by this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 it’ll be a very long shot indeed.
The holiday win marks the first time since TACOLCY’s sports program began over 30 years ago that they’ve made it to the national championship game. With annual cuts to funding and rising expenses, they’ve exhausted their resources and need help covering their basic food, equipment and travel expenses.
The 105 LB. team is composed of 27 young men, ages 10-11, who have been loyal and hardworking throughout the entire season. Now they just want a chance to defend their title.
“It’s been a long wait and a lot of effort put into TACOLCY bringing its football program up to this level. This will be a great experience for our players to make history and be the agency’s first team to win a national title,” said 105 LB. head coach, Stephon McGill.
Cedric Hooper, the Athletic Director at TACOLCY, echoes McGill’s sentiments. He said the win was well-deserved and is long overdue. He credits faith in God and hard work as the reasons they were victorious.
“I know what God’s glory looks like and what He can do. We won because of God’s hand. I’m happy for my players and my coaches because I know this is the result of obedience and hard work paying off,” Hooper said. “The kids have worked so very hard and it would be a shame if we can’t make it to nationals due to short funding.”
Total costs for food, transportation and lodging of the entire team and coaching staff is $19,000 dollars. The team has applied for a travel grant and solicited donations but is still $18,000 short.
As the holidays approach, you can give the champs the best present ever by helping them go all the way to nationals. You can either bring a check or money order to the center at 6161 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33127 or you may donate online by going to tacolcy.org and clicking the “Donate Now’ button. No amount is too small and the peewee Raiders would be forever grateful.
For more information about TACOLCY’s Sports Development Program and how you can help the champs go all the way, contact Hooper at 305-751-1295 ext. 128. To learn more about TACOLCY, its signature programs and services, or how you can get involved, visit www.tacolcy.org.
