“A lot of the kids you see come from different backgrounds, everybody has a different story,” Wilson said. “You always see some of your story in them.”
Wilson takes the players to an out-of-state tournament annually to give them a new experience. This year the tournament is in Daytona, Florida.
“I do it because I want the kids to experience something they never have,” Wilson said. “Some experiences can change a person’s life.”
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When the players go to the tournament they are responsible for a $25 entry fee and transportation. The rest of the trip is paid for by Wilson and donations, Jackie Bohn, a parent of a player on the team, said.
Bohn explained that Wilson pays for the player’s meals and a fun activity for the players to do as a team.
Over the summer, Wilson decided to take fundraising upon himself by mowing grass after getting off from his third-shift job.
He said he would knock on resident’s doors and ask if they wanted their grass mowed or residents would call him after seeing his Facebook post.
Wilson did not charge them a set price, but accepted donations for the team.
He earned around $1,200.
“It wasn’t the amount I was worried about getting,” Wilson said. “The more grass I cut, every time I was paid - was a win for me.”
Bohn describes Wilson as a positive mentor, who is a great influence on young children.
“They see that it’s just not about football,” Bohn said. “It has built fundamentals for them, just not in football, but what they are learning they are taking it on and off the field.”
Wilson is also a volunteer assistant coach at Springfield High School.
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Wilson has coached two groups of junior GWOC conference players.
“Seeing the first group doing what they are doing and the second group doing what they are doing. That’s the ultimate pay,” Wilson said. “That’s what I do it for.”
The first group is now sophomores on the Springfield High School football team and the second group is playing in their final peewee tournament game during Thanksgiving weekend.
In the last four years, the second group has won three super bowls, one national championship, and was a finalist in another championship, Wilson said.
Next year, Wilson will cycle down to the bantam peewee football team, where he will coach his 5-year-old son.
“Everything I do is for the youth. The kids that we have growing up now are going to be our future going forward. It’s not so much of an on the field success either, it’s more the core values of integrity and everything.” Wilson said. “I’m just trying to show kids there are other ways to do things than just the one way.”
27 players: Springfield Titan’s 6th grade football team
3: Super Bowl wins
1: National Championship win
1: Championship finalist
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