Robbins’ Coaches Justin Harris and Dwayne Tyson Give Football Team More Than Just Football
Robbins’ Coaches Justin Harris and Dwayne Tyson Give Football Team More Than Just Football (Robbins, IL) – Coaches Justin Harris and Dwayne Tyson understand the role football can play in a person’s life. They have been involved in molding young men through sports for more than a decade and teaching them essential life skills and lessons. And the importance of being a good person and role model first before being a good football player.
“Football is just different from other sports. You have to learn discipline and you have to learn how to overcome when things are difficult,” said Harris, co-president and 11U head coach of the Robbins/Dixmoor Viking Eagles. “Football offers life experience and offers a lot of tools that they can use now and they will use for the rest of their lives. It is important to get kids out of their area so they can see other things and don’t have to wait until they are older.”
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The coaches took their squads recently to Las Vegas for an incredible week-long experience, including visiting Allegiant Stadium where the NFL Las Vegas Raiders play, restaurants and walking down the main Vegas Strip.
“We have kids where their parents have never been on an airplane,” said Tyson, co-president and 9U head coach of the Robbins/Dixmoor Viking Eagles. “They were taking pictures of the clouds and you can tell this is something they will never forget. This was a vacation with a splash of football. We had them write down ten different things they wanted to see and do.”
Both teams left Vegas with successful wins. Harris’ team beat a California team 44-0. Tyson’s team won two games including a 13-6 over an Alaskan team.
Ryan Harris, 12, has been playing football for the past seven years and viewed the Vegas trip as one of the best experiences of his life.
“Vegas was fun and incredible. We took pictures of everything, ate great goods and visited the wax museum. Visiting the Raiders stadium was one of the best parts because you saw how big it was. They had a hot tub, a big kitchen with food and a large locker room,” said Ryan, a sixth grader, who plays defensive tackle.
He also had fun playing football down there recording a couple of tackles, QB rushes and sacks.
“Playing football teaches you how to come together and how you can overcome one bad mistake and fix it as a team. You keep going, work together and lift each other up,” said Ryan.
The Robbins Eagles have been a Pop Warner staple since 1983. They are the 11 and under D1 Pop Warner State champions Throughout the season, the team outscored its opponents 210-26. They were undefeated the entire regular season, but lost in the Regional Championship game against Ohio.
“We played well offensively, had some good defensive stops and special teams played well,” said Ky’ren Edmon, 12, seventh grader who plays running back and linebacker. “Our coaches worked hard and we really feel like we are brothers on the team and nobody is selfish.”
Ky’ren, who is the number one ranked player in his age group in the state, was successful in Vegas as he ran back two kickoffs and scored two more rushing touchdowns.
The young men said they were happy that the trip was more than simply a football trip.
“This was the first time I was ever in Vegas and I would definitely want to go back,” said Ky’ren. “It was hard coming back home. The weather was great and it was nice to travel and be someplace new.”
After taking some time off in the winter, the team will regroup for spring league football and a possible trip to Kansas City in July.
“I just love playing football because it is physical and challenging. There are good players that you have to play against and you are trying your hardest to win,” he said.
Robbins’ Coaches Justin Harris and Dwayne Tyson Give Football Team More Than Just Football
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