RAIDER FOOTBALL

Please check this site through out the year for important information for next season.

The Raiders football program represents the parish of St. Regis
in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Detroit.

Click here for 2011 Raiders Sports Registration Form

Hard to believe as fast it came upon us, the 2011 Raider Football season is over. I am most proud to report that wins and losses aside, the 2011 Raiders upheld our traditions impeccably and Represented our Churches and Schools extremely well.

We had our largest turn out of players ever with over 175 Football players and 30 Coaches participating this year on 7 teams . It is no easy task having that many kids practicing 5 Days a week in the same place and participating in games, but thanks to the monumental efforts of many in the Raider football family, we pulled it off.

Highlights for this season included both Freshman teams (3rd and 4th Grade) going 7 and 1 , The JV Black (5th grade) winning their Divisional championship with a 5 and 1 mark and the JV White ( 5th Grade) just missing a division championship with a 4 and 2 record. The Varsity 1 (7th and 8th Grade) persevered and made it to the CYO City Championship game for the 5th time in 6 years only to lose to a powerful division rival Warren St. Anne Eagles in the Final game at Ford Field 36 to 6. We are very proud of our departing 8th graders, who led their team to the final with a near perfect game in the Semi Finals over Walled Lake St. William Crusaders at Novi Catholic Central 30 to 8. The Raiders avenged an opening season loss to the gritty St. William squad to gain the birth in the CYO Championship at the Prep Bowl.

Off the field, the Raiders sparkled once again by hosting the 4 Way Food Drive along with the MYAA, to pack the food pantry at St. Christine’s in Detroit. We also sent a Marine division in Northern Afghanistan 9 HUGE boxes of food, toiletries, magazines and heartfelt letters that really boosted the morale of our fighting men and women. The Raiders also invaded the Evergreen Health and Wellness Center to visit the elderly over two days bringing the love and comfort of Jesus Christ to those ill, recovering from surgery or just lonely and in need of some company. Lastly, the Varsity 1 and 2 (7th and 8th Grade) teams hosted the 9th annual Raider Rumba in the Fr. Shields Club Room and the Gym to help raise money for Raider Football Charities like Angel’s Place, Wounded Warriors and the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Rope Bakery. Being a Raider Built for Others ALWAYS makes us winners on and off the Field.

Special thanks go out to the Coaches, players, parents, team managers, and special shout outs to the Van Faussien Family, the Deters Family, the Rea Family, Brother Rice High School, Al Fracassa, Ken Kandt, Marian High School, Dave Feldman, Detroit Country Day, Dan MacLean, Glen Shilling and Ross Cooper, and Msgr. Chuck, for joining us at Ford Field and for saying mass on the morning of our Championship game at 6:45 am, as well as Fr. Yost who celebrated mass with us all season long on Saturdays. St. Regis Principal Chris Ciagne. Thanks to the Linehan and Donaldson families for helping pack and mail the boxes to our troops. We Can’t forget to give thanks to the students, faculty, Pastors, Principals and communities of St. Regis, Holy Name, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Sacred Heart and St. Owen for their support…. Lastly, thanks to Holy Name and St. Regis for the awesome Pep Rallies led by the Cheer teams of both schools!

Coach MacLean and Coaching Staff

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Raider Nation CYO Championship Edition

This Week: 10/22/11
10am Raider Varsity VS St. Anne @ Ford Field CYO City Championship Game.

10/22/11 -7pm- 9:30pm The 9th annual Raider Rumba : At the St. Regis gym sponsored by the Raider Football Team. 7th and 8th graders only from the following parishes and schools: St. Regis, Holy Name, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Sacred Heart Academy. Pizza, Pop and desert plus a DJ. $5.00 entry fee goes to Raider Football Charities. We are need of Parent Chaperones. Please contact Coach MacLean for more information.

Prep Bowl Tickets: Available at practice all week. Tickets are $6.00 from St. Regis and $8.00 at the door.

Equipment Turn- in: Will take place on Monday, October 24th, from 5pm to 7pm. Please make sure equipment is returned CLEAN. Players can keep practice jerseys. Please remove mouth guards, wipe down inside helmets and pads with some rubbing alcohol. Please try to make the date!

Annual Raider Football Banquet: Will take place at Glenn Oaks Country Club once again on November, 4th, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. We can use some team managers to recruit some volunteers for this event. Parents are asked to sit with their players at this event. Photos will also be available for pick up at the banquet. WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Operation Shoe Box: Thanks to all the players for all the wonderful letters and goods for the Soldiers. The response was tremendous. We also want to give a HUGE shout out to Kristen Linehan and Rosanne Donaldson for their help, as well as Raider 5th grader Marcus Linehan for his help in packing and posting the boxes.

Evergreen Hills Nursing Home Visit: The 200 strong Red clad Raider Nation invaded on Saturday and Sunday with many of our friends, siblings and parents in the Raider Football Family. Our mission was to spread the love, kindness and compassion of Jesus. An extraordinary job Raiders! Way to make a difference!

Built for Others- Robert loved music, writing, poetry and painting. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941… Robert, then 17, asked his parents if he could join up early. In April of 1945, he led his squad into Dachau, a concentration camp and were among the first Allied troops to enter the camp just hours ahead of the fleeing Germans. What he saw in that camp sickened and saddened him the rest of his life. Human life discarded with no regard. Days later he was shot in the knee during combat and had to walk with a cane for the rest of his life. He recuperated in England and was very interested in their culture. He became friends with numerous British people during that time. The images and horror of Dachau would haunt him for the rest of his life. He vowed to see the best in mankind and focus attention on the goodness of people and the joy this life could hold. He and his brother became a songwriting team on a challenge from their dad Al (He wrote: You gotta be a football hero) They went on to write some of Disney’s most famous songs including Academy awards for Mary Poppins. They also wrote all the music for the Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Parent Trap, The Sword and the Stone, as well as songs for Disney’s theme parks like The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room, and It’s a Small world after all. Robert Sherman and his brother Richard Sherman are in the American Songwriters hall of fame. Robert is a great example of taking a negative experience like Dachau, and turning it into a positive by looking at the good in mankind to bring joy to millions of people around the world through song and music.

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Raider Nation Week 8

Last Week:

This Week: PRACTICES WILL START AT 5pm and FINISH at 7pm…. THANK YOU!!!!

10/15
10am Raider JV White vs. St. Lawrence @ Bishop Foley. Wear White
2pm Raider Freshman Red/Black VS St. William @ Brother Rice. Wear Red
4pm Raider JV Black VS St. William @ Brother Rice. Wear Red
12:30pm Raider JV Red VS Ann Arbor Saints @ Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard HS. Wear White
2:30pm Raider V2 VS Ann Arbor Saints @ Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard HS. Wear White
10/ 16
3pm Raider Varsity VS St. William @ Novi Catholic Central High School CYO Semi Finals (We are home team, Wear Red)

Last Week of the Season: With the exception of the Varsity, this week will mark the end of the season for everyone. We have some items to wrap up so please pay close attention to dates. Specifically, Equipment Turn in and our Year End Banquet. This has been another incredibly successful season of Raider football and we appreciate all the support the team enjoys. It has not been without challenges, but as usual, together, we make it all happen. Also, Congratulations JV Black for winning their League Championship!

Equipment Turn- in: Will take place on Monday, October 24th, from 5pm to 7pm. Please make sure equipment is returned CLEAN. Players can keep practice jerseys. Please remove mouth guards, wipe down inside helmets and pads with some rubbing alcohol. Please try to make the date!

Annual Raider Football Banquet: Will take place at Glenn Oaks Country Club once again on November, 4th, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. We can use some team managers to recruit some volunteers for this event. Parents are asked to sit with their players at this event. Photos will also be available for pick up at the banquet.

Operation Shoe Box: Goods will be collected at the field on Tuesday. Please remember a few items per each player are more than enough. The letters are key. We will be packing and shipping by week’s end.

Jersey Day! Friday, October 14th, all players may wear their favorite pro, college, former High School football jerseys to practice. Please do not go out and buy a jersey. We will have a few extras at the field, and your Raider practice jersey will suffice if you do not have one.

Evergreen Hills Nursing Home Visit: The tradition continues! We are scheduled to visit the nursing home on both Saturday and Sunday, October 15th and 16th respectively. Saturday, the Varsity1 and Freshman Teams will visit, Sunday, Varsity2 and JV teams will visit. We will visit from 11am to noon on both days. Players are encouraged to bring some baked goods for the residents we will be visiting. Evergreen Hills is located at 13 mile and Evergreen. On opposite corner from Groves HS.

Built for Others- BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY….James 1:22… These words of St. James are so appropriate today as they were back when they were first written down. Try your best to live the message of Built for Others, not only during Football season, but all the time, and in the same light remember the words of Jesus who said: “The Greatest among you are the one’s who serve the rest.” Keep the faith when things get you down, and try to do your honest best at everything.

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Raider Nation                                                                                                                                Week 7

Last Week:
Raider JV White        6              Our Lady of Victory            19
Raider Freshman Red             7              St. Anne               6
Raider Freshman Black          25            Our Lady of the Lakes    6
Raider JV Red            0              St. St. Anne        35
Raider Varsity             6              St. Anne               31
Raider Varsity2           6              St. Anne               6
Raider JV Black          7              St. Anne               0

This Week:
10/5
Raider Varsity 2 VS DCD 4:30pm @ DCDS Stadium Field
Raider JV Red VS DCD game/ Scrimmage 6:30pm @ DCDS Stadium Field

10/ 8
1pm Raider JV Red VS St. Hugo @ Brother Rice
3pm Raider Freshman Red and Black VS Divine Child @ Brother Rice
5pm Raider JV Black VS Divine Child @ Brother Rice
4pm Raider JV White @ St. Edith at Livonia Churchill

Sunday 10/9
4pm Raider Varsity VS Ann Arbor Saints @ U of D Jesuit High School. 1st Round of CYO Play offs. (We wear Red)

Big Thanks! To Mary Ann Deters and her family for help in organizing concessions and Tricia Van Faussien and her family as well as the team managers for the entire volunteer help this past weekend. We would also like to thank the Kowalski family for their generous donation of hot dogs and sausages this season, as well as the BJ Dammen family for the use of their trailer this season and last season. We couldn’t do it without you!
Also, thanks for everyone’s patience regarding the rainy weather last week. Our field was waterlogged to the point that it was un-playable and so we tried to be flexible with a film session and a practice at Brother Rice. Our field may be a bit soggy still, but it will be better with the sun and wind helping to dry it out. Thanks for keeping the uniforms clean, and sorry about muddy cars etc… The rain was ridiculous

Operation Shoe Box- The flier is passed out today. Goods will be due back to the field by Next Tuesday. Keep in mind the players should be the ones either purchasing the items, or doing some good deed at home to help pay for the gift to the soldiers we are sending these goods to. Kristen Linehan will be helping to coordinate this effort.

Picture Re-Take’s – Will take place on Tuesday for the JV Black, and both Freshman teams, plus, anyone who was not present for photo’s on our previous dates. Mrs. Rapson will have forms at the field for players who lost theirs or did not get one. Players should wear red game uniforms.

Built for Others- in 1978, the sudden death of John Paul l shocked everyone. Up to that time, most of the Pope’s had been Italian, and when the white smoke at the Sistine Chapel signaled that a new Pope had been selected, there was both shock and anticipation as to what the Polish born pope, John Paul ll, would be like…. He served for over a quarter century, and he made 104 trips abroad and inspired, enlightened and challenged people all over the world with his words of wisdom…. But in 1978, before it all happened, he prayed, and then proclaimed to all of us…. “BE NOT AFRAID!!! LIFE WITH CHRIST IS A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE; HE ALONE CAN GIVE FULL MEANING TO LIFE, HE ALONE IS THE CENTER OF HISTORY… LIVE BY HIM!” (October is a month devoted to the rosary and to Mary, the mother of Jesus, both staples of John Paul ll magnificent life of service and humility)
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Raider Nation                                                                                                                                Week 6

Last Week:

This Week: Is Parents Day for all our home teams. Freshman White will be next weekend when they are home.

Saturday 10/1
10am Raider Varsity VS St. Anne @ Detroit Country Day. Wear Red.
1pm Raider JV Black VS St. Anne @ Brother Rice. Wear Red
3pm Raider V2 VS St. Anne @ Brother Rice. Wear Red
5pm Raider JV Red VS St. Anne @ Brother Rice. Wear Red

Sunday 10/2
12noon Raider JV White VS OL Victory @ Brother Rice . Wear Red
2pm Raider Freshman Red VS St. Anne @ Brother Rice . Wear Red
2pm Raider Freshman White @ Our Lady of the Lakes. Wear White

This Weekend- A few reminders: There will be a very limited concessions set up at DCD as there is only one game this weekend there. All other games will be at Brother Rice. Also, please remember to respect the facilities we are at, and make sure young one’s are looked after. Please stay off athletic equipment. Thank You!

Operation Shoe Box- Flier will be coming out this week for the players to help out with. This is a very worthwhile endeavor as we cannot forget our troops and what they do for our country.

Pictures , Sept. 29th - Official Raider Football photographer, Rene Rapson, will be back snapping photos of your favorite Raider Football this week as she will take those handsome Freshman photo’s this week. She will also be taking anyone who may have missed last week due to illness. Players will wear red game uniforms.

Mary Kate MacLean- Is back home and getting better every day. The surgery out in Baltimore went well, and she is still sore. In 2 weeks she will have another procedure at Beaumont Hospital to see how everything is. Thanks to the Raider Football Family for the wonderful expressions of support.

Built for Others- Folks in Basketball crazed Indiana could not figure out why Martinsville High School was so tough…In the past two seasons, they had made it to the fabled Indiana State Championships and finished runners up both times. This is not the story of Hickory High as portrayed in the movie, “Hoosiers”… Martinsville had not won the championship, and was sick of being runner up…. As one opposing coach said, “Martinsville is nothing flashy, they play sound ball and they don’t beat themselves.” Martinsville had a 3 time All State performer on the team, and when they finally won the coveted State Championship, it meant the world to him. He went on to win championships at Purdue and UCLA… But it was the Indiana State Championship that seemed to mean the most to him…. Reflecting on it he said, “We were humble and simple farm kids who had a deep belief in Jesus Christ, we modeled our integrity after Him”….As for the State Championship, “We didn’t have any superstars on our team, we had guys who rose to the occasion and gave their best effort and in doing so, we made those around us better every day”. The Martinsville, Indiana player was John Wooden, All State, All American, and perhaps the NCAA’s greatest coach of all time.

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Raider Nation Week 5

Last Week:

This Week: Saturday 9/24 vs. St. Lawrence: All Teams wear white away jerseys. Games are at MH Bishop Foley
9am Freshman Red @ St. Lawrence
10:30 am Raider JV Black @ St. Lawrence
12:30pm Raider V2 VS St. Lawrence
2:30pm Raider Varsity VS St. Lawrence
4:30pm Raider JV Red VS St. Lawrence

Sunday 9/25
1:30pm Raider JV White @ Holy Family (Wear White) @ Notre Dame Prep
Raider Freshman Black - BYE

Very important-As you all know, The Raiders do not have a home field to play our home games at. We rely on the generosity of Country Day and Brother Rice to help us host our games… Those High Schools and the places we visit, such as Novi CC, Bishop Foley and Notre Dame Prep etc… all have football equipment that rings the fields… These High Schools use this equipment to train their teams, and they are not play ground items… Still, siblings and younger players continue to climb on them and play on them like they are toys. They are not, and kids can get hurt. We broke an expensive piece of equipment last week at DCD that we will have to pay for. Could have been our fans or OLGC… We don’t know… The point is, we cannot have the kids do this. Coaches are coaching, and the parents REALLY need to keep an eye on the kids so it doesn’t happen again. Otherwise, we will lose our privileges to play at such nice venues…Parents… Watch the kids at the games, and the Coaches will discuss with the players at the field this week.

Operation Shoe Box- Kristen Linehan has agreed to assist the Raider Coaches with this project. A few representatives from each team will be needed to help in the packing and mailing of the boxes we will send overseas to our troops. The kids will be getting a handout soon. See the website from the guys we sent to last year.

Pictures set Sept. 22nd and 24th and the 29th - Official Raider Football photographer, Rene Rapson, will be back snapping photos of your favorite Raider Football player this week and next week. We will have a flier coming Monday and Tuesday for you to fill out and return. Schedule is as follows. Thursday: JV Red, White and Black Friday: V2 and Varsity. Players are to wear Red game uniforms.

Mary Kate MacLean- Will be having surgery in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins Medical Center this week. The MacLean family thanks everyone for the prayers and support that the Raider Football Family has shown. Coach MacLean will be gone from Tuesday to Friday. Coaches Callaghan and Ryder will be in charge.

Built for Others- Two brothers, Raider Football players, noticed their neighbor struggling to bring in his garbage cans. He was getting older and had a bad back and arthritis in his knees and those cans were a challenge to him. The man and his wife had always been so kind to the kids in the neighborhood, especially at Halloween. The boys decided they would go and take the cans out for him on Monday and bring them back in at the end of the day, and from then on until the man and his wife moved away a while later. The man and his wife were very grateful. A few years later, the man died, and at the funeral home, the wife of the man told the boys how much their kindness meant to him. “Love proves itself by small deeds done in a great way” – St. Therese of Lisieux- The Little Flower, describing the “Little way”.

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Raider Nation Week 4

Friday, September 16th @ either Detroit Country Day Indoor Building or Marian Practice field

Thanks Volunteers- We are back home again this weekend. We need to re-stock our beverages. Each family of a player on the following teams needs to bring a case of beverages per player. This helps out tremendously…. Freshman team, bring a case of water, JV Team, bring a case of Gatorade, Varsity, bring a case of diet pop/pop. We really appreciate all the help pitching in. Reminders to help keep DCD clean as we can.

Storm Reminders- We will practice in the rain…. Thunder and lightning take us off the field and over to St. Regis for cover. If thunder and lightning before practice, we will go to St. Regis first, then evaluate if we can go to the field. We have things for the guys to do if inside. We will not take chances with the safety of the boys.

Operation Shoe Box- We will need some volunteers for this as well. A few representatives from each team to assist in the packing and mailing of the boxes we will send overseas to our troops. The kids will be getting a hand out soon. See the website from the guys we sent to last year.

Pictures set Sept. 23rd and 24th and the 29th - Official Raider Football photographer, Rene Rapson, will be back snapping photos of your favorite Raider Football player next week and the following week. We will have a flier coming out this week for you to fill out and return next Thursday and Friday and the following Thursday when pictures will be taken.

Built for Others- Brother Ray is a Capuchin… In the Great tradition of St. Francis, he wears a brown robe with a rope belt. His is a life dedicated to prayer and serving others. Brother Ray is stationed here in Detroit where he serves the poor of our city. There are huge challenges all around him. One particular problem he tries to help, are men who have just been released from prison, or addicts who are just out of a recovery program. These men have had tough lives, and have faced hard struggles that are difficult for the average person to imagine. Brother Ray helped form an idea that would help these men get back on their feet if they are sincere about changing their lives. The On The Rise Bakery was born. Along with suburban volunteers, and Capuchin Friars, the men are getting a new opportunity and a fresh start. One of the former prisoners said, “ We didn’t have a lot of caring in our lives, working at the bakery puts us in touch with people who care about us and won’t judge us. Brother Ray says, “ for a lot of these guys, this baking program is their first chance to succeed”. Brother Ray and some of the crew will be coming to the practice field to talk with the boys, and to sell some baked goods to parents in the parking lot. We will get you the date to witness firsthand a true man Built for Others.

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Raider Nation Week 2

ALL TEAMS WEAR WHITE EXCEPT FRESHMEN RED

Special thanks to all the parent volunteers for all help with parking, concessions, to videographers, chain gangs and cleanup crews. It’s a big part of all we do and it is most appreciated. Again, thanks for Tricia VanFaussien and Mary Ann Deters for leading the charge.

Labor Day- This week’s games will take place at different times and locations so please follow your team’s schedule closely. Also, we will not practice again until Tuesday after Labor Day at 5:30pm
The families of Emily Grombala and Mary Kate MacLean thank you for the Raiders prayers and good thoughts. Continue to pray for them if you will. As we went to print, Coach MacLean texted an update on Mary Kate. The good news is that the clot (and immediate threat) is gone, but they are assessing if another procedure is necessary to relieve pressure on the affected vein. She is still in on bed rest in ICU, but they’re hopeful she will be home Wednesday or Thursday.

24 Hour Rule- Just a reminder that if you have an issue with a coach regarding related to a game or practice, there is a 24 hour cooling off period before the issue can be discussed between coach and parent.

School Starting- Since school is now underway, we will be tightening up start and finish times of practice. Players should also work hard to eat, get schoolwork done and get to bed in a timely manner. Players are also urged to spread the BFO philosophy to their classmates.
Our website will be back up and the schedule online. Keep in mind the schedule can change at any time.

Built for Others: Being a soldier in the Roman army had its privileges… especially if you were an officer. You usually rode a fine horse, and had the respect of all the citizens without having to do much. Martin was such an officer; he was stationed in Gaul, which is now known as France. He was known as a great athlete, and very smart student. It was no wonder he became an officer. He also had a rare characteristic that set him apart from other soldiers…. Compassion. One day Martin was traveling through the city, it was extremely damp and cold. He saw a beggar barely clothed, chilled to the bone. People walked by the man like he was invisible. If he didn’t get some type of clothing to warm him, he would probably die. Martin decided to take off his tunic and give it to the man. The warmth would save him. People noticed the beggar and thought he must have a friend in the Roman Army because he was wearing the scarlet and gold tunic of an officer. That night, when Martin went to sleep. He had a vision of Jesus Christ. In his dream he was astounded to see that it was Christ wearing his military tunic of scarlet and gold. Jesus smiled at Martin and bowed to him in a sign of thanks. Martin learned firsthand what Christ meant when he said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do it to me”.

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Raider Nation Welcome to the 2011 Football Season

Built For Others: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up”. (St. Paul to the Galatians 6

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Operation Shoebox Response

In appreciation for our efforts last fall in providing care packages to the 1st Platoon, Choppin Company, of 101st Airborne ("Operation Shoebox"), we received the following thank you note and photograph:

[I] and the men of 1st Platoon, Choppin Company, would like to thank you for sending us all of the care packages during our latest deployment to Afghanistan. Many of the soldiers in my platoon do not frequently receive care packages, so your gesture to them caused a great increase in morale. As a member of St. Regis Parish, it is inspiring to see the Raiders continuing the St. Regis tradition by reaching out to soldiers deployed in the War on Terror. I wish luck to the Raiders in the upcoming 2011 football season.

Thanks to the entire Raider family who contributed! ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Raider Football Set to Retire 2nd Number

The St. Regis Raider Football team will be retiring jersey #82 in honor of the outgoing pastor of St. Regis, Father Norman Nawrocki .

Fr. Nawrocki has been the pastor at St. Regis for 12 years prior to learning that he would be getting transferred to St. Elizabeth Anne Seton in Rochester, Michigan on July 1st, 2011. The number 82 signifies the year that Fr. Nawrocki was ordained as a Roman Catholic Priest. The Raiders elected to have the honor bestowed on Fr. Norm because he was a major catalyst to bring Raider football back after being dormant since 1985. “ In the year 2000,Fr. Norm realized that football was key to a youngster’s development from boyhood to manhood”, said Tom MacLean, Head Coach of St. Regis Raider Football. “He has been a driving force to make sure that Raider football represents our schools and churches and puts an effort toward being an impact player not only on the field, but in the community”.

Players from St. Regis represent the following parishes and schools: St. Regis, Holy Name, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Our Lady of Albanians, Transfiguration, St. Thomas Moore, St. Hugo, St. Owen, Mother of God, and Sacred Heart School. St. Regis has averaged 150 players a season in grades 3 through 8. The Raiders have won 2 CYO city championships in 2007 and 2010, and have had as many as 6 teams participating in the CYO. More impressive than their titles have been their good deeds in the community as part of their motto suggests, “BFO” or “ Built for Others”. St. Regis Football has traditionally visited nursing homes, sent care packages to our troops overseas and been a good neighbor to people in need in the community with acts of prayers and compassion. “None of this happens without Fr. Norm Nawrocki and his vision and commitment to our youth” MacLean said.

Fr. Norm’s #82 joins #5 Myles Beckley as the only two numbers ever retired in Raider Football. A banner for Fr. Norm’s number will join Myles’ #5 banner in the school gym with his name, and the bible verse from Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”, and the Raiders “BFO” symbol. As a sign of honor and respect to those individuals, none of the Raider Football teams will have player who will ever wear those jerseys again in game competition. For the record, Peter Leary, is the last player to wear #82 for the Raiders. Peter will be attending Brother Rice High School in the fall.

Questions or comments can be directed to Beth Kinna at St. Regis School at 248-646-2686
or Tom MacLean at 248-761-6947

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Dear Raider Football Family,

I had a chance to meet with Chip Evans of the 101st Airborne as he came home to visit his family in November.... Chip, as you all remember, was the recipient of our fantastic outpouring of love and good will in the hundreds of packages we sent to him and his unit over in Afghanistan. As you know, the Evans family was overwhelmed by your generosity, but it paled in comparison to Chip's response. He wishes he could have reached out to all of you to thank you personally for your act of kindness, so he sought me out to relay the message to you.

Words simply do not do justice to describe how Chip and all the soldiers of the 101st felt when they got your packages. Combat has been heavy in the region of Afghanistan known as Four Corners where they are stationed. To know that all of you thought enough of their efforts to send all the wonderful things you sent meant the world to those guys. It was like getting a slice of home... and even though the boxes were small, the genuine, and heartfelt letters that were written boosted morale sky high. It was not lost on them the thought each of you put into the items packed in the boxes. Again, for those guys (and girl) to know that you were thinking of them as they went about their tough duty everyday made a HUGE difference. Chip is familiar with Raiders BFO, and it is a similar philosophy held by him and the "Screaming Eagles" of the 101st. Chip had to head back to Afghanistan the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and he will be there until February 2011 when he gets another trip home to see his family. Things are still difficult over there and Chip apreciates your awesome gesture and hopes you will keep him and all of our Military men and women and their families in your thoughts and prayers over the Holiday season. Chip and his unit will be thinking of you often as well, and you will be in their thoughts and prayers as well.

Again, Raiders... It was a small thing we did, but it made a big difference.

"It's always a good day when you do something for someone else" ... John Wooden

God Bless all of you over this Christmas season, and as always.... GO RAIDERS!!!

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