The Beginning of the 2007 Season - 7/26/07

Do you smell that?  Is that excitement I smell?  Yes, it is!  It is the excitement we are all feeling as another season of Lapeer Steelers football is about to begin.  Our camp went well, and is now behind us, marking ever closer the first day of practice.  August 6, 2007 – the beginning of the 2007 Lapeer Steelers Football season.

This year brings some new changes to our organization.  We have some new faces, some new equipment and the most exciting thing – a new practice field.  Our friends at Replays Sports Complex have generously donated a large portion of their property for us to use as our practice field this year.  But, wait, there is one more surprise.  With some hard work and perseverance, by next year, we could have our own home field.  Yes, you read that right – our own home field.  Currently, the field has been excavated and hydro-seeded.  The grass is starting to grow out there, and with some fundraising, donations and good luck, we will be putting in some goal posts and have us a home field.

For some of you who have been in our program for a while, you remember the old equipment trailer?  Well, that beast has been removed from the picture.  It has been replace with a new 2007 10’ x 16’ trailer – with access that is low to the ground and a side door for easier access.  It also has lighting for those later in the season evenings.

 As I said, we have some new faces as well.  Our new Freshman head coach is Erik Lenner.  Our new GM of Football is Bob Travis – who still is our Equipment Manager as well.  Mark Gabryel is our new Vice President.  And, our new person in charge of the website is Rick Dabrowski.  He is bringing a new set of eyes and ideas to the website design and layout – you have to love that music, it gets you pumped!

Our 2007 season is upon us.  New faces.  New equipment.  New field.  And best of all, we have some new kids coming to join us.  I look forward to watching these kids grow and learn the wonderful game of football, or learn the fine art of competition cheer.  They put on their equipment, go out there and learn from our Lapeer Steelers family how to work as a team and to excel at everything they do.  We are here to teach and nurture these children, in the hopes that they not only learn football and/or cheer, but learn about themselves and what they can accomplish when they work hard and as a team.  We had great success last year in our program, and I KNOW we will have that same great success this year.  And by success, I don’t mean winning or losing – I mean success in our children.

So without any further ado, in the words of Monday Night Football fans everywhere – LET’S GET READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

-Matthew Hansel

 

Three Games Into The Season - 9/10/06

We have made it three games into our season, and we are looking really good out there.  Our Freshman are currently undefeated, with three (3) shutouts, putting them in first place in our division.  And our JV squad is doing the same thing, with three wins, and two (2) shutouts, putting them in first place as well.  Our Varsity this past week, with their first win, has seemed to find their own and came out STRONGER than ever.  Everyone of those boys out there worked hard and played hard to earn victories with their teammates.  Way to go boys!

Those cheerleaders have only gotten better over these past three games - loud and proud!  All of them have been cheering their hearts out, encouraging the fans to get into the game and root on their teams.  And, they are starting to practice not only their sideline cheers (which they use at the games), but also their competition cheers!  Let's see if we can repeat last year, and place in competition?  But, no matter what - you are all very special to all of us!  You work just as hard cheering as those boys do playing football.

Parents - what can I say?  This season is going pretty well, and I have to say thank you.  The kids are having fun.  The parents are into the games more than ever this year, and I am hearing nothing but good things.  Thank you to all of you that have volunteered for chains, spotting or anything else you are doing to help out this organization.  Without our volunteers, we wouldn't be here.  I know sometimes it can be a little rough, but in the end, I can tell you from personal experience, it really is worth it!  Every single moment - good and bad - makes what I do worth it.  Those kids out there mean the world to me, and I want them all to know they are winners - on and off the field.  And parents - so are all of you.  You keep bringing them to the field for practice, driving them to games and especially the off-field activities - homework, home life and family time.  Pat yourselves on the back - you have all earned it.

Go Steelers!

Matthew Hansel
President

Welcome from the President - 8/12/06

I would like to take a moment to welcome all of the players and their families to what we know will be a spectacular year of football and cheerleading.  I am happy to see a lot of familiar faces, and even happier to see so many new faces.  Welcome - welcome - welcome.

Our first week of practice is under our belts.  I don't know about you, but I feel the electricity in the air this year.  Coaches are getting giddy about their first game coming up in just two weeks, while the players are ready to get out there and play.  And those cheerleaders of ours - what spirit!  Loud and clear you can hear their encouragement across our practice field.  Doesn't it just make your heart jump with anticipation of that first game - to see our kids out there showing us what they have learned.

And, on the above note, let's not forget the MOST IMPORTANT thing about our franchise, and our league - KIDS FIRST.  That is the motto for our league, our franchise, our teams!  Our kids are here to learn a sport, how to work as a team, to become better individuals - but most of all - they are here for the most important thing - FUN!  Yes, they are here to have FUN and be KIDS FIRST.  We all would like to have our teams win EVERY game, but we know that sometimes, that just doesn't happen.  We will meet some tough teams out there, and you cannot win them all.  But, if we as parents take the time, as our coaches do, to boost that little guy or girl's moral - that goes a long way.  The Lapeer Steelers coaches and staff do everything we can to put a positive spin on everything - from losing a game to making a mistake.  We as parents can do the same - and we can carry it OFF the field as well.  I guess, what I am trying to say is that let's all be positive with our kids as best we can and make them all feel good - they are working so hard out there.

Another thing - we have added the Guest Book back to the website!  Yes, it is back and secure!  I encourage all of you to check it out and put some feedback out there.  We will do our best to keep the site up to date, but as you know, sometimes that doesn't happen.  Pictures will get up there as fast as we can.  As you can see already, we have a lot of them from Camp and Practice.  Just wait until the games - I have heard from several parents that are going to be getting pictures to us for the site.  You thought we had a lot last year - ha!  I have two new cameras and am dying to put them to good use.

Again - welcome to the Lapeer Steelers organization!  We are here for you if you have any questions.  You can find the Executive Board on the field at the practice field.  As always, please contact your team director if you have any team related questions.  If you can't find your team director or need something from one of us, please don't hesitate coming to us.  We will be more than happy to help you where we can.  If you don't know our Executive Board, please click on the link to the left for Board Members.  Our contact information is listed there.  And, your team directors information will be listed under the Team Info link.

Let's all have a lot of fun this season!  Go Steelers!

Matthew Hansel
President