Scott Sawyer figures what works in DeWitt can work in Brandon.
Sawyer, a teacher and football coach at Brandon High School, is the coach liasion for the newly formed Brandon Touchdown Club, a group of Brandon football parents whose purpose is to support the Brandon football program.
He got the idea while attending a football clinic this past March.
‘Bob Zimmerman, a coach at DeWitt, spoke at the clinic, and this was something he had started and found to be successful, tying in football with the parents and gave them an opportunity to be involved with the program,? Sawyer said.
Sawyer will serve as a varsity assistant football coach this season after coaching at the freshman and junior varsity levels for the past six years. He said the Touchdown Club will start out slowly and see what events are the most successful.
The group’s first meeting in June landed about 14 parents, while about 25-30 parents showed up to their second meeting July 21.
‘We put groups of parents in different events in the fall,? he said. ‘We’re going to keep things small for the first year. My role is to help answer questions.?
Among the activities the Touchdown Club is sponsoring this year is a Thursday night team meal during the season, as well as a Friday night postgame meal after Brandon home games.
In addition, the Touchdown Club hopes to sell Brandon football apparel and sponsor a picnic, which is tentatively set for the second week in August.
In the future, if the club proves to be successful, Sawyer said they would consider putting together a golf outing or hold a mini-football camp for students in grades K-3.
Although Sawyer said the Brandon coaches will attend the meetings, they will not be the primary focus.
‘We’re not there to dictate,? he said. ‘I want it to be a parent-run group with myself and other coaches helping out where we can.?
Details: E-mail Sawyer at:
ssawyer@brandon.k12.mi.us, or leave a message for him with the Brandon Athletic Office, (248) 627-1827.