The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Steele City program attracting attention
Cleveland Browns taking notice
Lorain’s Steele City Youth Football Mentorship Program, in its 18th year, welcomed representatives from the Cleveland Browns community relations team Sept. 25 to highlight youth football programs.
Based in Lorain’s Pawlak Park at West 14th Street and Washington Avenue, the program features five teams with youths between the ages of 5 and 12.
Founder Ricky Smith, who also serves as a coach in the program, said the Browns contacted Steele City recently about shooting video footage to nominate a player to be featured in its youth football outreach initiatives where a player of the week is highlighted.
Browns officials were on hand for practice where they shot video footage to be potentially used at a later date. Browns officials declined to comment on their initiatives in highlighting Lorain youth football.
The program is coming off a state championship and a trip to nationals in Florida. It started in 1998 to help inner city youth by promoting education, leadership and respect, and the team’s alumni has made up about 85 percent of the Lorain Titans and includes current Ohio State Buckeye Rashod Berry and Anthony Hitchens, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
“We are more father figures and mentors anyway,” Smith said. “Instead of doing all that yelling at a player, why don’t you use your mentorship skills?
“If they are getting yelled at, at home, they might have nowhere else to go.”
Six boys from the program were nominated for awards based on their values of safety, academics and respect, and how long they have been participating, he said.
Founder Ricky Smith, who also serves as a coach in the program, said the Browns contacted Steele City recently about shooting video footage to nominate a player to be featured in its youth football outreach initiatives where a player of the week is highlighted.