This past football season, the Warren Hills sideline has had a special guest at every game.

Blue Streak’s new head football coach, George DiGrande, encouraged his players before the season started to nominate teachers that they wanted to join them as the games were being played, as an honorary coach.

“I asked the players to nominate the teachers who they felt had the biggest impact on their lives so far,” DiGrande said. “It was quite interesting watching them think and reminisce about high school experiences.”

Before coaching at Warren Hills, DiGrande coached at high schools such as Summit, Westwood, and most recently, Belvidere, (BHS) where he first asked his team to nominate teachers during his first season.

“I had thought about it for awhile and when the BHS opportunity arose, I decided to implement this idea, DiGrande said. “It was a way for me to connect with the teachers and a chance for the teachers to see their students outside of the classroom playing a game they love.”

According to DiGrande, the experience all season long can be summed up as a success. The students have enjoyed showing the emotion on the sidelines during the games, and the teachers have enjoyed the atmosphere as a whole.

“The team has really enjoyed sharing the game day experience with the teachers. They look forward to the pregame talk and the teachers have not disappointed,” DiGrande said. “At the end of the day, I believe the teachers have enjoyed this opportunity as much as the players.”

Health/PE teacher Kenneth Kurpat, German teacher Jessica Morgan, Computer Science teacher Daryl Detrick, English teacher Andrew Oakley, Health/PE teacher Patrick Kablis, English teacher Carmelo Chiara, English teacher Kristen Chiara and English teacher Heather Wight were all nominated by students and joined the players on the sidelines for the games.

Wight was nominated to join the team during the home game versus the Summit Hill toppers, which Warren Hills won 20-17 in September.

“Seeing them so adrenalized and bonded as a team was simply amazing,” Wight said. “The game went to the last minute and they won. There is nothing better than that.”

The game Wight is referring to is the 20-17 win that Warren Hills earned in their third game of the season over Summit on September 22.

Wight also said being with the players in a completely different environment than the classroom was interesting as well.

“It is awesome seeing the players hyped up on the field,” she said. “That shows their heart is in it! It also shows their true character and their pride in their team.”

Also, Wight  touched on why these games are important to the whole school, not just these players.

“It enhances school pride, especially when you see the players wear their jerseys on Fridays,” Wight said. “It makes me feel a sense of pride knowing that these kids represent Warren Hills.”