Yesterday was a perfectly pristine, sun-filled paradise day in Grand Junction, Colo., as our organization officially unveiled the newly refurbished Stocker Stadium, home to the 4-0 football team from Mesa State College, four high schools on the Western Slope and over 1,000 youth players from the Mesa County Youth Football Association.

President/CEO Pat Bowlen arrived shortly before 12 noon along with vice president of public relations Jim Saccomano and four of our players — Domonique Foxworth, Nick Ferguson, Daniel Graham and Brandon Marshall – to particpate in the program, cut the ribbon and meet these young aspiring NFL players who use Stocker Stadium (just over 40 games a year are played on this new field and we are so glad that it is now turf and not grass to combat the wear and tear).

One of the real highlights was the marching band from one of the local high schools performing the national anthem to start the day’s festivities.  The Grand Junction community really pulled out all the stops with blue and orange snow cones, Broncos Country flags, orange pom-poms in the stands and a beautiful new granite marker at the flagpole that highlights the collaboration of the Denver Broncos, the NFL and the Grand Junction community on this field project.

It was a real privilege to bring our commitment to youth football to Grand Junction and we look forward to visiting again … Grand Junction is definitely BRONCOS COUNTRY!

Three a.m. came very early this morning and I have a brand new appreciation for the folks who broadcast live radio and live television during the early morning rush hour.

Upon arriving at our Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club in Montbello 45 minutes later, I was greeted by Rich Barrows, our club director who is a rock star and had spent endless hours overnight making our club absolutely pristine in preparation for our live radio remote today with partner News Radio 850 KOA benefitting the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center legacy project.

At 4:45 a.m., in walks Guy Johnson, a regular Club member and future member of the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center. Guy has become friends with Rod Smith over the past couple of years and his mentor is clearly rubbing off as Guy can be seen often in the end zone. Might I say that I was very touched that Guy was ready to go and support Darrent’s legacy bright and early this morning.

Shortly after, at 5:20 a.m., in walks Broncos linebacker Louis Green and he could not have been more gracious and more focused on our goal at hand — to raise awareness for the Teen Center and thank our community fans. Thank you, Louis.

Once the hour of 6 a.m. rolled around, the Club was just in a frenzy with wonderful community members, kids and so many of our Broncos players on hand that it appeared as though the entire roster came out in honor of Darrent Williams.

I had the privilege this morning to meet Mike and Julie Leach and their 19-month old son Ryan, over at the pediatric and NICU (newborn intensive care unit) wings of  Health ONE’s Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, where they started a monthly visitation program for the kids there.

Mike and Julie were just terrific in their kind ways with the kids.  Their first little patient, a young boy, was a die-hard fan of the San Diego Chargers – specifically of LaDainian Tomlinson.  Mike asked the young boy if he wanted him to say anything to LT when the Broncos play the Chargers in a few weeks and he thought that “not being too hard on the Broncos” would be a good start.

Young Ryan Leach should not be overlooked in this effort, as he took his job of delivering plush Broncos Beanie Bears from his shopping cart to each young patient very seriously.  Kudos, Ryan.  You will make a great big brother!

The Leaches are one classy couple and their commitment to these kids at PSL is just awesome  … mentoring community service to their own young son is equally admirable!

Many thanks also go out to Linda Kanamine, VP of Public Affairs/Marketing at Health ONE and George Abbott, Director of Public Affairs for Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center for supporting our organization and to Mike and Julie Leach in making this wonderful program possible.

Last Friday was one of the more unique and special experiences our office has had as community collaboration goes. 

As has been introduced in past blogs, one of our special tributes in the works to honor the memory of Darrent Williams is a life-size bronze sculpture that will be in the courtyard entrance to our new Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center adjacent to the Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club in Montbello.  This project has brought us in contact with a wonderful man who lives here locally but is world renowned for his art—Ed Dwight.

Ed’s first career was that of an astronaut during the Kennedy Administration, but sculpture has always been his true passion.  His works are all over the world, including the Hank Aaron sculpture in Atlanta, Miles Davis in the Caribbean, Frederick Douglass in Virginia and Martin Luther King right here in City Park.  Ed will now ad the sculpture of Darrent Williams to his works and we are thrilled to work with such a talent on this very meaningful legacy project for the Broncos. 

Last spring, our department joined our counterparts around the country in Philadelphia for our annual League meetings.  This is a great time to exchange ideas and build national camaraderie, but also to learn what is on the docket for the NFL community platforms.

This year, for the second straight year, the NFL is focusing on youth fitness and in collaboration with the American Heart Association we are part of a larger “What Moves U” campaign.  The campaign encourages children in elementary schools and in junior high schools to increase their weekly exercise. 

You can visit DenverBroncos.com/whatmovesu next month to be introduced to some wonderful stories of students throughout Colorado who are really committing to physical fitness.  Miles will be visiting some of these kids to celebrate their schools’ fitness successes.

Another new and exciting phase of this program is the NFL Fitness Zone concept.  We have applied to NFL Charities for a grant this year to be put toward the new gymnasium at the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center.  We anticipate the doors to the Center opening in early 2008 with the gymanasium to follow later next year. 

What do you and your family do to stay physically fit?  Let us know–we would love to highlight you in the community section of DenverBroncos.com/whatmovesu.  Go grab your running shoes! 

It’s that time of the year again when young football players across Colorado — NFL stars in the making — take the field for a day of NFL-like game experience at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Broncos Bowl.

This year’s Broncos Bowl, to be held this Saturday, August 11, from 8am-3pm, will showcase the most-senior-age division in youth leagues from Aurora, Arapahoe, Jefferson County, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Denver PAL, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Broomfield and Fort Collins.  The state-wide representation of this Bowl allows each team the opportunity for rare cross-league play.

One of the big highlights of the day for the kids is having their names announced individually before they dart out to the 50-yrd line from the southeast tunnel, just like in the pros.  I have seen many a child over the past several years with that championship look and those stars in their eyes.

Our department has been writing all summer long about the wonderful opportunities we have been lucky enough to partner on for youth football in our community.  It is only fair, though, to really acknowledge the efforts of some of our great volunteers who run the programs and serve as ambassadors for us on the Broncos Youth Football Task Force.

Our department looks forward to thanking this group of hard working youth football coaches at Maggiano’s this Wednesday over pasta and laughs . . .

This summer has marked the second annual “Fan Thank You” parties at Dove Valley and INVESO Field. There is no catch — just a genuine thank you to our loyal fans of the orange and blue. Season ticket holders have been randomly selected to attend a series of cocktail receptions and viewing of last season’s highlight film. I had the wonderful opportunity two weeks ago to speak with long-time season ticketholder Al Stoltz during our thank you party at INVESCO. Al brought along his 9-year-old grandson, Eliott, a true fan in his own right. Eliott, who plays wide receiver for the Denver Eagles, has patterned his game after the Broncos’ own #15, Brandon Marshall. I was taken with the loyalty of both Al and Eliott–their gracious spirits and true zest for life will stay with me. I also thought what a great thing it was that a grandfather brought a grandson to share in such an experience. Brandon got wind of Eliott’s loyalty and signed a picture for him with the same words he received as a young fan of Chris Carter’s growing up, “See you in the NFL.” Prophetic words . . . . here’s hoping we see Eliott on the big stage some day . . .he would do the NFL proud.

With temperatures scorching on field at INVESCO Saturday afternoon, there was still plenty of energetic spirit in the youth football community.

For the second straight year, the Broncos worked with USA Football to present the USA Football Coaching Clinic to an audience of nearly 200 youth football coaches from around the state — double the attendance of last year. Eager coaches from as far south as Pueblo started their morning over continental breakfast and X’s and O’s . . . .and more importanly, learning how to engage the young, spirited minds of 8yr olds who dream of playing on the big stage. Much time was spent on managing the parent relationships in youth football as well . . . .that can be a full time job!!

Billy Thompson and I had the privilege to watch Teandra Conley (TiTi) graduate from Montbello High School Sunday afternoon after watching her grow and blossom into a wonderful young lady. TiTi has been a member of the Broncos Boys and Girls Club since its doors opened in August of 2003. She has shown incredible leadership as she has gone through her high school career and established her role at the Broncos Club, participating in Lynch’s Leaders, winning the Club’s senior Youth of the Year Award, and mentoring many young members along the way. She has received many scholarships for college, including one from the Daniel’s Fund and one from the Kenard Lang Foundation. She will put them all to good use as she heads to Tuskegee University this fall to make more of her dreams come true. I am honored to know her and as proud of her as if she were my own daughter.

Congratulations, TiTi, from all of us at the Broncos!