Community
Development

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 . . .

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Although the players are still officially off until training camp Dre Bly, accompanied by his 4 year-old son Jordan, attended the NFL Junior Player Development Camp in Broomfield, Colorado last Friday.  Braving the heat, Bly was given a quick ‘tour’ of the camp by volunteer coaches John Ayers and Wayne Voorhees and then gathered up all 180 youth football players to participate in a Q & A session with him.  The only two questions that Bly said were off limits?  How much money does he make and what kinds of cars does he drive.  He told the kids he was sure they could come up with better questions that that.  And they did.

Ignoring the scorching sun, the kids and Bly spoke for nearly 30 minutes about his childhood, his dreams, his favorite NFL players and how he achieved his goal of playing in the NFL.  As rewarding as that session was, the real fun began when the players got back to practicing and Bly became their biggest cheerleader.  Offering advice and yelling words of encouragement as he ran from group to group watching them play–it was very evident this is a game and a passion for Bly and he was very at home with these kids who also love football.

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It all started with a letter I received on June 8th 2006. The letter read: My name is Brenda Eyman. I live in Chama New Mexico.  My dad is (Billy Eyman) he is a die hard Broncos fan and recently they discovered that he had liver cancer. In November 2005 my dad fell off a roof during a regular work day and that was when he started feeling ill.  After numerous doctors visits he was diagnosed with liver cancer in March of this year. On April 26th, 2006 the doctor in Albuquerque, New Mexico told us that the cancer had taken over ¾ of his liver and that my dad didn’t have long to live and there wasn’t anything more they could do and sent him home. We have taken him to Denver, Colorado for a second opinion at University of Colorado Hospital/Cancer Center and so far everything sounds better than here in New Mexico.

I was wondering if there would be any way that some of the Broncos team members or Alumni might be interested in meeting my dad while he is in Denver. He is receiving treatment through University of Colorado Hospital /Cancer Center on 9th street in Cherry Creek. He has gone to almost every home game for several years. He decorates his house with all the Broncos items for every game we watch at home. This would be greatly appreciated if there was something you could do. Meeting some of the players would make his dream come true…Family has always come first to our dad. Every year when the new schedule comes out he asks who wants to go see a game this year. Being there are four daughters, he tries to get us to go at different times. He has had a hard year and we just want the best for him. If we don’t get very much time with him we would like the time that we do have with him to be the best memories ever.

After reading Brenda’s letter I was sort of spellbound wanting to meet her dad. I could feel the love she had for her dad and was reaching out to do anything to make him happy. We get tons of letters requesting various things but this one just stayed with me. I had to call Brenda back and talk to her.

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Sherman County is located in northwest Kansas and is at the crossroads of Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 27. Bordering Colorado on the west approximately 32 miles from Nebraska on the north and bordering the Central time zone on the east. Sherman County comprises of 1,055 square miles. The population of Goodland according to the 2000 Census is 4,984 and Sherman County 6,780. A dry climate, Sherman County averages 19.76” of moisture per year with 32.7” of snow fall. Average temperatures range from high of 39 degrees to a low of 15.8 degrees in January to a high of 89.9 degrees to a low of 61.1 degrees in July.

So I guess you may ask why have the Denver Broncos Alumni and the Kansas City Chiefs Alumni met in Goodland for three days in June for the past five years? We call it the Border War…Since the 1960s the Chiefs and the Broncos have been competing on the field but for this event we come together to support Rural Health Care. “The Slice of Life” Benefit Auction and golf tournament.

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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.