It's More Than Just a Game - Bremen HS Celebrates Red & Gray Game

By: BDTV228 Sports Multimedia Internship Team

The Bremen High School Football Program hosted their annual Red & Gray Scrimmage Game on Friday, August 20, 2021. The "game," which is more of a glorified practice, allows the Braves football teams to run plays and prepare for their upcoming season. The offense takes on the defense and no score is kept.

Despite not being an actual game, the scrimmage is a popular pastime at the school that regularly gains attraction from staff, students, and the community. This year, Bremen also encouraged fans to come out and support varsity and junior/varsity soccer programs who scrimmaged prior to the football teams.

What many fans didn't see was the preparation and activities that took place prior to the games.

Bremen football coaches set up what they called a "Mock School Day" for the players to partake in from roughly 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm.

Students shifted from class to class approximately every seven minutes where they would hear from Bremen staff about key topics for student-athletes.

These topics included:

• Building and grounds/behavior inside and outside of school grounds
• Respect: administration, faculty, student, self
• Athletic expectations and the Code of Conduct
• Acceptable behavior, social media, positive student interaction, and conflict resolution
• College and career preparation
• Classroom behavior and expectations + having a contingency plan
• Couse selection, Qualifier, and Clearinghouse

The mini-lessons were led and taught by Mr. Matt Meany (Associate Principal), Mrs. Jessica Rucinski (Assistant Principal), Mr. Eric Washington (Athletic Director), Dean Michele Jurgens, Mrs. Renee Mack (District 228 Career Readiness Supervisor), Mrs. Christina Cable (English Teacher), and Mr. William Flood (Guidance Counselor).

"This was a great opportunity for our student-athletes to discuss topics that are important to their success in high school and in the future," said Tom O'Shea, Bremen High School Football Assistant Head Coach.

"From an Athletic Department standpoint, our mission has always been to produce good people, students, and athletes," says Bremen Athletic Director Eric Washington. "This program emphasizes that mission."

According to Washington, the Braves should have come away from the day feeling confident about how they can continue building character, culture, and preparing for life after high school.

The Bremen High School Football Team's first official football game of the season takes place on Friday, August 27th at 6:00 pm at home as they take on Thornridge High School.

For more information about the Bremen Football Program, or to stay up-to-date with the team, you can follow along on Twitter at @graydotfootball.