Sports

Bottineau players, coach experience more than football game

By Tyler Ohmann

07/24/2012

Two Bottineau players as well as their head coach were able to share in a once-in-a-lifetime experience July 9-14 as they participated in the Shrine Bowl.

While the west team, which Bottineau was a part of, won the game on July 14 in Fargo, the trip to the Shriner’s hospital in Minneapolis is what stuck in the minds of players Mark LaCroix, Matt Bowers and coach Rob Bedlion.

“It was truly an unforgettable experience, not only for the football players, but mainly just being around the Shriners and the amazing work that they do,” Bedlion said. “Going down to the hospital, that was a great experience for the kids, the coaches, the players.”

Bowers too said it gave him a unique perspective on how lucky he is in life.

“Going down to the hospital it makes you realize how fortunate you really are,” Bowers said. “During the whole week you realized that it was more than just a football game that you were playing.”

LaCroix was impressed by all the Shriners do for kids with disabilities and other ailments.

“It was amazing what they do for those kids,” LaCroix said. “You have all those people that come in and they don’t have to pay anything. They do so much for those kids in there, and without the Shrine they are not able to do what they are able to do.”

LaCroix was especially touched by a little girl who sold homemade bracelets to help pay the shriners back for what they do.

“There is this little girl and the Shrine made her a leg, and to repay them she makes these bracelets and charges two dollars for these bracelets,” LaCroix said. “In a day she made over $215 to kind of pay back the Shrine.”

Bedlion also was moved by the kids at the Shriner’s Hospital.

“It was quite humbling to be around those kids. They are real positive all the time, even though they have a disability,” Bedlion said. “It was great for our players to see that and put things in perspective.”

“It was a football game, but there are bigger and better things to be a part of,” Bedlion added.

LaCroix believes hopes that the game helps get the word out about the Shriners, who he thinks do not get enough recognition for all the work they do.

“I went back to my Babe Ruth kids and told them about the Shrine Bowl and the Shrine, and they were like, ‘what’s the Shrine?’” LaCroix said. “People don’t know enough about them. They do so much for these kids and they don’t get enough credit.”

As far as the game on July 14, the west emerged victorious 22-13, using 267 yards on the ground to come from behind for the win.

“It was great to see the west come back, the previous year they got beat pretty handily,” Bedlion said. “So it was great for the west to get back on the winning side, and great for me to coach one more game with those guys.”

Bowers, who is planning to play fullback at Valley City State University next fall, was given a preview of what is to come next season.

“It maybe did a little (give me a preview), the play was faster,” Bowers said of the game. “But it is an all-star game, so I don’t think anyone was in the best shape of their life, so we were all pretty dead after it.”

“It felt good to win the game, even though we didn’t dominate the game, but you were playing for the kids at the hospital,” Bowers added.

LaCroix thought it was a bit humbling to be playing with the best players in the state.

“It was unbelievable working with some of those guys,” LaCroix said. “When you went out on that field, you were against guys that could easily beat you at any moment too. You weren’t the big stud, everybody was as good as you, or probably faster, stronger, quicker. You had to work your tail off just to get on the field.”

However, the revenge factor the west got on the east was pretty sweet too, according to LaCroix.

“There were a couple of players from Grafton on that team, and we wanted to play Grafton so bad, but we fell one game short losing to Wahpeton,” LaCroix said. “Just to be out there and play against them, and play against those AAA players and have a class B kid beat up a AAA kid was a lot of fun.”

It was the last time for LaCroix to put on the pads as he will focus on baseball at Williston State next year.

Bedlion was just happy to have a chance to coach LaCroix and Bowers one final time.

“It was a lot of fun for me to see those guys play one more time, “Bedlion said. “They are not only great players, but they are great young men, and they will be successful at whatever they do.”