Lincoln-Way Patriots quarterback Mike Strimel looks downfield for his receiver during the team's practice at Martino Junior High last week. photo:Laura Michaels.
July 07, 2009 | 04:10 AM
They played in high school, some continued at college and a few even made it with an arena league. The length of their careers varies, but one thing the players on the Lincoln-Way Patriots semi-pro football team have in common is their love for the game..
The Patriots, an 18-and-up minor league football team, are only in their first year, but are prepared to make a strong statement on the field.
Coached by New Lenox resident Steve Strimel Sr., the Patriots belong to the MidStates Football League and have a roster filled with local residents, including several graduates of Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way East.
"These guys all just love to play," Strimel said as he gestured to the group of men practicing at Martino Junior High. "Our goal is to put a winning, competitive football team together."
The Patriots went 1-1 during the preseason and will take on the Joliet Buccanneers Saturday, July 11, in their first regular season game. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Lincoln-Way East, 201 Colorado Ave., Frankfort, the site of all home games.
Strimel said a scouting combine similar to the NFL's was held in March and the team began practicing in April. So far, he's been impressed with the skill level and dedication of his players.
"I think we'll do very well," he said. "We have guys that make plays. Of course we're going through some first-year stuff, but we're ready to play."
Strimel's players agree.
Quarterback Mike Strimel, a 2006 LWC graduate and former Knights' signal caller, said he anticipates a successful season under the first-year head coach — who also happens to be his father.
"We've got great talent, just great talent," Mike said. "Everyone on the team gets along and works hard; we're ready to go."
Mike said he decided to join the team because football, in his opinion, "is the greatest thing in the world."
"It's a second chance to play for me," the 6-foot-2, 245-pound quarterback said.
"It's like [Brian] Urlacher said: 'You can hit people and not get in trouble.'"
Mike's brothers, Joe and Steve, also play for the Patriots, as wide receiver and running back respectively.
Steve Strimel Sr. said he expects significant contributions not only from his sons, but from wide receivers Andy Ricca and Nate McCullum, linemen JP Carroll and Joe Hughes, and tight end Andrew Short. Ricca, who played college ball at St. Xavier, was named the Midwest League Player of the Year in 2006 and has also played arena football — something general manager John Busch said is an eventual goal for many of the players.
"A lot of them have aspirations to move up," Busch said. "They want to play for [arena football team] the Chicago Rush or the Chicago Slaughter."
Busch, of Frankfort, was part of the Patriots' predecessors, the Frankfort Spartans. He said that team was together for a year, and the Patriots grew from that organization.
Busch explained that organizers changed the name because they wanted something that encompassed the entire Lincolnway area. They decided on the Patriots not only because New Lenox is the "Home of Proud Americans," but because Jacob Lowell — a New Lenox soldier killed in combat in June 2007 — was a close friend of the Strimels and a dedicated football player. Lowell's high school jersey number, 54, is being retired in his honor, Busch said.
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