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http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/
By Tim Wagner
STAFF WRITER
08/26/06
AURORA — The last time Bill Wyatt slid a football helmet
over his curly red hair — longer and fuller than it is today — was 20 years
ago as part of a covert operation.
Seems the current Kane County Board member operated under a hidden agenda
when, for two weeks, he dressed and practiced with the team — under the
direction of a new coach — at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where
Wyatt was working on his master's degree.
He was not an official member of the team, but instead suited up to work on
his thesis project, which ultimately resembled an NFL Films presentation.
Wyatt would later confess to the coach his intentions, before directing,
writing, filming and producing a "season in review" video about the
UW-Superior squad.
Tonight, Wyatt will relive some of that gridiron glory, only this time he'll
be a member of the Kane County Eagles semi-professional football team. Wyatt
signed a one-game contract to do the place-kicking for the Eagles, who will
host the Chicago Wolverines at 7 p.m. at Aurora Central Catholic High
School.
Per Wyatt's choice, the Eagles are designating proceeds from the 50/50
raffle and donating a portion of the game's ticket sales to the Aurora
Superstars, the city's youth tackle football league.
"Having Bill on our team injects some fun into the game and will help us
raise funds for the Superstars," said Arney Silvestri, the Eagles' president
who doubles as linebacker. "We'll have Bill kicking extra points for us, so
he will help make a contribution on the field, as well as help benefit a
terrific youth organization."
At 6 feet and 210 pounds — "the weight's gone up over the years," he admits
— Wyatt likely will see plenty of action, considering the Eagles average 34
points per game, allowing the kicker at least five shots at knocking it
through the uprights.
However, Wyatt has been warned about the consequences should he misfire on a
kick.
"If you miss one, we're going for two and you're playing tailback, so you
better go introduce yourself to the fullback and make friends real quick,"
Eagles coach Keith Hac told Wyatt.
In leading up to tonight's kickoff, Wyatt is solely concentrating on his
kicking skills.
"It's like asking people who've golfed a few times to go on the PGA Tour,
step up and hit a drive — it's not easy!" Wyatt said. "My goal is to convert
every extra point, but you can't just put it down on a tee and kick it,
because there's so much timing involved. I know I can kick it far enough ...
I just have to work on my swing, my fundamentals."
Wyatt, who'll use the soccer-style approach, recently bought a kicking tee
at Wal-Mart, which included an instructional book written by Hall of Fame
kicker Jan Stenerud.
"That's all I've been studying," Wyatt said with a laugh.
As part of his Bill Wyatt's Sports Challenge television show, which runs on
local cable access channel 18 from September into February, Wyatt has
performed numerous stunts over the years. He's caught tennis balls dropped
from the top of Leland Tower, along with competing in boxing, wrestling and
curling.
But playing in a real football game, against 11 real players who will be
rushing full-bore through the line, diving at the defenseless kicker around
knee level or perhaps slightly above?
"It's like that fear of the unknown, and I like that," Wyatt said. "As the
game progresses, who knows what might happen? Maybe they'll put me in at
safety or tight end. I might start getting a big head out there."
Kicking for a cause
Kane County Board member Bill Wyatt signed a 1-game contract with the Kane
County Eagles. Wyatt will be handling the placekicking when the Eagles host
the Chicago Wolverines tonight.
Bill Wyatt, 6-0, 210, PK
•Kickoff: 7 p.m.
•Where: Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1255 N. Edgelawn Drive.
•Tickets: $7 (adults); $5 (seniors and children with school ID); free
(children under 5, military, police and fire personnel).
•Proceeds: $2 of every ticket sold, along with half of the 50/50 raffle,
will go to the Aurora Superstars youth football league.
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