I heard it is also not supported by the TCYFL. and were rejected by that organization.

http://www.grayslakecolts.org/Documents/D127%20Feeder%20Athletic%20Program%20Letter.pdf

That information is incorrect. The Jr. Knights did not petition to join the TCYFL, and therefore could not have been rejected. The Jr. Knights encourage interested parents and student athletes to join them tomorrow evening, 2/6 at7pm, for the Program Open House mentioned in the article. We will be very pleased to share our plans for 2013.

The Jr Knights did not petition the TCYFL because they knew they would not be accepted. This is not about the kids!

Why are these coaches kicked out from Timberwolves. We have Round lake that need help with their football team, why can't those coaches go there.

We all need to realize that happy kids and happy parents don't leave good programs. Looking forward to tonight to learn more about the Junior Knights....heard some great things about the people running this program.

have already done some homework...going tonight to learn some more! see ya there

I looked into their league, the IYFL. http://www.illiniyouthfootball.com/
Some of these teams are pretty far away. Also there is not a flyweights division. I'm assuming the kindergarteners would play flag football in this organization, however their website is still under construction on that topic.

Alexandra- they didnt leave on there own. They were not elected and were told they were not guarantee coaching jobs. Thats why they left. Majority of the TimberWolves organization said NO MORE!

Mr President,
Now that you are not invited to be the sole North High School feeder program you need to move on. Take your group of guys and go where you are needed. Leave the existing youth feeder programs and the KIDS alone.

I thought I lived in the United States where if a group of people want to start a non-profit org they are allowed to as long as they follow the rules set forth by the governement. However, from these comments and other facts that I know of, it certainly sounds like members of the GL Colts and LV Timberwolves do not want the Junior Knights to succeed at any cost. In fact, even the Superintendent of District 127 has gotten involved and seems to be working against the Junior Knights. Does anyone else find it interesting that a GL Colts football board member is also a D127 board member. But, I digress. Anyhow, shame on you Superintendent and others for trying to thwart a group of people who want to provide more opportunities for the youth of our community. Remember, no one is forcing you to join the Junior Knights, no tax dollars are going towards this organization (unless you count the hours spent by the Superintendent on this), and simply put this is a free-enterprise country so quit trying to make it otherwise. Bottom line is I believe the Colts and Timberwolves are concerned about their bottom lines...and you thought they were "not for profit".

I would have to agree with Mr. Ryan. Also, since when do any of you decide what is best for my child? How do we teach our children good sportsmanship in a program that attempts to block new teams simply because it feels threatened or because of hearsay? The comments on some of these posts are unnecessary. Older children read this, and you are setting a poor example. It IS about the kids. OUR kids. If you choose not to participate, it will be respected. Please refer to your program's Code of Conduct and think before you speak or write.

Keith Horn announced a few of their coaches last night.
1. Jerry Pech-a guy who was removed from coaching years ago because he instructed a football player to cheat!
Should I keep going? Anyone want to hear more?

TW Coach - I would again ask that you read your Code of Conduct before you take shots at people.

Go North Jr. Knights

TO COLTS NO MORE: WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE GRAYSLAKE COLTS ORGANIZATION THAT BAD. DID YOU GO TO BOARD MEETINGS AND LET IT BE KNOWN HOW YOU FELT. DID YOU ALERT YOUR COACH OR ASST DIRECTORS OF YOUR CONCERNS, DID YOU ALERT THE DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OR CHEER THAT YOU HAD CONCERNS. DID YOU TRY TO RUN FOR BOARD POSITION TO TRY AND CHANGE THINGS. IF YOU DID NONE OFF THIS THEN WHY DO YOU EXPECT IT TO BE DIFFERENT IN ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. I BELIEVE IF WANT CHANGE YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGE.
BE AWARE

JERRY PECH IS AN OUTSATNDING COACH WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN LOL !!!!!!!!!:)

Wow - lots of anger over youth football. From what I am reading, this seems more about the adults than the kids. To the new Junior Knights - you name implies you ar affiliated with GL North High School, and North has asked that you not use thier logos. Shame on you for that. To the Colts - If your organization were so strong, and produced kids ready for high school ball, then this would not be happening.

The saddest thing I see out of all of this is that is further divides our community. Our kids go to school together until 8th grade, and are then torn apart. This is just one more example of how that division has reached down into the younger kids. Though this is not surprising, I would hope the adults would act like adults and do things in the best possible way for the community. Perhaps both groups (Colts and Junior Knights) ought to work together for the best interests of all the kids who will go on to play high school football. We already have feeder programs for baseball and basketball. It is time to look at football too.

And for the record, Jerry Pech is an outstanding member of our community - I do not question his integrity one bit. I would welcome him as my son's coach any day.

Jerry Pesh is a friend,neighbor and a great guy. I have personally witnessed Jerry as a youth football coach and parent. Jerry you can coach my kids any day of the week !!!!!

BE AWARE......Did you really need to reply in all CAPS? I think you might have bigger problems than youth football...but that is not the purpose of my response. I am saddened that proud Colt Parents, Coaches or Board members are willing to try and throw good people under the bus by name, but to not have the guts to use their own names. These people have "No Class" and really need to take a hard look in the mirror. Are they role models for their kids? Program? Not in my world. I give credit to the North Jr. Knight Coaches that stood on stage last night to fight for something they believe in. Sometimes the truth hurts, but telling the truth is what grown adults and real leaders do. Word travels fast and I think it is the Colts that better start telling the truth or BE AWARE!!!

JC

Well said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW, I can't believe this has gotten so out of hand... a new program in this area in my opinion is needed, travel to the difference practice fields can be a nightmare on RT 83 or Monaville, not to mention the parking at Central Park. the board members of both organizations are less than stand-up people as well. I think the Colts should dump all their board members as the TW did with their last election. Time for a clean start for all the programs. RL, LV, GL are already divided with different subdivisions split down the middle going to differnt schools. LET EVERYONE MAKE THEIR OWN DECSION. stop being jerks!!! and by the way, I've known Jerry Pech for many years, and his primary goal with the kids is to make sure they keep playing football into their HS years, he even tells the players that 'eveyone must respect their teammates - no trash talking about each other!! - does that sound like a bad person/coach. And as far as I know he was NEVER banded from the Colts program, he left after his older son entered HS. I believe the move to the TW is because of the Washington ST divide -- north should play with the TW - south should play with the Colts..

The Knights won me over! I'm shedding the green for the gold because of their pettiness over this issue. It's a free country, I'll choose where my son plays. Thank goodness I'm smart enough to NOT believe your lies! As a parent, I do my own homework and suggest you do too!

To the handful of Colts board members who have created new anonymous ID's in the last couple of days just to trash this new program, you are an embarrassment to the families who have participated in your program over the years and to this community. Yet again a complete lack of integrity shown by a fraction of ethically challenged Colts board members. You might want to spend more time cleaning your own house and less worrying about the neighbor's house.

I go back to the days when Rick Johnson borrowed $50,000 from State Bank of the Lakes via a home equity line of credit to start the Timberwolves program that broke away from the Antioch Vikings (The Evil Empire...a name they gave themselves. they even had it on their coaches shirt. They were some funny guys). Boy, those were some wild times back in the Junior Football League of Northeast Illinois (JFLNI).

As populations grow, the growth and expansion of youth sports programs do the same. I coached for the Warren Township Youth Football League. That program use to be called the Gagewood Packers.

A little history lesson.
-The Waukegan program was called the Chiefs, but wore the Chicago Bears colors.
-The Gagewood Packers wore the Baltimore Colts colors.
-And believe it or not, Grayslake Colts wore the New York Jets colors and owned the hands down, coolest Kick'en Colt logo ever in youth league sports.
-Fox Lake Cardinals, at least they had their colors right. :)

The Gagewood Packers eventually became the Warren Township Packers and when Bob Hood left we changed the name to the Demons because demons were "Little Devils".

We grew the Warren Township program from 2 Pee Wee, 2 Featherwieght, 1 Lightweight, and 1 Heavyweight that all played on Sunday's, no Saturday football back then. If folks wanted to play on Saturday, you took your kids to the Libertyville Boy's Club program and played "in-house" ball. We grew that WTYF program to 2 Bantam (Saturday), 4 Pee Wee (2 Saturday, 2 Sunday), 4 Featherweights (2 Saturday, 2 Sunday), 2 Lightweights, (1 Saturday, 1 Sunday) 1 Middleweight (Saturday), 2 Heavyweights (1 Saturday, 1 Sunday). We worked with the Waukegan Chiefs to make sure kids had places to play football. Beach Park started a program. It eventually failed, but I can see them bring that back and cutting into Warren's head count.

I think what all of you are missing is this is an excellent opportunity for Lake County Youth football programs to come together and form a new league. I never understood the appeal of the TCYFL, never have and never will. I certainly never wanted to wake up and drive to Plainfield for a game, but that's just me.
The TCYFL has never done anything for the Grayslake Colts. And they never will. It's all about being the biggest youth football league in the nation, not necessarily the best. Why do you think they go through so many departures and subsequent additions almost ever year. Heck, the Lake Zurich Flames just left. Geoff Meyers own program got tired of his antics.

Although I hate to see the demise of what people have grown up with and know from their past to be "the way things should be", change will always happen. If the North Jr. Knights folks think it is in the best interest of their kids to leave the LV Timberwolves, GL Colts, and I think it will eventually affect the Round Lake Panthers program then have it. As long as they do it for the kids and not their own egos.

I just don't understand all the bickering

If you guys are really all that choked up over having school specific feeder programs, then why are you playing in a league with programs you will rarely if ever
play in high school?

So here ya go folks. GL Colts and LV Timberwolves, let'em go. Your programs will live on. North Jr Knights folks, good luck, do it the right way, and don't cut corner when it comes to the kids.

Pool your resources, reach out to Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, Westosha (why not, they're close and good folks), Antioch, Round Lake, Mundelein, Fox Lake/Grant, Crystal Lake, Prairie Ridge, Vernon Hill (probably very tough to get them, but you should try), McHenry, and lastly for my Colt friends, Buffalo Grove.

There is a nice two division league with Saturday and Sunday football and a heck of a lot less travel.

Please feel free to discuss.

Oh, and for those who say, why would we let Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion in?, They can't pay their dues now?

Because, you help those who may be less fortunate than you. It's the right thing to do. It teaches your kids a good lesson in leadership and civic duty to help the larger community we all live in.

It doesn't mean they won't ever be able to pay their dues. Back in the JFLNI days they were able to pay dues. The economy was better then and a lot more people had jobs. Some day this economy will get better, hopefully, and more people will have jobs for such things. In the mean time, we help each other.

I don't understand why the Jr Knights would be different from any other feeder program? Each of the following communities have one high school and one youth football feeder program...many of which represent the same mascot as the school.

Zion
Waukegan
North Chicago
Warren
Grant
Vernon Hills
Round Lake
Prairie Ridge

From what I understand, Antioch could (or already has) become the feeder for Antioch High School. Crystal Lake is splitting into three different programs in order to become feeders to their high schools. This is how Prairie Ridge came into existance. They were originally Crystal Lake players. Most of the Timberwolves end up going to Lakes High School. The split is already out there and it is created by school district lines, not youth football programs. As communities change, programs will change. Half of the Fox Valley Conference (GNHS) youth will play in the IYFL this year, and the other half in the TCYFL. A local league would be great for the kids and a whole lot of fun....I just don't think the adults could accomplish it at this point.

I can't agree more with this article. Having an athlete in the Fox Valley Conference, it's time we build our specific feeder programs to compete with Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove at the HS level.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130207/sports/702079651/?fb_action_ids=10200476568185148&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

Sunshine, Grayslake schools do not compete with PR, CG and other Valley Diviosn schools. They are in higher classes in the IHSAA. That is why the Fox and Valley Divisions exist in the Fox Valley Conference. Yes, there are the occasional cross-over games and CL South games, but they clearly do not compete with those programs.

The real shame is the GL schools should not even be in the Fox Valley. We are in line with schools in the Prairie Division of the North Suburban Conference and should be there.

@Sunshine: No, GHS was a founding member of the Northwest Conference. Members were basically West Lake County. I think McHenry was as far west as it went. I think that is why when that league broke up and grayslke had an opportunity to join the NS they went to the Fox Valley instead. bad decision, yes, but water under the bridge now.

Antioch being the exception was in the North Suburban with Warren and were huge rivals.

There was a time, 60s/70s when Grayslake and Warren played a non-conference game together and it was called the Route 45 Bowl. Grayslake also played Mundelein for a short period too.

I will say this, if the NjrK gets off the ground, playing in the Illini is a good move for them. They will have success, and that appears to be important.

Personally, I have never been a fan of these crosstown rivalry games at the youth level. I think they are very counter productive for the kids and community. There is enough divide in Grayslake ever since the high schools and feeder basketball program and now even how the baseball is split. It's too bad really.

I have seen it first hand. I my own daughters have struggled with it, and if you know my daughters, you know they are tough both physically and mentally, so that has nothing to do with it. I have witnessed it many times how the kids react to the bad behavior of the parents. When schoolmates and friends are playing against each other, it can be difficult just not after a loss, but feeling bad for a friend you just beat, but all along you were just playing to have fun and some parent had to come up and say something about beating the other team blah, blah, blah. It's the parents that 90% of the time can't let it go.

Youth football as their "only ticket to college"? Maybe our young athletes could be guided to try studying something besides x's and o's?

GL Resident yes COULD BE THEIR "only ticket to college" is correct .."youth football" incorrect. the comment made was that hopefully there would be no bias from the high school coaches who would also be invloved in the junior knights program, when choosing players for the high school team. Because colleges look at high school student to recruit. Maybe you are well off enough to be able to be able to send your child(ren) off to college. But in reality not everyone in GL can do that. Some families actually depend on scholarships and some on athletic scholarships to give their children the opportunity to go to school like they wish they could have or like THEY DID.

Now thank you for your comment. This is the real reason I took down all my comments, because of ignorance. Everyone has an opinion but only sees their side, not many people step outside the box and think or care about anyone else before they make smart comments.

Hope to see you all at the North Jr. Knight early registration on February 23rd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Round Lake Civic Center. 2007 Civic Center Way • RLB (off Hook Drive, behind Home Depot) Your are going to like what you see!

So my husband just came home from a Colt's Coaches meeting and guess what? Sure enough he came back with all the propaganda I'd already read on here. Information such as that this league has been started by coaches who were voted off and something about Lake Villa background checks. I asked him how much of what he was repeating he knew as fact. Uh huh.

I can tell you 100% that what he heard was NOT fact. I wish the Colts would stop spreading such lies and propaganda!

I think that it's very sad that grown adults act like three year olds. If you're so worried about why your players are leaving to go to the Jr. Knights, take a look in the mirror because you're obviously doing something to encourage the switch. Worry about yourselves and prove to your players that you don't need rumors and lies to keep your program going.