Two good for Morris

To say that the youth football situation in Morris has undergone some growing pains in the past six years is something of an understatement.
There are those, however, who will maintain that the in-town rivalry between the Chiefs and the Warriors is closer than ever to reaching a peaceful accord.
A couple of weeks ago, with the Warriors readying for the playoffs, a torrential rainstorm drenched the Morris Community High School fields, where the Warriors play. What came out of it was an unprecedented show of sportsmanship and collaboration between Warriors President Sheldon Sobol and Chiefs President Bruce Dryfhout.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chiefs for their cooperation. The varsity field at Morris High School was torn up ... that Friday night, coach Dergo had agreed to allow us to use the field Sunday for four playoff games, but he asked if we could try to make other arrangements," Sobol said.
"I made one call to Bruce Dryflout of the Chiefs and he instantly agreed to allow us to use their field, facilities and equipment. We were thus able to host four playoff games, the concession sales from which provides financial support for our program."
Years ago, it's pretty safe to say that would not have happened.
To get an understanding of the situation, you have to go back to the days when the Chiefs were literally the only game in town. 
The Good 'Ol Days
Back 39 years ago, the Morris Chiefs were founded to help develop pre-high school-aged youths. The situation stayed that way until 2004, when the Morris Warriors were founded. Up until that point, many of the better football players to graduate from MCHS were a part of the Chiefs.
"I remember playing for the Chiefs very well. My coaches were Bob Cook, Clarence Napier, Larry Arnold and Mr. Williford," Sobol said. "The boys on my team with the Chiefs were many of my teamates in high school: Scott Belt, Ed Brady, Randy Butler, Randy Smith, Harvey Van Cleave, Don Davidson, Scott Wilkinson and Tom Sandoval.
"Those coaches worked us very hard, but taught us fundamentals of football. I think those fundamentals were a contributing factor to the success we enjoyed in high school."
That success coincided with the boom of football in Morris — at least at the IHSA level. That team of former Chiefs indicated by Sobol were part of the very first Redskins' team to advance to the state championship under coach Dan Darlington.
At the time, the Chiefs were still a fledgling organization. And with the dogged determination of Darlington at the high school level, the Redskins were turned into a perennial state power. 
The Birth of the Warriors
Six years ago, the Redskins continued to enjoy prosperity, even as Darlington was giving way to Dergo as the football coach. However, as necessity was the mother of invention, the town of Morris was ready, if not prepared, to add a second team in the Warriors.
At the base level, the move immediately paid dividends, as it almost doubled the amount of kids from the super-lightweight division (the smallest) up to the varsity (the largest) who were now participating in the sport.
However, even though the two teams were playing in different conferences in different leagues, a rivalry was formed — and not necessarily in a good way. 
Rivalry Formed
One person with a unique perspective on the formation of the Chief/Warriors rivalry is Brent Dite. Dite is a former Chiefs coach whose son played for the team before moving over to the Warriors. He said that some of the adults may have taken the situation a bit too serious for the kids at the time.
"I believe it was 2004 when the Warriors started and it was a very different time to say the least," Dite said. "As with any new program, the Warriors marketed themselves in a way in which they could attract as many people to their organization as possible. They openly marketed themselves as the future Morris Redskins.
"In my opinion, this is where things happened in Morris that divided some people. Instead of being just another program in town, it became a war with some adults, not the young athletes. Warriors vs. Chiefs; and that was wrong. Adults started saying and doing some things that were not to the benefit of any of the youths in town." 
The Trickle-Down Effect
Eric and Angela Greve, parents of a Chiefs player pointed out that the growing pains reverberated off the football field and into the school system.
"The problem is not only with the parents, but it also filters into the local school system," they said. "It is a definite cause for concern."
Dite says that his son, Mitch, also experienced difficulties throughout the course of the school year, too.
"I would like to believe this was not how the Warriors wanted to market their program," Dite said, "but at the end of the day that's what was happening and it upset a lot of people associated with the Chiefs."
Audra Crowther, a Chiefs parent, also saw how things played out at the onset, but she was also quick to say that she thinks the Warriors organization has been working hard to stop the animosity between the two programs.
"When the Warriors began, it seemed they were conditioned to believe they were superior and against the Chiefs," she said. "I think it's a shame they weren't taught from the beginning that they should be like brothers because they will be together in high school.
"My kids have definitely felt the constant meanness from kids on the Warriors, especially Jake because he was involved when the Warriors began," she added. "I feel it has gotten better with Sheldon Sobol. I hope he continues to try to improve their respect for each other. It will only benefit MCHS." 
A Time to Put it Behind
Dean and Karen Meucci, who are Warriors' parents, both agreed the two organizations seem to be entering a new era at the present time, and they lauded the merits of the organization they are involved in.
"Having both teams practice next to one another provides the flexibility for scrimmages. Many of the children on both teams are classmates and neighbors and this friendly competition is healthy for both programs," they said. "Recently, the Warriors were hosting conference playoffs, and had a field unplayable due to weather conditions. The Chiefs allowed us not only the use of their game field, but their concession stand as well.
"This feeling of mutual respect then carries over to the players. For various reasons, both teams have had boys move from one program to the other. These children are treated with the same respect as any new player on the team."
Dite said that he is confident in the abilities of both organizations, and he feels both are ready to take the next step.
"Both programs have many dedicated volunteer coaches and board members who truly care about the young athletes. Both programs have volunteer coaches that have played football at Morris High School and put in a lot of time teaching the basics of football," he said. "Both programs teach the basic offenses and defenses of Morris High School. Both programs preach teamwork and sportsmanship. Both programs try their best to put the young athletes in situations for them to be successful, both individually and as a team."