SJ Sports: Marlton Kids Made TV Debut

During the 2002 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the 70-pound Marlton Recreation Council football squad made its NFL and television debut. The MRC’s youngest Chiefs, comprised of six and seven-year-old players, got their 30 seconds of fame as approximately 20 million people watched.

Viewers watching Thanksgiving Day football and the games the following Sunday had the chance to see the 30-second commercial featuring last year’s MRC 70-pound squad, including players Paul LaRosa, Quinn Mehigan, Bryce McGrath, and Jake McNamara.

This event will surely remain a fond childhood memory for all the players and their families.

NFL Films, headquartered in Mt. Laurel, created the spot as part of the NFL’s “This is What It’s All About” campaign. This promotion urges people of all ages and backgrounds coming together, watching, and attending football games. “It’s all about the kids,” exclaimed Bob Osler, head coach of the squad.

Osler felt the publicity from this commercial was great for his first and second graders and for Marlton, a town that loves its football!

“The great part about working with six and seven-year-old, first-year players, is helping them to learn the game of football, then you get to watch them evolve,” stated Osler.

This is Osler’s sixth year as a volunteer for MRC Football. His commitment to the league and to the children is clear. Not only is he a coach, Osler is a supportive parent to son, Brian on the 80-pound varsity squad.

Although there was much excitement over the commercial, Osler showed similar enthusiasm for the squad he coached and was quick to give credit to those who helped him throughout the season, especially Terry Bothel, MRC Football League Commissioner.

“I couldn’t have done anything without the amazing help of defensive coordinators Tony Rispo and Todd Powell, additional coaches, Rob McNamara, Kevin Grace, Lazzaro Perlta and Jim Butler,” said Osler. “We were also fortunate to have Pete Lancetta, who was Hammonton High School’s head football coach provide us with valuable insight.”

Osler also said team moms Tracey Wilhelm and Claudia Jones completed a much-needed support staff.

The NFL and MRC share a common belief: fun and football go hand in hand.

Coach Osler wants the game to be fun, however, safety is the most important component. “Fundamentals of the game must be concurrent with safety,” he said. “It’s human nature to want to be competitive, but most important is the development of the children.”

Bothel wants football to have a positive impact. “Our goal is to teach the game of football while developing positive personal characteristics to include good sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication, commitment, respect, discipline, and self control through healthy, safe and fun competition,” the league commissioner said. “When our kids put those uniforms on they say Marlton across the front. We represent not only, Marlton Football, but also Marlton Recreation Council and the Marlton Community as a whole.”

Osler and Bothel equally agree that instilling these values in the players at a very young age will help them to develop not only in sports, but in their personal lives, as they grow up to be fine young citizens in the Marlton community.

Content provided by South Jersey Sports Club.

For more Local Sports features, visit our Sports page.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: SJ Sports Club-Beth S. Epstein