Last night at the old but beautiful Ohio Union on campus of the Ohio State University, an amazing event went on.
The 2017 Columbus Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football hall of fame Scholar-Athlete put on an absolutely fabulous night to honor some great young athletes and some season veterans that are still giving back to the game.
Words and space cannot describe the entire event so we will focus on the reason we were there last night.
“Wow Wow Wow†were the first three words of our awesome young Senior QB Will Phillis acceptance speech, and he couldn’t have started more perfectly.
Will added to the incredible list of awards he has already won by winning the prestigious 2017 Dr. Sol Maggied/Larry Romanoff Award started by Ernie Godfrey.
Will continued in his speech and spoke from his heart thanking Jeff Logan the MC and everyone involved in the awesome evening including table 28 where his supportive family and a very few close friends and coaches sat.
But then Will talked about adversity and how that word fits our amazing sport of football and in  Will’s case describes his journey for the last 5 years of his life.
We have already talked about how he has overcome and faced adversity that most in life have not had to deal with let alone at his age. It has served him well, as he proved once again he has the ultimate QB personality in serving others with great determination so that they will be the best they can be.
I am so proud of everything Will has accomplished but my feeling is with his faith and substance he has only just begun to write record books over and over again .
This would not be complete without mentioning his Dad Will Phillis Jr. and the man that he is as a single parent after the loss of his beautiful wife Jill when Will was a freshman. Also, the roll that his head coach Mike Laparo Hilliard Bradley played letting his offense change completely to accommodateWill’s NFL style of Quarterbacking to flourish as it did.  Mike and I spoke at length about the transformation of that and what it has now meant to Bradley football and what Will has started may continue to be successful. As you can tell, I am so proud of the last 5 years as Will’s private QB coach, and what seeing him accomplish is what drives me to keep going on a course for his future success.
I must include in this article about Will, how excited Jim Lachey , Ohio State All- American and NFL Star, Who also was honored last night by winning the 2017 Ohio Gold Award, was when Will was selected.  I know Jim from coaching his son James Lachey, a great young talent who played for Granview Heights HS, and looking forward to coaching his younger son a Freshman wide receiver that looks like he may be the real deal as well.
All in all last night is one of those events you do not want to miss in your life. Thanks Billie for inviting Coach Sink and thanks to Will Phillis for being the man he is already at his age. I cannot hardly sleep at night thinking about where we are going !!!!!!!