Hoffman Estates has plenty to be cheered about

People showed their appreciation by cheering, honking car horns and shouting "Go Hoffman."

It's the kind of revelry one would expect after a big Friday night football victory. But this was a Saturday afternoon where no one was making a key block or tackle, throwing a big pass or hitting a crucial kick.

A year ago players at all levels of the Hoffman Estates football program were performing less dramatic tasks such as picking up trash in parks. This year it's clearing the way and making a path for cardiac patients at the Hawthorne Hill Nature Center in Elgin.

"We explain to the kids about giving back and if you do things right good things will happen to you," said Hoffman coach Bill Helzer, who started the community service projects three seasons ago. "And we use it as a team-building thing.

"There's nothing like cutting down a tree and carrying it out of the woods with your teammates and helping somebody who needs that help."

In this year's project, the freshmen have already cut down the trees and the sophomores have cleared a path and put down wood chips.

And senior linebacker Justin Lovrich can't wait to do his part next Saturday when the varsity finishes off the project.

"I enjoyed it," Lovrich said of cleaning up community parks two years ago and local school fields last year. "It brought the team together even though we weren't practicing. We still bonded doing the community service and it felt good doing it.

"The first time when we were told what we were going to do, it didn't seem very exciting. But once we got there an saw the people in the community and how they responded - it wasn't that bad as long as you had a teammate by your side. It was enjoyable."

Which is something Helzer hoped would happen. That his players would realize there is joy beyond the excitement of performing under the bright lights every Friday night.

"We try to show them there are different avenues instead of just wins and losses," said Helzer, whose team will also be having a food drive this season. "Then the quality of the kid you are producing is more prepared for what's out there."

The Hawks haven't gotten the payoff on the field this year as it has lost its first five games. But projects such as this makes them winners in a more important arena.

"The majority of my teammates would say the same thing, you get a good feeling when you help someone," said Lovrich, an honor roll student in advanced placement classes who hopes to study advertising and marketing at Michigan, Michigan State or Illinois. "It's all about karma.

"Coach always talks about karma and I definitely see it. Everything comes back around when you do something good."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com