‘The vibes are there’: Fans at Bears practice in Lincolnshire expect big things this season

Thousands of diehard Chicago Bears fans swarmed Stevenson High School’s athletic stadium Monday for a rare team practice away from Halas Hall.

They were excited to see their favorite players get ready for a regular season that many attendees predicted will end with the Bears atop the NFC North for the second straight year, at the very least. More than a few think star quarterback Caleb Williams and his teammates may need to be sized for Super Bowl rings.

“The vibes are there this year — the heart,” said Naperville resident Cassandra Rago, who attended the practice with husband, John, and kids Vincent, 3, and Rome, 1.

Lincolnshire resident Matt Aronson expects another playoff run from the Monsters of the Midway.

“I think we’re going to gain on the momentum we had last year,” said Aronson, who brought his 5-year-old son, Cole, to Monday’s practice.

The session at the Lincolnshire school was part of the annual “Varsity Bears” program. In past years, the Bears have trained at Vernon Hills High School, Warren Township High School in Gurnee and Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, among other suburban venues.

No Packers paraphernalia was in sight Monday, that’s for sure. The bleachers and sidelines were filled with folks wearing navy-and-orange jerseys, T-shirts, hats and other Bears gear.

Williams’ replica jerseys seemed especially plentiful. But lots of other Bears greats were represented in the crowd’s fashion choices, including Hall of Fame running backs Walter Payton and Gayle Sayers.

Naperville’s Ryan Watson donned a Brian Urlacher jersey for the session. He predicted a Bears Super Bowl win and an MVP award for Williams.

Watson was not nearly as confident about the likelihood the Bears will build a new stadium in Illinois, however.

“I’m still holding out hope, but unfortunately I think it’s going to be somewhere in Indiana,” said Watson, who also had a foam cheese grater atop his head as a message for the Packers and their fans.

Relocation across state lines won’t necessarily cost the Bears Watson’s support.

“As long as they’re not the Gary Grizzlies or something, I’ll still root for my Chicago Bears,” he said.

Fresh from getting autographs from cornerback Terell Smith and wide receiver Luther Burden, Libertyville resident Andrew Larsen said he thinks the franchise will stay in Illinois.

“Where that is remains to be seen,” Larsen said. “I don’t think anyone wants to see the Indiana Bears.”

Maxx Wujcik, a 2011 Stevenson High School graduate who now lives in Lake Forest, believes the Bears are destined to call Arlington Heights home.

“They own the property,” said Wujcik, who brought his 6-month-old son, Henri, to the practice. “You could put a shovel in it tomorrow.”

As for the team’s chances this season, Wujcik has faith in Williams and second-year coach Ben Johnson.

“I think it’s the start of something special,” he said.

rlissau@dailyherald.com