It's game time, and Little has been waiting

There wes probably no better scout team running back to be found in Illinois last year than Shepard Little.

Little was one of the best around on the field as a Schaumburg sophomore two seasons ago. He rushed for 1,610 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to all-area honors.

But last year, Little's role was a simulator of opposing running backs to help prepare Schaumburg's defense. There were no big breakaway plays to captivate crowds on Friday nights.

Those times were the toughest for Little as he had to sit out his entire junior season because of disciplinary reasons. But those times come to an end tonight when Little returns to the field as Schaumburg hosts two-time, unbeaten defending Class 8A state champion Maine South.

"It felt great to know I was practicing to play instead of practicing to stand on the sideline," Little said on a Friday afternoon two weeks ago. "Friday nights were pretty hard but my family, friends and teammates helped me out."

Guys who were seniors last year such as Dionte Hackler and T.J. Akinola. Little's aunt Yvette Franklin, who has been his legal guardian since the fifth grade when he moved to Schaumburg from Alabama after his mother's death.

And Schaumburg head coach Mark Stilling, who in no way condones what happened with Little but also believes he's paid his price that included missing his entire sophomore track season.

"It wasn't like Shepard was a huge problem in school and I didn't hear teachers talk about Shepard being difficult in class," Stilling said. "When it all went down people wanted to find ways to help Shepard.

"It wasn't like there was malice involved with the intent to hurt anybody. It was more a matter of being aware of what was going on around him."

Little prefers not to discuss the exact details of what happened that led to his full year of athletic exile. But he's not afraid to talk about the effects of what happened.

"I don't think he spent much time at all thinking about the ramifications of his decision-making," Stilling said.

"I didn't think about my teammates and my family and I wasn't thinking about myself," Little said. "I was doing whatever I wanted to."

Which Little said was primarily being a follower in the wrong crowd instead of a leader in the right one. He said he now hangs out with his true friends like Hackler, Akinola and other teammates and doesn't associate with the kids he got in trouble with.

And it helped Little see the light if he wanted a chance to fulfill a potentially bright future.

"I'm a totally different person and I regret doing it," Little said. "But in summer school I busted my butt and got good grades when last year I wouldn't have thought about it.

"Now I do everything to better myself. It scared me and I straightened my act out."

Not every coach or school would have given Little another chance. But would it have made any sense to let a kid fade away toward more potential trouble?

And not every kid would have run the right direction with another opportunity at redemption.

"Once I found out I was getting a second chance I felt like I didn't want to let anyone down," Little said. "My reputation went down the drain. I felt like I had to build my reputation back up by doing things right."

He didn't pout and mope. Stilling said the only practice Little missed was for a legitimate reason. He worked as if he was getting ready for Friday nights.

"You wish you had 55 kids practice like he does," Stilling said. "His teammates love being around him and he's mature in the way he interacts and responds to coaches.

"A lot of times ultra-talented kids have difficulty accepting coaching but he's always found ways to make himself better. He's really made huge strides in changing himself as a human being."

Little returned to competition in the spring in track and said he "surprised himself" with his success in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and 400 relay. He got a chance to experience the state meet at Eastern Illinois as a relay alternate and hopes to make it back next season.

And Eastern Illinois could be his future home since he has a football scholarship offer there. Stilling said Little will qualify academically with a good first semester.

His teammates voted him as a captain at the end of his sophomore season and he'll fill that role this year. That may not sit well with some people but Stilling said Little has been "by far one of our leaders in the off-season."

Now he's looking to lead the Saxons toward a run at perennial power Fremd and Palatine in the Mid-Suburban West. He's back in the game he's played since his aunt got him started in the fifth grade.

"I'm ready to go now and I can't wait," Little said. "I've been dreaming about it every night."

Especially since Little didn't run away from what could have been a real nightmare.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com