Jon Kophamer of Morrison, IL was fortunate to sit next to Adrian Peterson at a Cubs baseball game. As they chatted, Kophamer invited the former Chicago Bears Running Back to visit his town. On Sunday, September 22, 2013, Peterson did that, making a 9:30 a.m. presentation at Ebenezer Reformed Church, 309 E. Park Street. The church sponsored this special event.
Peterson was drafted in 2002 and played professional ball with the Bears for eight years. He was honored with the Walter Payton Award in 1999, while a student at Georgia Southern University. The prestigous award is given to the most outstanding offensive college player, as determined by a Nationwide panel of media and sports information directors.
Peterson is now a motivational speaker and sells his book titled Don’t Dis My Abilities. Mike Garland reported, “I thought it was excellant! I didn’t know he had a speech impediment.” There was time to autograph books, jerseys, and footballs during coffee hour. Peterson sold several books and has a few left said Kophamer. Garland’s son Chase, age 11, attended the service and learned of the “surprise” opportunity to run through plays afterward with the guest speaker.
Chase was one of several boys and girls–and a few men–on the field at Morrison Sports Complex, during another special hour of engagement with Adrian Peterson. For example, former Morrison High School footballer and Bears fan Mike Allen was there to assist with the drills.
Peterson deftly took charge and arranged the kids in rows and lines, showing each maneuver he wanted them to replicate. A group was commanded, “Ready, go!” and followed his example, moving across the grass to the opposite yard line. He warmed them up with straight running and knee raises; a backward, hunched run; a sideways slide; the crab walk after first peddling their feet in position. Next were forward jumping drills and one-legged forward hops. Allen demonstrated the wheel barrow walk, pushing Peterson over the turf. The running exercises had the children run 20 yards and touch the chalk line and run 10 yeards to pick up a football and return to the start.
Kophamer described with amusement how he made a motel reservation for Peterson, and the disbelieving response of the lady on the other end of the telephone. She was a die-hard Bears fan and well aware of who Adrian Peterson was. When Kophamer asked the price for the room, she told him she was upgrading the room to a suite, and that there would be no charge! When the athlete arrived at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 21, she had lots of autographs for him to sign and took pictures to remember the meeting.
Morrison offers football instruction beginning with six year olds/first graders through grade four in the NIYTF program. The Junior Tackle program takes over for youth in grades five through eight. High School teams continue from Freshman through Senior year.
After an hour of workouts, Peterson posed for photos and then sat at a table to sign more autographs. He seemed most pleased about his visit to Morrison. Kophamer stated Peterson may return with his family. He is married and has three children; they live in Grayslake, IL. “He’ll be back.”
