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Three time Super Bowl Champion and Greenville alumni, Matt Light,
stands with (L to R)
Randy Swisher (Athletic Director), Doug Fries
(Superintendent of Schools) and Jeff Cassel (High School Principle).
Light presented the school with a commemorative Wilson Gold Football as
part of Greenville's contribution to
Super Bowl History (Matt Light).
Light also presented the school with a $10,000 check on behalf of the
Bill Bellichick Foundation toward the start of a new football stadium
the name of The Friends of Harmon
Field. CNO Photos by Dylan Knoop
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Big night for
Wave football on senior night
Matt Light awards Greenville big money
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- Greenville football received a big boost from Matt Light on
behalf of the Bill Bellichick Foundation Friday night at Harmon Field.
Light, a Greenville alumni and three time Super Bowl Champion with the
New England Patriots made a $10,000 presentation to Greenville Athletic
Director, Randy Swisher, Superintendent of Schools, Doug Fries and High
School Principle Jeff Cassel during ceremonies at halftime of the
Sidney game, to the Friends of Harmon Field.
In addition, Light awarded Greenville with a commemorative Wilson
Golden Football. The football represented Greenville for its
contribution to Super Bowl History, Matt Light.
It was a big night for Wave football as well as for Light himself.
“High school football is so exciting,” said Light. “For me and my four
kids, this is great to be able to share this with them. I’ve got some
incredible memories here. Tonight was a memorable night for me to be
able to do something special. It’s not every day you get the chance to
help transform an entire stadium. It’s a great chance to make some much
needed improvements and upgrades. I’m privileged to be a part of all
this. ”
Playing all 11 of his years in the NFL and under Bellichick, Light
spoke highly of his former coach.
“Coach Bellichick has done so much for me,” Light stated. “For him to
make this kind of a commitment to something that is this important to
me speaks volumes.”
Despite 11 years in the NFL, five Super Bowl appearances and three
championships, it all started at Greenville.
“My whole career stared right here and I’m proud to be a part of this,”
admitted Light. “I proud to be a Green Wave and I think down the road
we’re going to be proud of what we accomplish with this new stadium.
It’s a new chapter in Wave football. You hold on to things and you want
to honor and preserve the past but you also want to build for the
future and we’re doing that.”
For Greenville coach Aaron Schaffer, a team mate of Light at the high
school level, it’s all about the future of Greenville football.
“It’s a new chapter for us but a new stadium doesn’t erase the history
of Harmon Field,” said Schaffer. “It upgrades our facilities but it
will still be our home. Modern football, unfortunately, is played on
synthetic surfaces and for many reasons. Partially because it doesn’t
get used throughout the fall and it doesn’t wear down like grass does.
We just need to get this thing done for our kids and the community.”
Even though it’s exciting for the Wave coach, it is also bittersweet as
well.
“There’s a lot of good memories here,” said Schaffer. “A lot of true,
long lasting friendships have been forged out here on this field and
that’s not going to change in the future. I want our kids to have the
best they can have and it all started tonight with the donation.”
While 10,000 dollars will only be the tip of the iceberg for a new
facility, Schaffer said the enthusiasm around Greenville is high as
Wave football will soon take a step into the future.
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Light
stands with a group of children with the $10,000 check that was
donated to the Friends of Harmon Field.
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