IU football coach speaks up for mentoring program

Before addressing a crowd in the Hoosier Room at Memorial Stadium, IU football coach Terry Hoeppner took time to autograph a hat for 10-year-old Michael "Mikey" Collis.\nHoeppner brought the hat as a gift for Mikey, who is a Little Brother at Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana. Hopenner spoke Monday at a press conference to kick off the "50 Men in 50 Days" campaign. The campaign set 50 men as its goal for fall recruitment. Hoeppner, the honorary event chairman, joined Big Brothers Big Sisters, which currently has 144 boys waiting for Big Brothers, in challenging the men of Monroe and Owen counties to "step up and make a difference" in the lives of young boys and young men.\nHoeppner talked about the gratitude he gets every day from his opportunity to be a mentor as part of his role as football coach. Players are always coming into his office to talk. \n"Some days you'll hold your breath, others you won't be able to wipe the smile off your face," Hoeppner said. "Small boys become big men because of the influence of big men who care about small boys." \nMikey attested to coach Hoeppner's statement by explaining the influence his Big Brother, Larry Forrester, of nearly two years has had on him. \n"Because of Larry, I thought about being a Big Brother when I grow up," Mikey said.\nForrester said boys who have a Big Brother are 56 percent less likely to skip school and 46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs. When Forrester decided he wanted to give something back to the community, he realized that there were a lot of organizations that accepted financial contributions. But even though money always helps, he realized the immeasurable value that being a Big Brother would have for his community. \n"Writing a check is easy, but making a commitment is worth more than any check you could write," Forrester said.\nLiz Grenat, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana, explained that the number one reason people volunteer to be Big Brothers is because somebody else asked them to. Grenat also pointed out that most volunteers were asked at least three times by other people before they decided to volunteer. Grenat told the story of one young boy who has been on the Big Brother Big Sister of South Central Indiana's waiting list for 1 1/2 years.\n"I don't care how old he is or what he looks like. I don't care about his personality. I just want him to be there," Grenat recalled the boy saying. \nGrenat explained that the organization will work around people's schedules no matter how busy they are. There are four different programs, one of which involves taking two or three kids to an activity once a month. \nGrenat said the easiest way to get involved is to call the organization at 334-2828, but the organization is also more than willing to come and talk to student groups.