MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Losing a loved one is very difficult, and losing someone you love at a young age can be even more challenging. We all deal with grief in different ways, and after eighth-grader Corian Whitley lost his dad in the spring, he has been using football as medicine.
“Everything I’m doing is for him," American Way Middle football player, Corian Whitley said.
Whitley’s dad was a big influence on him playing football, and now he is doing all he can to honor his late father on the field.
“This is something he wants to do every day. He doesn’t want to do this sometimes, he wants to do it every day, play football,” Camron Whitley, Corian’s older brother said
The day after Corian and Camron’s dad passed away, Corian’s AAU team had a 7-on-7 tournament. Despite being in the midst of the hardest period of his life, young Corian went and excelled at the tournament.
“If he was here, he would be even more proud of me," Corian said.
“He said, ‘Coach, I want to go and do this for my dad.’ He’s been mentally tough, and I’ve supported that by making sure that he is doing something positive," American Way Middle head football coach, DT Vaughn said.
American Way Middle School head coach DT Vaughn lost his father at the age of 11 and has been using his experience to help Whitley.
“God puts people in our life for a reason to be able to minister to the kids, and it’s bigger than just winning a trophy," Vaughn said.
Coach Vaughn and his coaching staff have been able to help many kids during his time at American Way. Their goal is to use football to mold these kids into men.
“Don’t get yourself caught up in all of the nonsense going on. You change your community," Vaughn said. "You be a positive influence to your peers. You change your community like I helped change you guys.”
Down the road from American Way, the coaches of the South Side Wildcats have that same mentality.
“I think it is important when kids leave the elementary setting, when they go into middle school, that they have a really good foundation," Antwoine Clark, the founder of South Side Wildcats, said.
South Side hosts cheerleading and football training for over 120 kids aged five through 12 in the Alcy neighborhood and across the city. They also offer tutoring throughout the year and have two elementary school football teams.
Coach Antwoine Clark wants the Wildcats to learn from the mistakes he made growing up.
“Had I had a mentor or someone who saw something in me, I feel like I wouldn’t have fallen victim to a lot of crimes and things, because I did some things," Clark said.
Coach Clark and his staff are constantly pouring into and making an impact on the next generation.
“Some of the things I have learned from playing for the South Side Wildcats are self-respect, self-love, team-building, teamwork, and learning how to care for myself and others," Caden Maclin of the South Side Wildcats said."
The South Side Wildcats' rely on donations for their funding. If you would like to donate or sign up to be a part of the organization you can do so on their website.