Blitzing the Yard: U.P. Football All-Stars team up with Habitat For Humanity

ISHPEMING, Mich. (WJMN) – On Wednesday morning, the U.P. Football All-Stars teamed up with the Marquette County Habitat For Humanity to help put the finishing touches on their most recent home build.

Before the All-Star’s got to work, similar to gameday, they first needed a solid game plan for success.

“Just like in football, the game is where you showcase what you do, all the work you put in, the training, all that,” said Andy Engstrom, the Constriction Director for Marquette County Habitat for Humanity. “Most important thing today is going to be spending the time wrapping things, doing it right, not being in a hurry so that when we roll off the eye candy here at the end of your day, it’s going to look beautiful. So, appreciate you guys all being here and ready to have some fun.”

With that, the All-Stars got to work.

“They are laying sod an mulch,” said Kristin Collins, the Program Support Specialist at the Marquette County Habitat For Humanity. “They’re doing the shed located behind us. They’ve got some landscaping materials that they’re laying, and running wheel barrows of dirt and raking it.”

“Football is the ultimate team sport in my eyes where you have to have 11 people in sync at all times,” said Dustin Brancheau, the All-Star Week & Game Organizer. “This is no different. We’re out here helping families that are in need. It’s teaching kids life lessons that they’ll keep beyond football, whenever they get done playing. Whether they play the next four years in college or whether this is their last game that they get to suit up. They get to go out into the real world and learn the value of helping people out that are in need.”

“The local community has done so much for us over the years, so this is the least we could do,” said Gladstone senior Nate Young. “Getting out here and putting some work in all the guys. And and it’s it’s a great, great opportunity to give back to our our local community.”

Volunteers similar to the All-Stars are vital for organization’s like the Marquette County Habitat For Humanity to help support their local communities.

“This is so amazing to have kids come out and help,” said Collins. “I mean, all the service clubs need help and we need help. So, I hope that this sparks a lot more kids to locate a non-profit to align with no matter what, but we prefer Habitat.”

Joining the All-Stars on the build site was the Celebrity Coaches for this year’s game. That included Iron River native and Olympic Gold Medalist, Nick Baumgartner.

“The best thing that I’ve been able to do with the platform that I built is the opportunities that I get to give back,” said Baumgartner. “I want these guys to understand that this is important. Not only are they representing their school district, but they’re representing their families, and to come out here and put their best foot forward. We’re built different here in the U.P. because we have to work and fight for our opportunities. No one’s going to give them to us. Now, they’re out here and they’re showing what they can do with that work ethic. They made the All-Star Football team which is unbelievable. Now, they have the opportunity to give back and help somebody that needs help. What a great opportunity to do both of those things.”

Former Michigan Tech Basketball and NMU Football player, Jake Witt, will also be on the sidelines as a celebrity coach on Saturday.

Witt is getting ready for his second training camp with the Indianapolis Colts, but was happy to take some time away from training to help the All-Stars.

“Just being able to help throughout the entire week is huge for me because these guys are going onto college,” said Witt. “I was going through that transition, too, not too long ago. I want to be there to help them out, support them, and this is just a great week for the kids here. So, yeah, I’m Glad to be apart of this stuff, too, where we give back to the community where we all came from.”

The recipients of the Marquette County Habitat For Humanity’s 111th home build are Troy and Kaitlin Conors.

“It was very exciting,” said Troy Conors.

“Yeah, it was two years in the making,” said Kaitlin Conors. “We were actually on our honeymoon in Florida when we found out we got excepted. So, that made it extra special.”

Thanks in part to the All-Stars work, the couple will realize their dream’s of being a home owner sooner rather than later.

They wanted to give a big thank you to everyone involved in making their dream a reality.

“Thank you for all of your help and what you’re doing for us,” said Troy Connor.

“Yeah, thank you so much we really appreciate it,” said Kaitlin Connor.