A desire for difference
Great ideas begins with a simple conversation.
In 2003, Kevin and Keith Binion had a discussion about their disappointment with their son's youth football clubs. They decided to start a club that focused on character building, proper teaching of fundamentals and techniques, but most of all, allowing kids to have fun and play while learning the game of football. That was the beginning of Big City Football, Inc. In 2005, Kevin went door to door in his business community and raised $1,200 for the first Big City Football Camp which was held at Grace Church of the Nazarene in Detroit. The first camp had 30 kids ages 7-14 and was conducted by Kevin Binion and several coaches from youth and college football arenas. After the camp concluded many of the kids and parents asked when football practice started, but this was not a goal of the program. In 2006, the camp grew to over 100 youth and was moved to Brenda Scott Middle School. Each year marked increase in the number of participants with support given by USA Football and the Skillman Foundation. Parents and kids again asked, "When does practice start?" It was during this time that Kevin realized a need for a team. Kevin organized a team called the Chiefs and applied to local youth leagues for membership. He was denied, but continued to work with kids each May in the Big City Football Camp.
Randy Johnson, one of the camp coaches, saw the vision of Big City Football and began working with Kevin to build this organization. Kevin had secured a coaching position at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy and bought Randy with him as an assistant coach. The weight limit for the Catholic League was 165 at the middle school level. Many of the kids on the middle school team weighed over 200 lbs and although these kids came to practice regularly, they were not allowed to play in any games. Kevin and Randy believed this to be unfair and began to make plans to do something for these bigger kids, something different. In 2008, Kevin, Randy and another partner, Duran Bradford began planning a youth football league for kids who would play according to age and grade, not weight. This league would be called THE BIG CITY FOOTBALL LEAGUE. From 2007 - 2008 on a weekly basis, Kevin, Randy and Duran would meet at Kevin's house and put the plans together for this league. In 2008, they were ready to go. In April, 2008, the men attended Let's Play Ball, hosted by the Youth Development Commission at Wayne Statue University. This event would introduce parents to programs for youth and Big City Football had a table to recruit players and teams for this new league. However, they were only able to secure enough players for one team and decided to build a team, rather than focus on a league. In 2008 the BIG CITY CHIEFS was formed.
The Chiefs would make their home on Detroit's Eastside at an abandoned play field which had also become the home of the Big City Football Camp. In it's first year, the Chiefs had enough players for two squads, a Junior Varsity and Varsity team. But the BCFL had not recruited enough teams to officially form a league so the task became finding a house for the Chiefs to play. That year, Kevin was introduced to American Youth Football by James Parker who had experience with AYF while living in Chicago, IL. American Youth Football had a no weight limit division which suited the mission and vision of Big City Football and the Chiefs became members of AYF, agreeing to play in the Premier Youth Athletic League. On September 9, 2009, the Big City Chiefs kicked off their inaugural season at Chiefs Field along with teams from Akron, OH, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Detroit, Michigan. This appeared to be a great union for the Chiefs and Big City Football. However, during the course of the season, the Chiefs relationship with Premier Youth became strained and at the end of the season, the Chiefs decided to withdraw from The Premier Youth Athletic League. It was through this experience that Kevin, Randy and Duran decided to return to their vision of starting an unlimited weight league. Through hard work and the assistance of James Parker, the Big City Football League was officially formed in 2010 with six clubs, the Inkster Bengals, Romulus Vikings, Motor City All Stars, Detroit Wolverines, Milan Tigers and Big City Chiefs. The Inkster Bengals and Motor City All Stars captured the first league championships played at Thurston High School in Redford, Michigan.
In 2011, two new clubs applied for membership to the BCFL and were rejected by club owners. One of the clubs, then Big City Outlaws, decided to appeal the vote and during the appeal process, all of the clubs withdrew from the BCFL except the Big City Chiefs. The BCFL had to reload, adding the Outlaws and the Eagles of Westland, MI. The departure of the clubs did not stop the BCFL from having another successful season which also introduced "Border Wars - Battle For the Barrell.", an annual rivalry game played between clubs from the BCFL and Akron, OH. Akron, OH won the first rivalry and captured the coveted barrel which will be played for each season in late September. The 2011 championships were held at Harvest Field in Westland and won by the Westland Eagles and Big City Chiefs. Big City Football continues to grow adding clubs from Lansing, Highland Park and Canton, Michigan. In 2011, the BCFL also made history by returning middle school football to Detroit through it's partnership with Healthy Kidz, Inc. Middle school teams from Golightly Vocational, Earhart Middle School and University Prep Science and Math played the first BCFL Middle League Schedule won by Earhart Academy in overtime. The BCFL also introduced a pilot program for High School students who do not have the budget for a full football program. University Prep Science and Math High School, also organized by Healthy Kidz, Inc., played the first BCFL High School schedule against high school teams from various leagues.
Big City Football continues to grow despite its challenges with new clubs committed to the purpose of the organization. The mission of Big City Football is to save the lives of children through academic success and competitive athletics. The vision is to create a model of youth football that resembles the NFL in its strength, excellence and awareness. The BCFL has been built on integrity, loyalty, commitment and honesty and these core values continue to be the driving force behind Big City Football and will continue to be the cornerstone of its foundation for years to come.
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