   
Optimist organizers plan bigger, better fall
By MICHAEL ALLEN
LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
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 Organizers of the Conway Optimist Youth Football program are looking to make it bigger and better this fall.
League commissioner Jay Bernard pointed out several improvements that were made to the program, while returning players were issued their equipment, at Curtis Walker Park on Saturday.
"We're going to have a website where someone can go look up game scores, game cancellations and team standings," Bernard said. "Paul Tipton has worked very hard on the field and it looks similar to the University of Central Arkansas' practice field. This year, we have 12 teams out and over 400 boys and a few girls that are dressing out this year."
The youth football program will be the only one occupying the field this fall at Curtis Walker Park. Conway Christian used the field in the past few years, but this year the Eagles will have the luxury of playing in their newly built Eagle Stadium. The field at Curtis Walker Park has taken a beaten throughout the years and it was quite evident when games were held there last fall. There were several dust spots and when it rained, the whole sidelines would be saturated with mud. So youngsters, have something to look forward to, playing on the same surface as high school and college teams.
"We are excited to get this 2008 season started," Bernard said. "The program is truly getting bigger and bigger each year. We have Mayflower that is participating in the program and we have 11 teams from right here in Conway. We looking forward to getting the kids back out to the park and that's what it's all about."
All new players will report to Curtis Walker Park Saturday to receive their equipment. The draft for the new players will begin next Saturday as well. The league is composed of kids in the 4th-6th grades and each team has an "A" and a "B" team. The "A" team is usually the sixth-graders and some talented fifth-graders.
"The reason why we have the Optimist youth football program is because we want the fourth and new fifth-graders to come out and play against their buddies at school," Bernard said. "When they do that, then they'll get a taste to see what football is really like. If so, then they'll continue on and come back next year."
Cutline for photo: The Titans' coach William Kellybrew fits Robert Sewell for a helmet during Conway Optimist's equipment day for returning players.
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