Mitchell Trubisky thrilled to give back to Mentor football program, community

Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno declared June 12 “passing day” at the Mitchell Trubisky Mentor Youth Football Camp.

That means tips and pointers from Trubisky, the Mentor graduate who’s now the second-year starting quarterback for the Bears, on his speciality — like how to throw a perfect spiral — had to wait a day.

During Day 1 of the camp on June 11, there were plenty of drills, and a quick display by Trubisky on the art of punting. Yes, Trubisky was also a punter for the Cardinals during his high school days.

So when Trivisonno needed a demonstrator, Trubisky stepped to the front with a boatload of first- and second-graders just to his right.

“Let’s go, Mitch! Let’s go, Mitch! Let’s go, Mitch!” was the chant from the group.

Trubisky boomed a punt, and the young campers responded with oohs and aahs, and the cheers and high-fives.

It was microcosm of the day for Trubisky, who this year added his name to the Mentor Youth Football Camp. Trivisonno said 166 campers from grades first through six registered.

Many were wearing Trubisky Bears jerseys or T-shirts. That and simply the fact he was back home at his high school stomping grounds had Trubisky smiling the entire session that went from 9 a.m. to noon.

“This is humbling, and very awesome to see this many jerseys in one spot,” said Trubisky, whose camp runs through June 14 at Mentor’s Jerome T. Osborne Stadium. “I was just telling the kids this motivates me even more to be a better player, and even a better person. Just knowing these kids are looking up to me, and I have this platform to use and help shape these young minds and steer them in the right direction is awesome.”

Trubisky first participated in the Mentor Youth Football Camp as a second-grader and then every year after until sixth grade. The player he looked up to the most during those camps was Ohio’s 2007 Mr. Football winner Bart Tanski. Five years later, Trubisky joined Tanski as a Mr. Football winner from Mentor. They are the school’s only winners of the award.

The mention of Tanski brought a smile to Trubisky’s face. He said Tanski inspired him to get even more involved with the Cardinals’ football program while climbing the ranks. By the time he was a fifth-grader, Trubisky was a ball boy for the varsity football team that Tanski led to appearances in the 2006 and 2007 Division I state championship games.

That passion for Mentor football originated at the youth camp, and it’s why Trubisky intends to keep his name attached to it.

“I helped out (with the camp) when I was in high school, I came back when I was in college, and I’ll keep coming back now that I’m in the NFL,” he said. “I plan to keep giving back to the community that gave me so much, and continue to promote the Mentor football program.”

As Day 1 concluded, Trivisonno and Trubisky laid out the rest of the week and gave words of encouragement. Then, Trubisky took pictures, gave hugs, high-fives and handshakes, and signed every jersey, shoe, glove and T-shirt put in front of him — with a smile to boot. He was loving every minute.

“To have this support from my community, and have these kids come out here means the world to me,” Trubisky said. “This is the camp I looked forward to every year growing up. It really shaped me. It taught me to work hard, listen to your coaches and be a great teammate. It all started here.”

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