Youth football league's fate is uncertain for now

VIGO CO., Ind. (WTHI) - The field the Vigo Youth Football League has played on, as guests, for the last eight years is now officially off limits to the League, according to the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club that owns the property on Terre Haute’s north side.

Continuing the current relationship with Vigo Youth Football is “unacceptable,” and “must be terminated,” according to a January 14 certified letter authored by lawyers representing the Boys & Girls Club.

Jimmy Smith with the Boys and Girls Club would not elaborate to News 10 Friday, beyond the letter, but a coach with the Youth Football League and his wife are quite comfortable being candid about the reason for the split.

“The leadership is broken,” said Brian Campbell, a volunteer coach with the League the last three years.

Campbell and his wife, Heather, sat down with News 10 to put an end to the in-fighting that, according to them, threatens to side-line the football season for roughly 800 Vigo County boys, ages 6 to 16.

“These kids are learning not only football, from coaches – they’re learning life lessons; they’re learning to be responsible,” said Coach Campbell, who admitted he worries about the adults in the league setting a poor example for the young, up-and-coming athletes.

With the loaned gridiron now officially out-of-reach, the fate of the Vigo Youth Football League remains uncertain; but determined parents like Brian and Heather Campbell remain hopeful to see that the greater good—the young football players—is what prevails.

“I was personally promised there will be youth football through the Boys and Girls Club this year,” offered Coach Campbell. He would not elaborate beyond that.

News 10’s phone calls to Dorain “Todd” Russell, current president of the Youth Football League, once again went unreturned.