Saturday, January 26, 2008
Minter brings 'passion' for football, young people
Former Panthers star hired as the head of football operations at First Assembly
By Steve Winzenread
swinzenread@independenttribune.com
IndependentTribune.com
CONCORD - Mike Minter thinks one year is long enough to stay away from football.
And he believes First Assembly Christian School is the right place to jump back into the sport.
The former Carolina Panthers All-Pro safety is now head of football operations at FACS.
Minter wants no less than for First Assembly not only to accomplish construction of its planned football stadium by next season, but to compete with public schools in Cabarrus County and Charlotte, not just other private schools.
“They all looked at me like I was crazy,” he said. “But I think in due time we’ll be able to do that.”
The Eagles did very well last season, winning the independent schools’ Division II state title under first-year head coach Craig Kean.
“A great offensive mind,” Minter said. “He understands how to move the ball. I got a chance to sit down and talk to him. I’m excited about getting the chance to work with him.”
First Assembly Athletic Director Dave Murr, a friend of Minter’s, said: “Mike has a great passion for football and even a greater passion for young people.”
“You have to know that what is being brought to the plate today is something that’s unprecedented,” said First Assembly Principal Frank Cantadore. “I introduced Mike last year when he spoke at our graduation service.
“I said God saw fit to plant Mike Minter and his family here and to allow Mike to be a moral authority to our community.
“For us to have him come aboard is unbelievable.”
“I’m excited and I’m ready to go make it happen,” Minter said. “I love the game of football. I love kids. I love God.
“I’ve been dibbing and dabbing in coaching ever since my kids’ve been old enough. I have four kids. The boys are 12 and 10 and I also have twin girls, 5.
“Now I get the opportunity to come here and help build a program that’s second to none.
“A program that’s not only going to have great players on the football field, but also having kids going to college, getting scholarships for their athletic ability.
“That’s what we’re going to try to make happen at First Assembly.”
Minter said he wanted to be involved at the high school level, but not exclusively.
“I didn’t want to go to the professional ranks,” he said “I didn’t want to go to the college ranks.
“For one, my wife would probably kill me if I did any of the other two because you spend so much time coaching on the two levels.
“The other thing is being able to affect people a whole lot more if I get ’em at the middle school age all the way up to high school.
“Not only teach them how to play the game of football, but also teach them how to be great people.”
Minter added that he’s happy to be an Eagle now.
“When I was in high school, my biggest rival was the Eagles,” he said. “And going to Philadelphia and beating (the Eagles) in the NFC Championship game.
“Now I’m an Eagle. And I love what it represents, soaring high, making things happen.”
Where are you watching the game?
CONCORD - Former All-Pro safety Mike Minter, a Cabarrus resident who retired from the Carolina Panthers last year, said he will watch Super Bowl XLII with soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq.
At a fundraising breakfast for the American Red Cross on Friday, he predicted the underdog New York Giants would pull off an upset in next Sunday’s game.
Minter initially thought the undefeated New England Patriots would secure the first 19-0 record in NFL history, then changed his mind and made a bet with former teammate Mike Rucker.
“Whoever loses has to wash the other guy’s car,” Minter said.
In addition to asking for support on behalf of the Red Cross, Minter poked some fun at his former team, which plodded to a 7-9 record while starting four different quarterbacks this season.
To urge members of the audience to volunteer their own talents for the cause, Minter said he wasn’t suited to play quarterback. Then he paused and reconsidered.
“If you wanted me this year, I might’ve had a good shot,” he said, drawing laughter.
View Original Article at IndependentTribune.com
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Ex-Panther made honorary chairman of Red Cross chapter
By Josh McCann
jmccann@independenttribune.com
IndependentTribune.com
Mike Minter speaks to guests at the Concord Convention Center on Friday.
Photo by: Bridgett Baker (bbaker@independenttribune.com)
CONCORD - Executive director Nancy Litton saw exactly what she was looking for when she surveyed the guests at a fundraising breakfast for the Cabarrus County chapter of the American Red Cross.
The nonprofit disaster relief and preparation organization had gathered about 150 guests - including a mix of veteran supporters and newcomers - for its inaugural Snowflake Breakfast at the Embassy Suites on Friday.
The new event was intended to generate fresh support in an increasingly crowded and complex local philanthropic landscape. In Litton’s eyes, it had succeeded in assembling a mix of people who were mingling with red and white trim and Red Cross paraphernalia all around them
“I see some very familiar faces,” Litton said from the podium. “I also see some new faces we’d like to build relationships with as well.”
Providing a further boost to that effort, Litton then told the crowd former Carolina Panthers All-Pro safety Mike Minter will serve as honorary chairman of the chapter’s board of directors this year.
Litton said Minter will represent the Red Cross in the community while Linda Brown serves as chairwoman.
Minter began his public role by encouraging those in the audience to give their “time, talent and treasure” to help.
Minter, who moved to Cabarrus from the University area in 2004 and retired from the NFL before this season, committed to the Red Cross after meeting with two sisters whom the Red Cross had helped to relocate after a recent fire.
He compared the assistance provided by the local chapter, which served more than 15,000 people in various capacities last year, to a teammate picking him up on the football field.
Also a pastor at King’s Way Baptist Church in Concord and a board member for the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce, Minter said he tries to let God lead him to the organizations he agrees to support.
‘The American Red Cross is really what’s helping people come through struggles,” said Minter, who also announced Friday he will lead football operations at First Assembly Christian School. “This is what I’m about.”
That’s the sort of reaction Litton hoped Minter’s appearance would help elicit from other attendees, as well.
Afterward, she said she was pleased with the results of what she considered a “perfect” initial event.
“We’ve built at least some foundation with people we didn’t have before,” Litton said.
• Contact Josh McCann: 704-789-9152
View Original Article at IndependentTribune.com
