About three months before football season, the Chugiak Mustangs suited up for a good cause
ANCHORAGE , Alaska - About three months before the 2026 high school football season comes into view, Chugiak Football is earning community praise — not for a final score, but for full trash bags.
Mustang players were spotted picking up garbage along the Glenn Highway earlier this month. It’s something Chugiak Head Coach Roger Spackman says has become a tradition.
“This is our third year and third year in a row,” Spackman said. “The cleanup has been a really good one because we put our uniforms on and get out there and people see us and honk and wave. We always get emails after, and the principal gets emails about how cool it is we’re out there cleaning. It’s really good opportunity for us to make a good impression on our community and help the community at the same time.
” Spackman says around twenty-five players took to the task, ranging from soon-to-be senior captains to freshman hopefuls.
“We had a one freshman; he brought his little brother. They had a good time and they’re like ‘Yeah, this is awesome. ’ The older kids look forward to it. They’re like ‘Hey, yeah, we’re going to do that.
’ They know the value of it. So, it’s good. ” This isn’t the first time the blue and white have tried to make an impact off the field. The team most recently spent time at the Brother Francis Shelter in February, helping the Anchorage-based homeless shelter with meal packing.
“I think that if we get a better perspective about life, then things on the field aren’t quite so monumental,” he said. “Obviously, we always want to perform under pressure and all that stuff. But if you make a bunch of meals for homeless people and think about that a little bit, then maybe our little problems on the football field aren’t quite so monumental.
”“One thing we do here at school is we feed the school pancakes once a month,” Spackman said.
“We pick a Friday and just say ‘Hey, it’s free pancake day. ’ The kids are in here flipping pancakes and serving them up. ” “We start an hour before lunch and we’re cooking all through lunch. It’s about an hour and a half straight.
We have 5 griddles going at the same time,” he continued.
“That’s just good vibes for our team amongst the school and staff. And so we’re always looking for new stuff to do. I would serve every month if I could. ” Having been in teaching for thirty years, Spackman says the lessons taught through acts of service are something he hopes follow his players well after their days at Tom Huffer Sr. Stadium.
“It’s just good for the kids to get a taste of life,” he said. “Our goal is to build men. Our hard work and dedication it takes to play football is a great part of that. But the other part is being a good person and a husband and a community member.
All that stuff is great for them as they prepare for life. ” “The thing I love best is when I see kids graduate and they continue to do great things like, ways of service and things like that. I hear about it and I always try to give them a kudos because that kind of stuff is, this makes our community better and makes their life better.
Whenever you serve, you build yourself as well as help others because many times, we’re doing things that other people can’t do for themselves. So, it helps us know that we are valuable and that the things that we’re doing are something that makes a difference. ” Spackman added that while this will be his final year in the classroom, he’s not ready to give up the coaching reigns just yet.
“My favorite part of teaching was being connected with kids. That’s why I love coaching so much is because you just build these relationships that are very meaningful and hopefully you can make a difference in their lives. That makes it worth it for me.
”Artist behind Anchorage whale mural says federal law was violated when Dallas work was painted over for FIFA World CupMan killed crossing Glenn Highway, closing road for hours907 Sports: Catching up with Alaska’s greatest bowler, Hall of Famer Sean Rash907 Sports: Ship Creek King Salmon Update, Catching up with Nick Hanson aka ‘The Eskimo Ninja’
Chugiak Mustangs Mustangs Football Chugiak High School Chugiak Alaska Glenn Highway The Glenn Highway Anchorage Alaska Brother Francis Shelter
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Cleared For Launch After Suffering MalfunctionThe company wrapped up an investigation into the rocket's recent failure to deliver its payload.
Read more »
The Rewind: Chugiak track dominates region championships; Dimond boys, South girls soccer stay undefeatedAlso: The weekly scoreboard and a look at the action in the week ahead.
Read more »
East Anchorage section of southbound Glenn Highway closed for hours by ‘traffic investigation,’ police sayThe incident appeared to involve a pedestrian fatality, but police had not provided any updates as of midafternoon Tuesday.
Read more »
Man killed crossing Glenn Highway, closing road for hoursA man was killed Tuesday morning after being hit by two separate vans while crossing the Glenn Highway near the Boniface Parkway exit, police say.
Read more »