Youth Football Team Logs 72 Consecutive Wins

His kids have come and gone. Both Brandon and his younger brother Justin Weber took up wrestling seriously at .

So why does their father, Joey Weber, still bother to coach youth football for the Buffalo Grove Bills program?

Sure he loves to coach kids, but who is going to give up a job that produces victories every week.

It's not like Weber's teams have never lost. Since he started coaching football in 2001, his record is 137-6. As great as that sounds it's the streak of victories that is truly outstanding.

With four wins this season, a Weber-coached team now has a winning streak of 72 consecutive games.

"Hey, the UCLA (basketball) team won 88 games in a row before they lost to Notre Dame," Weber said.

Those historic hoops teams were coached by the legendary John Wooden.

Weber is quick to share the credit. In fact, he doesn't pay much attention to his team's defense this fall. That's because he's got a real defensive coordinator in Guy Boliaux. His football resume is impressive. In 1982, the Chicago Bears drafted this University of Wisconsin linebacker in the 11th round of the NFL draft.

"Guy and I have coached together for three years,'' Weber said. "He's really an assistant head coach."

Weber notes his football playing history wasn't so successful.

"I played a year of high school football,'' he said. "I missed my opportunity."

He seems to have made up for it on the coaching level. He started with Bills in 1999 and by 2003 he was the president of the league.

And it's not like he rode one team of superstars all the way up to high school. He's moved from the lightweight to the heavyweight division and back.

"Everybody has a hobby,'' he said. "I'm awful at golf but seem to have a knack at coaching. I love football. It's a great metaphor for life. I'm the teacher and these are my students."

Weber thinks his coaching staff ranks with the best.

"We have really pushed the envelope,'' he said. "We have excellent preparation. We have excellent coaches. It's been tremendously enjoyable."

The Bills are a popular feeder team for the  football program. Weber reports from his lightweight team, 17 of the 19 players are headed to . One is headed to  and another one to Loyola.

This year's club did give Weber an early season scare.

"We have kids who come from a lot of different backgrounds,'' he said. "They haven't played together. But I've seen this team come together and sacrifice for an unknown. Football is a sport of sacrifice and the best team gets better every week."

The Bills fell quickly behind Libertyville 6-0 this season. The Bills rallied to post a 16-6 win.

A year ago, coaching at the heavyweight level, Weber didn't have to break a sweat. His club crushed all competitors.

"No one challenged us last year,'' he said.