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Mallards to Honor Boblett Saturday Night

February 29, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (February 29, 2012) - Long-time Rock Island High School football coach Vic Boblett will be honored for his contributions to the community when he becomes the first recipient of the Quad City Mallards' Outstanding Community Leader Award Saturday night, the Mallards announced today. Boblett, who retired in the fall after 21 years as the Rocks' head coach, will be presented with the award during the first intermission of Saturday night's game at the i wireless Center between the Mallards and the Evansville IceMen, a contest that faces off at 7:05 p.m.

"I want to thank the Mallards for making this award available to the Quad Cities and for making me their first recipient," said Boblett. "I have been so very blessed during my thirty-six year career to be surrounded by great kids, great assistant coaches, great mentors and wonderful school administrations. Because of them my career has been a wonderful, fun ride and I thank them all!"

Boblett spent a total of 25 years as a head coach, during which time his teams went 206-70. Boblett was head coach at Geneseo High School for four years before taking the reins at Rock Island in 1991. He led the Rocks to 11 Western Big Six Conference titles, 16 state playoff appearances and three state final four appearances, including a berth in the 1997 state championship game.

Boblett's contributions to the community far exceed wins and losses, however. Under his leadership, the Rocks are widely known not only for hard-nosed play but also for sportsmanlike behavior on and off the field. Over his years as Rocky head coach Boblett has imparted vital lessons about the importance of teamwork, commitment, self-sacrifice, hard work and striving for excellence to those under his tutelage.

"Vic is a tireless worker who has impacted literally thousands of young boys through his passion for football," said Rock Island High School athletic director Bob Swanson. "More than coaching game skills, he teaches life lessons. He is directly responsible for keeping many of our kids in school and creating opportunities for them to continue on to higher education and community leadership positions."

Boblett's positive influence has spread beyond the Rocks' locker room. He created the Rock Island-Milan "Little Rocks" program for fifth and sixth grade youth, substantially upgraded the district's junior high school programs and founded the first 7-on-7 summer football program in western Illinois- a program that now serves a dozen area schools. Boblett also organized and manages the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Rocky and has personally funded numerous F.C.A. events and activities.

"We are thrilled to make Vic the first recipient of the Outstanding Community Leader Award," said Mallards executive vice president Ryan Simmons. "His career and work in the community exemplify what this award is all about. Vic is a tremendous role model and we're blessed to have him with us in the Quad Cities."

In addition to acting as head football coach, Boblett also serves as director of development for the Rock Island/Milan school district, a role through which he spearheads the annual effort to raise thousands of dollars for the schoolchildren of Rock Isla nd and Milan. Boblett's dedication to his unique combined role has seen the district's development fund multiply in size in the time since he first took on the position.

Before taking on his first head coaching assignment in 1987, Boblett served as an assistant coach for 11 seasons. He spent seven years as a high school assistant at first Sherrard and then Geneseo- where, as defensive coordinator, he helped the Maple Leafs to the 1982 state title. Between 1983 and 1986, Boblett served as part of a coaching staff that guided Augustana College to four consecutive Division III national titles.

During his playing days, Boblett was a five-time All-State selection and an Honorable Mention All-American as a running back at Geneseo. He went to play for the University of Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976 and a Master of Science in 1982.

Presented by the Quad City Mallards, the purpose of the Oustanding Community Leadership Award is to recognize community leaders who have made significant contributions to the well-being of the residents of the Quad Cities area and who have had, in particular, a positive impact on the lives of Quad Cities area youth.

Tickets for Saturday night's game- and all remaining Mallards regular season home games- are now available. Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or tickets@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.

Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period. Individual game tickets are available for $12 in the upper level and $17 in the lower level and $25 for the first row along the glass for adults. Tickets for kids 12 and under are available for $5 off adult rates. In addition, tickets are available to military personnel for $2 off the regular adult rate.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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