A rivalry between coaches boils as the Men of Tomorrow chili cook off approaches. Football and soccer coach, Michael Keel and football coach, Jimmie Green have been known to be two of the most competitive chili makers on campus.
On January 31st from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the rivaling coaches and other competitors will be put to the test to make the best bowl of chili. Once the competitors submitted their winning entries, three Men of Tomorrow members and two Men of Tomorrow parents will judge their chilis. The winners will be judged on aroma, appearance, consistency, and taste. Third place will receive a $25 gift card to Walmart, second place a $50 gift card to Sam’s, and first place will win a $100 gift card to Target as well as a trophy. While most people would be in it for the money, Coach Keel and Coach Green seem to be mostly in it for the bragging rights.
Coach Green’s been cooking chili for over four years. While he normally enjoys grilling meat, he’ll set time aside to partake in the chili cook off. His chili takes around two hours to make and he calls his chili “the heat with the sweet”. If Coach Green gets first place, he plans on spending the $100 Target gift card on barbeque gear.
Although he hasn’t tried Coach Keel’s chili yet, Coach Green thinks that his cooking skills are better than Coach Keel’s. In fact, he says that his cooking can beat Coach Keel’s “any day of the week.” When asked if he had anything to say to Coach Keel, Coach Green laughed.
“Tell him to get off the porch and come with the big dogs or go home,” Coach Green said.
On the other side of the competition, Coach Keel has been cooking chili since his college years – the late 1990’s. Coach Keel’s previous hometown of Crosby, Texas hosted a chili cook off and Coach Keel won first place. His chili takes around two hours for him to cook.
“I love to cook,” Coach Keel said. “It gives me a chance to beat Coach Green.”
Even though Coach Keel hasn’t tried Coach Green’s chili, he remains confident he can beat him. However, Coach Keel admitted that Coach Green probably has more experience than him.
“Just cause he’s old, doesn’t mean he’s a better cook,” Coach Keel said.
If Coach Keel wins the $100 gift card to Target, he said he would probably spend it on his wife for Valentine’s Day.
It costs $15 to compete in the chili cook off or $5 to eat and enjoy the entertainment. The profits from the event will contribute to the Men of Tomorrow Scholarship. Club sponsor Ashley Brown hopes he can keep developing the scholarship.
“As we continue to build the program, we will create more and more opportunities,” Mr. Brown said. “And the creation of the scholarship is one of those opportunities.”
Mr. Brown is excited to host the second chili cook off and notes that their plans for it have come together nicely.
“We are very excited about the entertainment this year,” Mr. Brown said. “The school’s choir will perform, an award-winning country singer is performing, we’ll have a DJ, a magician, video games, sports activities and a silent auction.”
