Snoop Youth Football League Player Receives Achievement Award

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Snoop Youth Football League Player Receives Achievement Award

By Chris Richburg

Date: 12/18/2006 10:30 am

The Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) honored one of its own Saturday (Dec. 16) at its All-Conference game at Citrus College in Glendora, CA.

Cenyon Usher, a Lawndale, CA seventh grader, received the first It's In Your Hands achievement award from league sponsor Cutter Gloves. The award, given to a player each year, is based on academic progress, sportsmanship and character.

Usher, a tight-end for the Woodcrest Giants Pee-Wee Division, was awarded with a $1,500 scholarship fund and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Snooper Bowl, which is set to take place Feb. 3, 2007 in Miami.

The Rogers Middle School student, who has never received anything lower than a B in school, cited his mother Imani Westbrooks as his motivation for aiming high. His future plans include attending college and studying sports medicine or becoming a pro football player, while setting "a good example" for his younger brother.

"My mom is my hero ... I know my mom is proud of me, but I want to make her even prouder," said Usher, who said he aspires to "become first a good and honest man" when he gets older.

Finalists for the 2006 award included Thomas Laster, Gregory Earl Adams, Jr., Caylin L. Moore, and Darrell Hunter II.

Founded in 2004 by Snoop Dogg as a way of making football and cheer more accessible to kids, the SYFL is comprised of 50 football teams for boys and girls ages 7-13.

The SYFL's alliance with Cutters, a leader in high performance sports gloves for football, baseball and golf, reinforces Snoop Dogg's goal of providing an alternative for youth.

"We couldn't do this without people like [Cutters] who believe in the Snoop Youth Football League," Snoop said. "It's easy for a kid to join a gang -- we need to make it easier to play football. The SYFL is on to something so fresh and productive for our youth, and we are also all about helping the boys and girls off the field. We thank Cutters for being a part of it."