Finding a Place to Play Football

A typical day in the Essian house includes five kids sitting around the kitchen table, each tackling a different course load, with Mom, Cyndi, overseeing the entire operation.

"Controlled Chaos," says Mitchel Essian.

A chaos Cyndi has embraced for two decades.

"I thought, you know what, I've had my kids, I'd like to keep them home and have them around as much as possible" said Cyndi.  "We began home-schooling about twenty years ago."

It's worked for them.  It's meant more time together, hands-on academic oversight, and more opportunities for the children to throw the football around in the backyard.

Backyard football games are great and the bragging rights last a lifetime, but most would there's nothing quite like suiting up for the real deal.

"I never thought I'd ever play football," said Mitchel.  "I didn't know if I would ever go to school.  And then when I found out, I was pretty amazed and I was excited I could play football." 
 
The Essians found a home in the Christian Football League, an organization specifically designed for families with home-schooled kids.

"I always wanted to play," said Maclane Essian.  "Seeing other guys out there playing football just really pumped me up to really want to play."  

"It was just really cool to actually step on a football field and be able to play as an organized group," said Mitchel.

"It is their dream just to play," said Cyndi.  "It's something they've been gifted with, so as parents we do the best we can to fulfill that."

In this case, driving every day from Clinton Township to Troy for practice.  On Game Days, bussing all over the state of Michigan.

"I know it's a long drive and everything, but it's worth it to play," said Maclane.

Unfortunately for Maclane, his season was cut short - a broken leg has kept him on the sideline since early in the year.  Mitchel, though, still quarterbacks the team, with his older brother, Matt, coordinating the offense.

"It's cool to see that all three of us are all part of one team," said Maclane.

"It's exhilirating," said Cyndi.  "It's fantastic.  It's just the neatest thing to be able to see them fulfilling a dream that they have."

Reported by: Tom Leyden
Email: tleyden@wxyz.com