Starting in 2002, the National Football League’s Chicago Bears will practise at Olivet Nazarene University (ONU). In a joint press conference, team officials announced that the Bourbonnais, Illinois, campus has been chosen as the Bears’ summer training camp location. John C. Bowling,
ONU president, Ted Phillips, president and CEO of the Chicago Bears, and
George Ryan, governor of Illinois, joined other state and local civic leaders for the announcement. ONU made the Bears’ final four list in May after team
representatives visited the campus and met with Bowling and the university’s
vice presidents.
Commenting on the selection, Bowling said, “Those who know us best recognize
that our mission is not just to help young
people learn how to make a living, but also to help them learn
how to live, how to be men and women of character,” he said. “I think it says
something very significant and very positive about the Chicago Bears that
they have chosen Olivet. . . . Hosting the Bears will strengthen our ties
with the local community, give us added exposure and name recognition in the
Chicago area and throughout the Midwest, provide a revenue stream through
which we can make needed improvements to our athletic fields and facilities,
and let us introduce ONU’s values and traditions to a wider constituency.”
Phillips cited Olivet’s community involvement as well as its
facilities as key factors in the team’s decision. “After 18
years, the Chicago Bears training camp is returning to the state of
Illinois,” he said. “All along, we’ve believed that this was the time to
bring all aspects of Bears football closer to our fans . . . and Olivet
Nazarene is a great match to accomplish our goals.”
ONU will immediately begin preparing for the football team’s
arrival by visiting the Platteville site, meeting with camp
coordinators, and securing funds to renovate facilities. Local
businesses will be asked to help fund other upgrades. The
university already meets most of the team’s requirements.
