NICEVILLE – When Brian and Kathy Haugen received news that a Rocky Bayou Christian football player had been rushed to the hospital after suffering a dangerous hit during a scrimmage three weeks ago, the two were moved into action.
On Monday, the Haugens – as well as the Taylor Haugen Foundation they founded in 2008 – joined with EvoSheild, LLC, a Georgia-based company dedicated to developing next level sports protection, to donate 40 EvoShield Protective Rib shirts to the entire Rocky Bayou football team as part of the foundation’s Youth Equipment for Sports Safety (YESS) program.
“When Andrew got hurt, that’s when we said, ‘We need to do something,’” Brian Haugen said. “There’s been too many of these injuries.”
The shirts, which regularly retail for 109.99, feature two custom molding rib shields that slide easily into pockets on the side of the shirt to provide high impact protection to an otherwise vulnerable area.
It was in August of 2008 that Taylor Haugen died after injuries sustained during a preseason game against Fort Walton Beach.
“When this happened, that’s what popped in my mind,” Beno said. “It really scared me, my parents and a lot of people. I just appreciate the Haugen Foundation. I wish I would have had it earlier, but now that my team has it, it will help tremendously.”
Beno, who was on hand to try on and model the shirts, raved over the comfort and fit.
“I’d wear this to school,” Beno said. “It’s just so comfortable.”
EvoShield was founded in 2006 and its padding consists of five layers of fiberglass resin that hardens within 20 minutes of being introduced to oxygen. The padding, once hardened, is less than half an inch in thickness and has a usage life of over two years.
Hardie Jackson, COO of EvoShield, said the company has sold its products to several NFL franchise as well as a multitude of NCAA programs. Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is one of several household names to wear the company’s equipment. He hopes the company can begin to extend its reach into the high school and youth sports.
“When you start seeing some of the injuries that are occurring and being here with the Haugen family and with what happened to Taylor, you really do start thinking, ‘Why wouldn’t you wear something if you can protect your (child)?’”
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