Get hyped for Hyde Week

Fostoria's Audrey Keels wants Micah Hyde to have the full-out support of his hometown as he and his Buffalo Bills teammates try to earn a spot in Super Bowl XLV. Keels, a longtime friend of Hyde's mother, Pam Moore, is asking for the community to participate in a "Micah Hyde Week" that will begin Wednesday and run through at least Sunday night, when the Bills will visit Kansas City to play the defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs in the American Conference title contest and for a berth in the Feb. 7 Super Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla."If they win (over the Chiefs), we're going to keep rocking it," Keels said.Keels said she began early Monday in organizing a celebration of Hyde, who will be trying to get to his first Super Bowl is his third conference title game. Hyde played in two NFC title contests during his four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He's in the process of wrapping up his fourth season in Buffalo."I am thrilled with the support from Fostorians for Micah," Moore said Monday in a text message.Keels said Moore has donated a football and a photo autographed by Hyde that she hopes to use in a raffle to raise funds for IMagINe for Youth, the foundation started by Hyde and administered by his wife, Amanda, and his mother.Keels said the activities for the week will involve a home-lighting contest with a $100 first prize, a contest for junior and senior-high students to make posters for display in local businesses, with a $50 first prize, and a coloring contest for elementary students in which the entries will be displayed in a local store. She's also urging nursing homes to decorate to shown their support.She said a Bills-related woodworking creation is being done for purchase. T-shirts and ribbons are also being made for sale.The Urban Woody Brewery, trEats and B.E.A.U.T.Y. are also involved in promoting and conducting activities, with trEats owner Ed Wonder creating an events page on social media to provide information for the public.Keels said she got the idea for the celebration after seeing a social-media post by Fostoria resident Vincent Williams reading, "I am now a Buffalo Bills fan. No. 23, get that ring," referring to Hyde's jersey number."Then, it clicked in my head, 'Wouldn't it be nice if we had a Micah week," Keels said. "Next thing I know, I'm putting it on my (social-media) page. ... The next thing I know, my phone is blowing up with volunteers with information on who to contact and what to do."I've known Micah since the day he was born, literally. His mom and I have been friends for years. To be able to see him from the moment he was born, to see him see him play on that field and still act like a little kid while doing it, that big smile and jumping around ... " Keels said. "It hasn't gone to his head, and I think that's what I love the most. He's still himself. He hasn't changed. I just want to celebrate him for all the things he's done for Fostoria. I want us to have fun with this."