Young
athletes aged 8 to 18 grouped into small
battalions led by esteemed football players
and coaches. Their eyes squinted in the
burning sunlight and their expressions
of concentration and exhaustion failed
to mask their sense of joy. The groups
rotated from drill to drill, all the while
being taught the fundamentals of football
and sportsmanship. It was the second day
of the 9th annual Mike Alstott Football
Camp.
Held at the Skyway Complex near Tampa
International Airport, the camp gives
its participants an opportunity to develop
their skills in a safe and supporting
environment. It is directed by Coach David
Ross and taught by Alstott and several
other notable football heroes. The staff
explained how the camp emphasizes fundamentals,
form, and technique in strictly non-contact
participation.
Parents like David Cadwell of Knoxville,
Tennessee, lined the fences and waited
under the shelter in support of their
sons and even a few daughters. The Cadwells
came down specifically for the camp, but
had made a vacation out of their trip
to Tampa. David Cadwell III, 15, had been
hoping to be apart of the camp since last
year. Many proud parents, whose children
had worked hard for the chance to learn
from the best, echoed similar stories.
Many high school-aged athletes demonstrated
their high level skills on the field,
but for a lot of the youngest attendees,
this was one of their first opportunities
for sports participation at this level.
"I never played football before,"
said 9-year-old Carlos Cardona, student
at MacFarlane Elementary School, alongside
his proud grandmother Joyce Yates.
"Been a good experience for him,"
said Yates. "He's learning quite
a bit." She pointed out the benefits
that a child can learn from sports and
hopes her grandson will grow into a fine
young athlete.
After a hard morning of drills, the weary
athletes grouped together for a meal.
Their appetites were ravenous. They were
tired, hot, and thrilled. You could see
the sense of camaraderie and accomplishment
in each face, and a hot dog, pizza, or
sports drink in each hand. At this point
many kids had one thing in mind: the picture
opportunity with Mike Alstott that would
follow lunch.
Between the hard work and coaching, new
friendships formed and old ones strengthened.
"I'm learning how to work, do the
defensive drills, and how to stay in shape,"
said Aaron Buckley, 12, with his friend
Mick Kuhn, 11, both students at Walker
Middle School. Both expressed a desire
to pursue football later in life. Mick
Kuhn noted his desire to become a Buccaneer
or Colt one day.
 At
the center of the excitement was Mike
Alstott himself, who appeared completely
at home in his role coaching the young
adults. Alstott, a current Buccaneer fullback,
is veteran of six Pro Bowls, and the Super
Bowl, when he helped his team bring home
the Lombardi Trophy. A true hero and idol
in the eyes of many, he never gave the
impression that he is anything other than
a determined coach with a desire to see
the young aspiring athletes become the
best they can be.
"The satisfaction of kids having
fun," Alstott said, regarding what
he personally expects to take away from
the camp. "I see them interact with
each other, with the coaches; learning.
They're out there playing football and
enjoying themselves."
Of course, no one could do this alone.
The program started with Alstott and the
esteemed David Ross, now the head football
coach and athletic director at Bacone
College in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The Alstott
Camp is proud of their 13-1 camper to
coach ratio.
"Coaches from the local area and
all across the country come to volunteer
their time to help these kids get better,"
said Alstott.
For more information about the camp, visit
http://www.alstottcamp.com/.
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