Grambling players, coaches holding football camp at VHS|[6/6/06]
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 6, 2006
The G-Men of Grambling State will be on hand Wednesday for an instructional football camp at Vicksburg High’s Memorial Stadium.
Grambling State head coach Melvin Spears, his coaching staff, and a handul of Tiger players including All-Southwestern Athletic Conference offensive tackle Andre Bennett, will be present.
The daylong camp will begin at 8 a.m. with registration. The cost is $25 per camper.
Spears, whose Tigers won the SWAC Championship and finished 11-1 last season, said he was elated to be coming to Vicksburg.
“I’m real excited because this is a situation where these kids can help get themselves prepared for the upcoming season,” Spears said. “I’m just glad that coach Stevens will allow us to reach out to the Vicksburg community and have an interface with these kids.”
Stevens, the VHS football coach, urged all players in the county and from surrounding areas to attend.
“This is not just a Vicksburg High thing. We want everyone who loves football to come out Wednesday and learn from Coach Spears and his staff.”
Spears said he is bringing his entire staff to Vicksburg for the camp.
“We’ll also bring Andre Bennett, Michael Rainey and Charles Wilson to the camp,” Spears said of current and former Tigers who played at Vicksburg High. Wilson completed his eligiblity as a guard on last year’s team. Rainey is a returning defensive back.
The camp will be a chance for local players to work under a college football staff.
“We’re going to conduct evaluations, giving them the whole concept of football. But we’re also going to work on telling them the importance of making small achievements each day,” Spears said.
An even bigger emphasis will be on academics.
“We want them to start setting an outstanding committment to academics. To me, that’s more important than what their shuttle time is,” Spears said.
Besides basic football conditioning, campers will also get a chance to work on 7-on-7 drills.
That’s something Stevens is looking forward to.
“If anyone saw last year how great Bruce Eugene looked in Grambling’s offense, they’ll want to come see coach Sammy White break down the passing game,” Stevens said.
“We’re hoping for a big turnout.”
Campers are urged to bring their own cleats.