Malcom Butler to host football camp at VHS

Published 1:47 pm Monday, June 15, 2015

Athletes who witnessed Malcolm Butler accomplish the ultimate goal in the NFL, and securing the Patriots’ win, have a role model they can identify with. Butler will be returning to Vicksburg to host in the inaugural “Malcolm Butler Football Camp” July 18.

James Daniel, Vicksburg High School booster club president, said his celebrity means a great deal to children in Vicksburg.

“His road to the Patriots was not easy. He was sidetracked at times,” Daniel said. “The biggest thing is, he had a goal set and he just continued to work for what he wanted to do.”

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

Daniel described Butler as a good athlete and team player while at VHS. He had a lot of athletic ability, was a hard worker and never had behavioral problems. Daniel credits the formation of the camp to Cynthia Bell and said she is the driving force behind the camp.

Bell is event coordinator for the inaugural football camp and makes sure everything runs smoothly. Bell is responsible for the planning, logistics, and arranged the media for the event.

“She is the one who did the call, the legwork and paperwork. It’s her baby, my job is to assist in any way I can,” Daniel said.

The idea for the camp came after Butler’s memorable goal line interception. Bell knew she had to get in contact with Butler because he represented not only the state of Mississippi, but Vicksburg as well.

Bell and Butler spoke last fall when he came to Vicksburg High’s senior night football game. Bell jokingly said to Butler if the Patriots make it to the Super Bowl, they would do great things together in the community. Butler laughed, smiled and said let me know when you are ready.

After making initial contact with Butler and his agents and agreeing on terms of the camp, she put together ideas and a committee. Bell originally wanted the camp to be two days but because of scheduling conflicts, it was narrowed down to one.

“If this goes like I know it will, next year when we have the camp it can be bigger, better and more people can get involved,” Bell said.  “This sets the tone for this generation because it shows them dreams do can true.”

The camp will run from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and parents are invited to stay. Once the kids are checked into the camp, Butler will give a motivational speech to address the kids. Afterward kids will perform stretches before breaking off into different sections to develop speed, strength and agility and improve technical skills.

The camp will not have contact drills. Butler will be assisting kids individually and in a group setting.

“Our goal is to reach young men to show them that with a little hard work they can get to where they need to be in sports,” Bell said.

The camp is free and applications may be picked up and returned to VHS daily. The first 250 completed applications will be accepted. All applications must be returned by July 8.