Lorenzo Alexander Holds A Football Camp
I was out at Lorenzo Alexander's ALL PRO SPORTS AND AGILITY football camp last week, and there was a lot to like about the experience.
It was free, first of all -- not just for me to cover, but for the kids to attend. And there were a lot of Redskins there as compared to the number of kids; in attendance were Alexander, Kedric Golston, Chris Wilson, Mike Williams, and Derrick Dockery.
"They made it fun," fifteen year-old camper Lem Howard of Stafford, Virginia, told me. "They interacted with the kids and had a good time."
So that's two small good things, and the clear enjoyment the kids got out of being there, that was good as well.
But the best thing for me was watching guys play out of position.
For example, we've seen Alexander play defensive end, defensive tackle, special teamer, and offensive tackle eligible for the Redskins, but that didn't make seeing him line up as a wide receiver while the kids practiced at defensive back any less entertaining.
Similarly, watching big Mike Williams toss passes to the kids was a trip.
It turned out, though, that I missed the best part of Williams's group. "I was at defensive back for a little bit," he told me, "I'm going to try to get some work there with the team." I tried to suggest that he'd be ideal at jamming receivers off the line, although maybe not much for downfield coverage, and he looked at me, horrified. "We can't jam these kids," he said. "It's just a football camp." I thought about clarifiying my point, but it just wasn't worth it.
The camp concluded with the players taking turns talking to the kids, trying to impart messages beyond the basics of the football field, about academics and growing up and religion and all of that, down to the smallest level: Golston emphasized the importance of politeness, of saying "Yes, sir" and "no, ma'am."
"Doesn't really matter who you are or what you do," he said. "That'll take you a long way in life, that and listening -- listening to your parents and listening to your coaches."
Which, I suppose, would also qualify as a good thing.
Alexander will be holding another camp this weekend in his hometown of Oakland, so check it out if you're out that way. (WAY out that way, I suppose.)
Similarly, watching big Mike Williams toss passes to the kids was a trip.
It turned out, though, that I missed the best part of Williams's group. "I was at defensive back for a little bit," he told me, "I'm going to try to get some work there with the team." I tried to suggest that he'd be ideal at jamming receivers off the line, although maybe not much for downfield coverage, and he looked at me, horrified. "We can't jam these kids," he said. "It's just a football camp." I thought about clarifiying my point, but it just wasn't worth it.
The camp concluded with the players taking turns talking to the kids, trying to impart messages beyond the basics of the football field, about academics and growing up and religion and all of that, down to the smallest level: Golston emphasized the importance of politeness, of saying "Yes, sir" and "no, ma'am."
"Doesn't really matter who you are or what you do," he said. "That'll take you a long way in life, that and listening -- listening to your parents and listening to your coaches."
Which, I suppose, would also qualify as a good thing.
Alexander will be holding another camp this weekend in his hometown of Oakland, so check it out if you're out that way. (WAY out that way, I suppose.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-18-2009 @ 4:24PM
lizkauai said...
Awesome! Best way a successful adult can acknowledge his accomplishments - share them unselfishly and wholeheartedly with the next generation.
Blessings and HAIL!
Reply
6-18-2009 @ 4:28PM
lou22152 said...
Matt,
can you start heating up some discussions about our upcoming opponents we face the first half of the season?
let's talk about what teams we should beat and what teams we have no business losing to but how we will find a way to lose to them.
Giants, Rams, Detroit, Bucs, Panthers, Chiefs & Philly...
what is your guess on our record entering the late bye week?
Thanks Matt- and as always, I'll be watching redskins nation tonight so feel free to have Larry bring up that topic for discussion too!
HTTR!!!
Reply
6-19-2009 @ 11:01AM
Willie said...
I would like to also give props to Chris Horton, Byron Westbrook, Jared Green (Darrell's son), Alex Buzbee, and other players who volunteered their time during the camp. They were very inspirational to those kids.
It was great to see Big Mike Williams out there running around, and even decking a 14 year old on a block after an interception drill (it was all in fun, of course).
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6-19-2009 @ 3:21PM
Kim said...
My son attended this camp and it was AWESOME! The fact that it was free, there were several Redskins there and they looked like they having more fun than the kids. The motivational speaking was great too. My son had a ball and will be in attendance next year! Thanks to Lorenzo and everyone else for making this possible.
REDSKIN fan for life!!!
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