Hundreds of kids from schools on Orlando’s west side got to have fun, learn new skills and make new friends, thanks to the 2013 Dr. Phillips Panther Youth Football Combine on Saturday.
The free Football Combine, which focused on boys ages 5 thought 14, brought together kids from schools like West Orange, Olympia, Freedom, Evans and Apopka High School, among others.
“We are using the camp as a platform to announce our partnership with Nike that has chosen Dr. Phillips as a preferred school,” said Coach Bryan Ingrande. “And we are also grateful to the Offices of attorney Dan Newlin and Graham Chiropractic for making the camp possible.”
Investing in Kids through Sports
For Newlin, partnering with Dr. Phillips Panther to co-sponsor the free camp was a no brainer. He’s ever mindful of the role that sport plays in youth development and always in search of a good opportunity to invest in kids less fortunate, to help ensure they are well equipped to manage the critical life challenges they are bound to face.
“A good football camp which focuses not only on the fundamentals of the game, but also teaches life lessons such as sportsmanship, teamwork and the importance of education, will serve these young kids well, not only on the field but also in many aspects of life,” said Newlin.
He added: “I am just pleased to be able to play a part in these kids’ development, some of whom might not otherwise have had this opportunity.”
Dressed in Dan Newlin tee shirts and shorts, the three hundred kids who worked out at the Bill Spoone Stadium for four hours under an unrelenting sun, received quality instruction on the fundamentals of the game from 15 youth coaches. In addition, 12 DP High School staff members provided specialized attention, all of whom had as much fun as the kids.
First a Good Person, Second a Great Student
While football no doubt was upper most on every kids’ mind and mirror drills, 10-yard pro-shuttle and punts and passes were practiced, perhaps more importantly is the emphasis that DP Head Coach Rodney Wells placed on being first a good person, then a great student, before being a good athlete.
“The first thing is you have to be a good person – that’s the biggest thing I am interested in,” he said at the opening of camp. “I don’t care what kind of athlete you are.” Next, you have to be a great student in the classroom, then football is third.
“You cannot play college football if you are not a good person or don’t have good grades,” Wells emphasizes to the kids. “You’ve to pay attention [in class], sit up front, be a leader and be respectful.”
After reinforcing the ‘good person-first, great student-second-before-football’ message, Wells lightens up and gets the kids pumped up, with the repeated refrain:
Wells: We are?
Kids: DP.
Wells: How you’ll feel?
Kids: Alright.
Still working to get the kids psyched up, Wells calls for one clap, to which they respond. Then he calls for two claps and again the kids respond with two claps – even more loudly. “That sounds good; let’s go to work.”
Parents Appreciative – Call for More Youth Camps
Not only are the kids excited as they learn new skills and quickly form lines to perform route-running exercises, but parents are too. With watchful eyes from the stands, they expressed great appreciation for the camp and wish there could be more such opportunities for the area’s kids.
Chet Carroll, who runs similar but smaller camps for Pop Warner in West Orange and whose 11-year-old son Joshua is participating, believes there is nothing more important than engaging the kids and imbuing them with the life skills of team work, discipline and self-worth.
“It’s so important that kids have an opportunity to learn how to take instructions, be competitive and to get their confidence up,” he said. “I particularly want to thank Dan Newlin and the other partners for putting this on.”
Asked what are his expectations of Joshua, Carroll said, “He has been doing these [camps] for five years and so it’s just letting him come out here, work with other coaches besides his Dad, get to know other kids from the area and have fun.”
DP Alumnus and Role Model – Calvin McCall
One high point of the Combine was an opportunity which the kids had to interact with Calvin McCall, described as one of Dr. Phillips’ finest in football and basketball. An All-State quarterback for Dr. Phillips in 1997 and Central Florida’s Player of the Year, McCall would go on to sign with the University of Maryland to play football, where he excelled.
“It’s very important that you take what you have learned in the classroom to the football field,” McCall tells the kids. “And it very important that you work hard.”
“If you believe you can do it, do it, no matter what anyone says,” he added.
And then the kids peppered the former Division 1 freshman quarterback with questions – Did you save your mitts? At DP, did you win a state championship? Were you ever voted MVP? Who beat you in the playoffs? and At what age did you start to play basketball?
“How old are you?,” McCall asks one youngster.
“I am 8 years old,” the kid replied.
“I started to play basketball just where you did, at 8 years,” he said. “I had coaches just like you do today, and we listened to them.”
“We had to have good grades to play ball; without good grades you can’t play,” added McCall, reinforcing once more the “good person, great student” message.
Camp ends with a Bang
Adam Sitter, Camp Organizer and Dr. Phillips alumnus, understands the hard work and discipline required to produce top players and expressed his satisfaction with how the day unfolded.
“The camp has been great and the kids got a lot of good coaching, as we ‘tested’ their athletic skills and agility,” he said. “I am very excited because there’s lots of good athletes out here and it’s the future of football for the area.”
“I’ve got a little secret – a treat for the kids and we will end the camp with a bang,” the West Point and University of Kansas graduate added.
