Engaging in one of my bad habits, the article that I submitted to the Daily Press was painfully too long - about 950 words. Not surprisingly, chunks of it were removed to fit in its prescribed space in Monday's paper. But, here is my original version, which includes a few extra nuggets with regard to last Saturday's wildly successful debut for Shutdown Academy.
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Carpenter, who played
for the Atlanta Falcons, and later started the first Academy in Baltimore, was
on hand, as were current and former NFL players, including three from Newport
News – Antoine Bethea, Elton Brown and B.W. Webb.
The football
campers were split into two groups, 6-10 year olds, and 11-14. While one group
practiced among a series of drill stations on the field behind the high school,
the other campers, along with their parents, assembled in the gym to ask
questions, as well as hear about the vision and mission of Shutdown Academy.
Brown arguably
drew the most attention, not only because of his size (6’5” and 332 lbs. as an
offensive guard with the Arizona Cardinals), but also because of his powerful
message, one that was designed to remind campers that there is more to life
than football.
“When I stopped
being Big E, and started being Elton Brown, that’s when my life turned around,”
said Brown, who went on to share the tale of a 17-year old college-bound
athlete who went to a party and got in a fight, along with three of his
football teammates. All three were charged with maiming by mob.
“The problem is,
he put himself in a position to be judged. I got myself into a similar
situation. And for the first time in my life, I actually got down on my knees
and prayed. I told God, if you set me thru this one, I’ll do whatever you want
me to do.” After evading serious trouble, Brown realized that he needed to
continue on the righteous path.
“That’s what got
me started on building the platform. Why should I watch you bang your head
against a locked door if I have the key?” Brown, who starred at the University
of Virginia before turning professional, went on to tell the audience that he
was most proud of having earned three college degrees.
Commenting on
the large turnout, Brown said, “I love it! I’m happy that people are
receptive.” Speaking to the concept of Shutdown Academy, he added, “We want to
show the kids that there’s something outside of here. For some of them, going
through the tunnel is taking a trip. And while HU (Hampton) and Norfolk State
are great schools, what if they could visit a school like Morehouse?”
The Academy will
eventually expand to sponsor teams in football, basketball, baseball,
cheerleading and soccer. The football team will begin in the fall, as a member
of the American Youth Football League (AYFL). Bethea, a ten-year NFL veteran,
now playing with the San Francisco 49ers, explained the academic aspect of
Shutdown to the youths and their parents – one which will include mentoring
from volunteers and local colleges, tutoring, college visits, and assistance
with navigating the NCAA Clearinghouse eligibility process. But there is an
expectation.
“Every week you
will turn in a progress report to your coach. If it isn’t up to par, you will
still be there to support your teammates, but you won’t be suiting up,” said
the three-time Pro Bowl safety, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Indianapolis
Colts in 2007, after his rookie season.
“This is a big
thing; it’s something we’ve come together to do. We’re 757,” said Webb, the
Tennessee Titan, who spent a good portion of the morning monitoring the ladder
step drill in the corner of the south end zone. While 100 or so parents stood
on the sidelines with cameras and video recorders, filming their sons (and a
few daughters) engaging in football drills, Webb reflected on his own local
heroes as a teenager.
“Coming from
Warwick (High), I was big on Michael Vick because he came around a lot. Of
course, Twan (Bethea) was from around the corner, and it was cool to be around
those guys, and to aspire to be like them.”
The names of
Vick, as well as Aaron Brooks, came up often among the Academy coaches as
sources of youthful inspiration.
Not so
coincidentally, Vick and Brooks’ high school football coach, Tommy Reamon (now
with Landstown High) was in attendance.
“This is what
it’s about. It’s special and unique, especially the energy of the people
involved. It just goes to show that athletics can help you with a good life,”
said Reamon, who previously coached at Ferguson and Warwick.
The Academy’s
program director, Vaughn Parker, shared the optimistic viewpoint as Shutdown
moves to its next phase.
“This is
overwhelming and humbling. We have kids here from all Seven Cities.” Speaking
to the larger life view of the program, he spoke in more basic terms.
“While the
adults are out there doing their thing, it’s the kids who are suffering. We
want to give our youth a platform, something that comes from guys who have been
there and done that. We want to alleviate the model that nobody gives back.
It’s about bringing back the concept of family; do you remember Saturday night
family get-togethers? We want to have something in place so that when guys like
Twan come home, they won’t have to look for somewhere to go to help out. It
will already be here.”
Tyler Crabtree,
a 12-year old from Newport News, learned about the camp from a friend. As he
finished his third 20-yard wind sprint at the center of the field, and while
high-fiving fellow campers, the youngster managed to muster a one-word response
of his camp experience between heavy breaths.
“Good.”
For more
information about Shutdown Academy, visit www.shutdownacademy.com.
