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Levens Football Camp A Hit
posted 06/30/00
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| Packers WR Donald Driver give pointers to one of the participants in the Dorsey Levens Football Camp. |
RealVideo Clips
Dorsey Levens Football Camp Highlights: 56k | 300k |
Over 550 youngsters packed the baseball field at St. Norbert College on Friday for the Dorsey Levens Football Camp.
The camp, which has been conducted by former Packers wide receiver Robert Brooks the last seven years, ran Wednesday through Saturday. Although Brooks retired last year and passed the leadership role onto Levens, the camp format has remained the same. It gives kids ages 8-18 the opportunity to learn football fundamentals from high school and college coaches, and even interact with some current members of the Packers.
Four of the Packers' young players, Donald Driver, Bobby Brown, Kenny Coutain and Herbert Goodman, were on hand Friday to lead several groups in pass-catching drills.
Other current players volunteered their time earlier in the week at the camp. Matt Hasselbeck, De'Mond Parker, Mike Wahle, Mike Flanagan, Jim Nelson and Aaron Brooks all provided valuable instruction to the campers.
Devin Bonik, the camp's director who conducts football clinics across the country, thinks participants learn what football is all about over the course of the four-day school.
"We pride ourselves in making this a working football camp," Bonik said. "We teach dedication, conditioning and teamwork, elements that are all necessary to play football."
In order to send the message, the camp relies heavily on area coaches to teach the young players. Levens brought in college coaches from the University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, Iowa State and several Wisconsin state colleges, in addition to many area high school coaches. In all, 48 head and assistant coaches volunteered their time during the week.
However, the coach that drew most of the attention on Friday was Packers wide receivers coach Ray Sherman, who visited and observed the morning drills before speaking to the entire group.
Sherman told the audience Levens provided the ideal model of the kind of players they are striving to be.
"Dorsey has worked very hard to get to where his is right now," said Sherman. "He's put in the time and effort to get himself to this point."
"You have to be your own person," he continued. "It doesn't just start on the football field, but also in the classroom. Study, listen, take notes and don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't ever be afraid."
Finally, the coach recognized the value of participating in the camp.
"This is a great camp," he said. "It's an opportunity to not only learn football, but also build relationships. It's very important as a team to help each other, respect each other and be there for each other."
Organizers already are planning to hold the camp again next year.
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