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| Effort and Intensity was on display at the annual kid's camp. |
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July 16, 2008
While giving his final speech to the 80-plus youngsters who participated in the annual football camp, second-year Buccaneer coach Dave Miller said it best.
"You have it great here in Covington and I hope you understand that," he told the kids. "Look out here. You have three full practice fields, a state-of-the-art weight room, a top notch football stadium and the backing of an entire community. It doesn't get any better than this - right here in Covington."
He then pointed to the high school kids who helped instruct the camp and explained how they were youngsters not very long ago.
"Those guys were where you are right now," Miller explained to the younger kids. "Before long you'll be where they are at, playing on Friday nights and carrying on the tradition of Covington football."
Miller then stressed the importance of competition.
"Hopefully all 80 of you kids do something (in high school)," said Miller. "Obviously we'd like for you to play football. But if football isn't for you, run cross country, play in the band, play golf - just do something. There are too many kids these days doing nothing and hopefully none of you follow that path."
The youngsters took the first step in being contributors just by the effort they gave at camp - even with the temperature increasing each day. The passion was evident as the kids ran full speed from one station to the next.
"I'm very pleased with the attitude and effort you guys gave the past three days," praised Miller of the campers. "Play with passion in everything you do and you'll be successful. It's not always about talent. It's about effort, passion and intensity. It's about how bad you want it."
Throughout the three-day camp the campers were challenged through competitions, including seven-on-seven scrimmages on the final day. What Miller witnessed was kids who are coachable and love to compete.
"I'm just amazed at how well these kids listen," Miller explained. "I've been at camps in bigger communities and it's crazy - kid's running around doing there own things. These kids here do everything you tell them and they go hard. It's very encouraging to see."
It's also encouraging to the Buccaneer coach that the future of the program appears to be bright - as long as the kids choose to follow in the footsteps of the high school players who were on hand to coach them over the three-day camp.
The campers learned what it meant to be a Covington Buccaneer from the high school kids who are living that experience right now.
"It means a lot to be a part of the tradition of Covington football," said junior lineman Adam Craft. "You're not only playing for yourself and your teammates, but the players who came before you. I don't want to let them down."
"Being a Buccaneer means hard work and dedication - doing everything the coaches expect and laying it on the field," explained junior linebacker and lineman Ben Christian. "There's nothing like running out on that field with your teammates when you know you work so hard as a team."
Senior Logan Woloch also expressed his passion for the program, something that has grown to an ultimate high over the past year.
"This is my senior year and we (the seniors) want to carry on that tradition of winning," he said. "We want to go out on top as seniors. We've waited a long time for this."
A wait the youngsters are experiencing now - a wait that will go by in a blink of an eye.
