The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2011 Mack Brown Longhorns Junior and Intermediate Football Camp
06.17.2011 | Football
June 17, 2011
Grant Abston, Texas Media Relations
Over 350 campers turned out for the 2011 Mack Brown Longhorns Junior and Intermediate Football Camp, a four-day event aimed to improve camp participants' fundamental football skills while focusing on becoming better student-athletes.
Headed by Mack Brown and the entire Texas football coaching staff, campers ranging from grades four to eight, were mentored by high school and collegiate coaches from across the country while also getting the opportunity to hear from former Texas football players.
"It's an opportunity for us to teach them the fundamentals. Let them get away from home, let them get to be around other people and understand that they can laugh and smile but they've got to be respectful [and] help their parents. And we help teach them how to listen and learn," Brown said.
In addition to the various football drills, campers were grouped into teams and had the opportunity to compete in football games at the end of each day. During various breaks throughout the camp, former Longhorn players returned to speak to campers on the importance of working hard and setting goals.
"It's always good to give back and talk to the younger generation because being in the NFL lets you have a big influence on them, so it's kind of a responsibility," said former Texas and current Kansas City Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson. "Today, I wanted the kids to think about their actions and make good choices and I think I did my job."
In addition to sharing his journey from high school to Texas and now the NFL, Johnson answered campers' questions while providing insight into becoming a successful student-athlete.
"I told them, I went to a couple of camps before but never anything like this when I was little," Johnson said. "The opportunity that they have, the things that they are going to be exposed to, that's something they can take with them and just learn from it. I turned out pretty good, but I wish I would have had this luxury."
Former Longhorn and current Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy also returned to speak, excited about the opportunity to encourage athletes and offer insight into setting and accomplishing goals, on and off the field.
"I really enjoyed coming out and getting a chance to talk to all the campers," McCoy said. "Not only does the camp teach campers how to get better on the field, they learn valuable life lessons that will help them succeed in whatever they do. Coach Brown and the staff do an excellent job with the camp, and it's a valuable experience for everyone involved."
For Bobby Brasher, the camp is a valuable experience because of its focus on improving in all areas of life. Brasher and his son, Seth, made the trip from Tyler and have attended the camp for the past two summers.
"I like it because it's a well-rounded camp and it addresses a lot of the important factors in the growth of a young athlete: emotional, psychological, athletic, academic and life skills," Brasher said. "They spend time on all of it. When you have Mack Brown out here it reinforces the importance and those kids remember it when they go back home to wherever they are. The choices they make every day at school and the choices they make in athletics and the work they have to put into it."
Molly Birrell, whose son, Seth, and daughter, Sage, have attended the past two years, echoed Brasher's sentiments.
"We're from Austin so we bleed orange and that in itself is great," Birrell said. "Just the skills they're picking up and the other things besides the football skills, the respect, cooperation and all the sorts of things I try and instill in them as a parent."
For Brown, the camp not only provides a valuable opportunity to reach out and help instruct youth, he believes the campers' attitudes are something that the entire Texas football program can learn from.
"[The campers] have fun," Brown said. "They don't have all the issues we have. They don't let things bother them very much. They laugh. They smile. They drop a ball, and they laugh about it. They love the game. They're not even as worried about winning and losing. They love the fact that they play and they can high-five each other and make a good play. They're not going to sit and worry about all the things that we as adults sometimes worry about."
