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To Pro Power Foundation founder Mark Smith, the most important thing kids can take away from his four-day football camp is "the message."
Just as important are the ones who will be teaching it.
From June 24-27 at Kennedy High School, Pro Power — a youth mentoring program targeting student-athletes in the Washington Metropolitan area — is hosting its second summer camp in four summers for children of all ages, complete with daily practices, various individual competitions and an All-Star game on the final day.
To push the foundation's agenda, Smith has enlisted the help of several NFL players. All have local ties: New England Patriots cornerbacks Shawn Springs (a 1993 Springbrook alumnus) and Leigh Bodden (Northwestern, Prince George's County), as well as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Prescott Burgess and former Washington Redskins wide receiver Darnerian McCants. Smith also expects Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (Blair, '98) to attend.
"Number one, we really want the kids to get better on the field, but obviously we want them to do a lot more than that off the field," said Smith. "We want the kids to hear the voices of people they look up to. The unique part of the camp is that we're trying to build the team concept to make it competitive for the kids, and just like three years ago, we'll put the pro athletes on the field to give them pointers and just talk to them."
Ultimately, football is peripheral to Pro Power's bigger goals, detailed on its Web site, www.propowerfoundation.org. Much of the message centers around academics. Smith knows words of encouragement mean a lot more coming from the mouths of professional athletes.
He saw it firsthand in the summer of 2006, when Pro Power held its first camp at Wootton High. A who's who of NFL stars was on hand, including retired Hall of Fame halfback Tony Dorsett, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (formerly Chad Johnson) and Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and the late Sean Taylor.
Smith remembers vividly "how much Sean just really loved the kids. He was an unbelievable guy, and the kids really took a lot away from him."
The locale for the camp is also no accident; Pro Power is specifically targeting the Downcounty Consortium schools: Blair, Kennedy, Einstein, Wheaton and Northwood. Smith said Kennedy football coach Randolph Warren and athletic director Ken Cudd have both offered their support, and that Northwood football coach Dennis Harris has been "just great with his support."
"I think the camp will be great exposure for any number of student-athletes," said Harris. "We're shooting for at least 20 to 25 of our varsity kids to come; I basically sent a letter to everybody. A lot of things you say, kids might listen a little more if Shawn Springs is telling you something."
Added Smith: "Honestly, I feel like a lot of talented kids in that portion of the county are just falling short academically, and a lot of people don't realize what it takes in terms of preparation to be successful. I'm not trying to get every coach to support, but get a good handful to buy into our mission to really grow it."
