TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A little rain wouldn't dampen the spirits of football campers in the Big Bend today.
Former Florida State and North Florida Christian linebacker Ernie Sims is currently on the roster of the Dallas Cowboys, but yet again, the Tallahassee native came back for his mid-July football camp, teaching the basics of the sport to hundreds of kids.
"Oh, it's real exciting to see the kids come out," says Sims. "Even though we got some wet weather, they're just excited to come out and have some fun."
One county to the west, former Seminole defensive back Leroy Smith's Win-Win Camp put kids through NFL Combine-style drills.
In Quincy, Leroy Smith's Win-Win Camp put kids through NFL Combine type drills.
"All the kids are enthused about everything," says Smith. "They're learning how to run the 40, learning how to do the L-Drill and that sort, so like I said, it's a blessing for me."
On the field, both Smith and Sims had plenty of help
"Ernie does a great job," stated Travis Fisher, a former NFL teammate of Sims and graduate of Godby High School in Tallahassee. "He's been doing this for years in Tallahassee and the community loves Ernie. The kids are coming out every year."
"The kids really enjoyed it last year," smiled Florida A&M linebacker Bobby Jackson, in his second year with Sims' camp. "They requested me to come back. I coached 'em last year, and I couldn't just say no to 'em."
Smith's camp in Quincy will wrap up tomorrow. For Sims, his charity weekend will continue with an invitational track meet at Florida State.
