By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – It’s back.

The West Georgia Superstar Football Camp, which has been a fixture in LaGrange for more than 20 years, will return next week.

The two-day camp will be held on June 2 and June 3 at the LaGrange College practice field, and as always, there will be no charge.

This will be the 25th edition of the camp, which was created by Ruben Hairston as a way to give back to a community that means so much to him.

“That’s our main goal, is to touch a few lives,” Hairston said at the conclusion of last year’s camp. “We know we’re not going to touch all of them, but if we can touch a few and make a difference, that’s what matters.”

As always, it will be a star-studded group of instructors, many of whom played football on the collegiate and professional level.

Among the instructors who return each year is Aundray Bruce, who was a number one draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons.

Another regular instructor is Smokey Hodge, who said the camp is a great thing for the area’s young people.

“A lot of kids may never have an opportunity to meet an NFL guy,” Hodge said. “When I was coming up, I didn’t have that opportunity, I didn’t have this.

“So it’s a privilege for me to come back and talk to the kids, and teach the kids, and make sure they know the fundamentals.”

Hairston never has any trouble finding instructors for the camp.

All Hairston has to do is let them know when the camp will be, and they circle those dates on their calendars.

“We appreciate these guys coming from near and far,” Hairston said. “They didn’t have to do this. I appreciate them.”

Hairston said the instructors always enjoy being around the kids and teaching the sport they love.

“I think everybody that’s involved in it really enjoys it and looks forward to coming out here every year,” Hairston said. “They look forward to coming back.”

Hairston said part of the philosophy of the camp is to introduce the young people to men who have succeeded, not just on the football field, but in life.

At the close of each session, the campers will gather and hear words of advice from some of the instructors.

“We need more positive role models,” Hairston said.

CAMP INFO

WHAT: West Georgia Superstar Football Camp

WHEN: June 2 (5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.); June 3 (9 a.m. until noon)

WHERE: LaGrange College practice field

WHO: Boys and girls ages 8 to 18

ADMISSION: Free

REGISTRATION: Pre-registration at Ethel Kight Resource Center at 601 Union Street, or on the day of the camp