Learning football the Troup way
Published 12:41 am Saturday, June 16, 2018
By kevin eckleberry
Daily News
It was business as usual on the Troup High practice field, with dozens of players working to improve themselves under the watchful eyes of the coaches.
There was one big change on Friday morning, though.
The Troup players weren’t the ones receiving the instruction, rather they were the ones doing the coaching.
A youth football camp was held at Troup, with nearly 100 young players participating.
The instructors were Troup’s coaches, as well as a handful of the team’s players, including wide receiver Jamari Thrash, defensive end King Mwikuta, and numerous others.
Troup coach Tanner Glisson, who organized the camp, said it was a huge benefit for the players to be involved in the camp.
“It’s breakfast, lunch, everything is free,” Glisson said. “But it really helps us as much as it helps them. I’m talking about our kids, our varsity kids. Because they get to interact, they get to give back a little bit. That’s really good for our guys to be able to give back.”
As Glisson noted, there was no cost to the campers, and they received a meal at the beginning, and at the end of the camp.
Each of the players received a Troup jersey to wear during the camp, and for a few hours they went from station to station, working on every aspect of the game.
“We had kids here from Gardner Newman, from Long Cane, from Callaway,” Glisson said. “Our kids have a great time with it. We had a good time.”
When Glisson set the camp up, he wanted it be of value to the participants, so he made sure the main focus was on teaching, on making sure the players received some serious coaching.
“I learned that from Kirby Smart. If you’re going to get them in camp, work them,” Glisson said. “That’s what we try to do. I tell our coaches, every time they come to your group, give them at least one thing they can take with them, and hopefully they’ll keep coming back every year, and keep learning.”
Troup will host another camp on Monday in West Point, and it will also be free.
The hours will be from 8 a.m. until noon, and registration will take place on site the morning of the camp.
“If nothing else, it just shows the community we want to give back,” Glisson said. “And that’s important.”
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