Back in December, we put together the new brochure for this year’s camp. Then we updated the web site with all the new information. In January, we traveled to Irvine, for the All Sports Clinic and were in San Francisco the following week, for the Nor Cal version. February saw us starting the mailers to every high school in six states and traveling to Seaside High for a personal appearance. I followed that up in March with personal telephone calls to coaches at too many high schools to count. April was full of follow-up phone calls and filling requests for additional brochures and registration forms as well getting the promotional tape out. In May the registration forms started coming in and we went to the Samoan Athletes in Action Camp. And now it’s June.
The rooms have been booked, the menu selected, the practice jersey’s ordered. The daily practice schedules are together and the conference speakers booked. The Gatorades have been bought and the pizza connection has been made. The T-shirts are on their way and the Champion Gladiator swords are almost finished. That’s right, this year’s champions will receive a sword. The handbooks are printed and the drive block boards are painted. The only thing left to do is the camp it self.
I’ve been on a high for about two weeks now and at the same time I feel exhausted. We have realized a 300% increase in attendance in one year. I actually had to turn away players today! It broke my heart. There will be 178 players from 34 different high schools being taught by over 40 coaches. That’s a 1:5 coach to player ratio! Where else will you find that kind of attention?
Each Garrison will have approximately 40 players. Garrison IV, the big boys garrison, will have 46 players in the 285-330 pound range! Think there’s going to be some battles over there? Yeah, I’m excited! My exhaustion is ebbing away. Camp is next week! Over the months there is this long steady build up to camp. Two weeks before it all comes to a head and the pace really quickens with tons of last minute stuff to accomplish. Then there is the camp it self and that is the ultimate high.
For three days next week we will be in football euphoria. We’ll be in all our glory. The work, the camaraderie, the challenges and the successes. The emotional atmosphere that surrounds a camp is hard to described and harder to forget. I can’t wait! How about you?
A last minute welcome to the players from the following schools: Carmel High, Carmel, CA, Edison High, Stockton, CA, Fort Bragg High, Fort Bragg, CA, La Sierra High, Riverside, CA, Maxwell High, Maxwell, CA, North High, Torrance, CA, Palisades Charter, Pacific Palisades, CA, Point Arena High, Point Arena, CA, Seaside High, Seaside, CA, Sequoia High, Redwood City, CA, Shasta High, Redding, CA, South San Francisco High, South San Francisco, CA, Tulare Western High, Tulare, CA, and Woodrow Wilson High from Long Beach, CA. Gentlemen, we’ll see you in a couple of days!