This is a very cool time of year.  Spring ball is in full swing at the college and we’re installing a new defense.  Many new players are working out and have joined the team and there is a new vibe, a new sense of direction and purpose.  Lots of energy!  Camps are literally just weeks away!  The weather is warming and everything is in bloom.  And then there is the NFL Draft.

The draft signals the beginning of football once again.  Like spring brinning plants back to life, the draft rejuvenates us fanatics.  While the “Boy’s of Summer” are under way and cut through three other sport seasons while they run in circles around the base pads, we know football is coming.  Could the Super Bowl have been three months ago already?  Is it really almost May?

One of the things I like most about the draft is all the speculation by the so called experts.  The gaffs at what they think are stupid picks, the adulation over what they consider a great pick.  Some are obvious, of course but most, in my opinion, are just educated guesses.  The Detroit Lions took QB Jeff Belevansky, who is believed to be the very best QB prospect this year.  First round, first pick.  Good for him!  Anyone remember Ryan Leif?  What about Dan Marino going so late in the draft?  How about that guy Joe Montana who didn’t go until the third round in 1979?

The Raiders passed on the highly touted Michael Crabtree, immediately snatched up by the 49ers, and instead took Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. (Go Terps!)  The pundits jumped on this and are still talkling about it.  They couldn’t slam Al Davis and the Raiders enough!  As I look back through the history of the draft one thing is for certain: Nothing is for certain.  I will admit it makes for fun TV watching these guys get all worked up.  Maybe they know football is just around the corner too and can’t help but get excited in their own way.  Time will be the only judge and provide the only verdict regarding the draft.  Time will tell. . .

Speaking of Time!  Hey!  LinemenInc Camp registrations are due no later than June 1st.  That is just 32 days away!  Our first camp is only 50 days away!  Stockton already has campers from Amador Valley High School, Antioch High School, Carmel High School, Davis High School and Madera South High School registered. 

Long Beach is filling fast with players from Buena High School, Corona High School, Eagle Rock High School, Granite Hills High School, Los Osos High School, Marina High School, Otay Ranch High School, Palmdale high School, and St. Joe’s High School in Santa Maria.

Shawnee, Ok. welcomes Aledo High School, Brownfield High School, Cassville High School, Cave City High School, Fishers High school, Raymond Peculiar High School and Rockwall-Heath High School.  Look for our ad in the Yype virtual magazine beginning May 12th.  www.vype.com

“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”  Now is the time to strike.  Now is the time to take advantage of an opportunity and make something different happen.

This is a busy time of year in football!  The NFL draft is just around the corner, colleges are in the middle of spring ball, high schools are just weeks away from spring ball and then the summer camps begin!  Here’s a little something that might help you schedule things out…

May 1-2, 40th Annual Central California Coaches Clinic, College of the Sequoias.  On Friday night, May 1st, LinemenInc will host an on field three hour linemen clinic for high school players and coaches.  Assisting us will be coaches Bill O’Boyle and Walt Fletcher from Whittier College and Josh Darnell of Azusa Pacific University.  On Saturday, May 2nd, there will be class room clinics as well as some demonstrations for coaches only.  This clinic is a great way to great ready for spring ball in May and will include some great colleges coaches!  For more info please visit: http://www.centralcaliforniafootball.com/

LinemenInc Camps!  June 19-21, University of the Pacific, Stockton, Ca.  June 24-26, Long Beach State, Long Beach, Ca.  June 30-July 2, St. Gregory’s University, Shawnee, Ok.  Our first camp is in less than ten weeks!  We’re putting together some great coaching staffs for these camps and they are filling up!  Due to the economic times we all find ourselves in, the colleges are holding us to firm numbers on attendees and will be charging us for empty beds.  This means we’ve had to give them firm numbers of players and coaches coming to camp.  In order to avoid being charged for empty beds we’ve scaled back our commitments.  More than ever before, early registration is the key to securing your spot in camp.  When we reach our committed number of beds reserved, the camp will be closed to additional attendees.  On the positive side, LinemenInc is holding the cost of camp at last year’s price!

1st Annual Los Medanos College Passing Tournament & OL/DL Challenge, July 11th.  Here is a great opportunity to bring the entire team to an event of challenge and self improvement!  By mid-July most of the team and skill camps have been finished for weeks.  What better way to end the summer than with a tournament?  The location is great, the pricing most affordable!  For more info check out: http://www.losmedanos.edu/studentservices/athletics/foot.asp

Competitive Edge Football Camps.  Looking for a great team camp with lots of scrimmaging?  Then this is the cost effective team camp for you!  Coach Mike Carrozzo, camp founder, guarantees individual position training combined with numerous team scrimmages just as he has for the many years this camp has existed.  For more info on these great team camps go to: http://www.eteamz.com/cefb/index.cfm?

Whatever you consider for this coming season, have a plan.  Now is the time to start fundraising, not later.  Go where you can get the most for your dollar and still reap the greatest benefit for your players.  Wayne Gretsky once said, “You will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”  Don’t fail to take the shot to improve this year.  Make it happen!

Got a related football event you want to spread the word about?  Just leave an appropriate comment below and we’ll help you out.