St. Gregory’s University – Shawnee, OK. – June 30 – July 2.  Had a great conversation with Coach Bo Black, Great Bend High School, KS.  Bo say’s he’s bringing at least 8 players and a coach or two!  Coach Matt Block, Millwood High School, Coach Eric Walkingstick, Nowata High School, and Coach Keith Henderson, Wichita-West High School are all sending players to camp!  Registrations received this week from players at Bethel, Owasso, Tahlequah and Ft. Riley!  Welcome gentlemen!

University of the Pacific – Stockton, Ca. – June 19 – 21.  Players from the following schools registered for camp this week:  Central Catholic, Eagle Rock, El Dorado, Foothill-Palo Cedro, Linden, Maxwell and St. Mary’s-Stockton.  Nice to see some returners and a first welcome to Central Catholic, El Dorado and Linden!

California State University – Long Beach – June 24 – 26.  More players from Granite Hills got their registrations in this week bringing their total to 7!  St. Joe’s added some and welcome to new players from Gustine and Santa Ynez!  Coach Rick Stewart at Porterville say’s he is bring a bunch too!

All camp registrations are due on June 1st!

Are you going to be the one to take a Gladius home?  Do you have what it takes to win this sword of triumph?  Only one way to find out… LinemenInc Camps 

I am often asked, “How can you say that?” in reference to LinemenInc’s claim that we are the only camp of it’s kind west of the Mississippi.  Simply put, because we are!  No one does everything that we do at a LinemenInc camp.  Why is that?  To begin with, LinemenInc is it’s own entity and beholden to no one individual or institution.  We are not a combine and we are not a recruiting camp at some university.  We are an opportunity for all high school linemen, incoming freshmen through seniors, to improve and become better.  Sure, you’ll get noticed by our coaching staff but that is not our emphasis, it’s simply a bonus!

So how is it that we are so different and might I add so good?  Let’s put this in interview form using many of the questions posed to us by you.

Q.  How was LinemenInc Camps formed?

A.  When my partner, Dave and I were coaching high school football, we were looking for a camp to take our linemen to where they could improve their skill set.  Not a big man camp with tug-o-war and bench pressing competitions but a true skill and technique camp.  We found nothing in close proximity to California.

Q.  Aren’t their other camps out there that are working with linemen?

A.  Yes, but they don’t do what we do.  I’m not knocking anyone but facts are facts.  First, we average a coach to player ratio of 1 coach per 5-7 players.  That means lots of individual attention.  Attention to detail ensuring players get it done right.  No university camp I’ve ever been a part of can make that statement. 

Q.  Is LinemenInc a full contact camp?

A.  Many camps are just T-shirts and shorts, if you’re truly going to improve you have to mix it up.  LinemenInc is not a full contact camp in that we do not pad up below the waist.  Campers wear shells, helmet, shoulder pads and mouth piece.  However, in that everything a lineman does is above the waist and all of our contact is therefore above the waist, you could say we are a full contact camp. 

Q.  Still, in many respects, LinemenInc doesn’t sound all that different from a lot of other camps.

A.  Well, many of the other camps for linemen are just one day events.  LinemenInc camps are three days and two nights.  Players get seven, two hour practices including the one-on-one, single elimination, Gladiator Championship rounds.  We keep the kids busy from sun-up to sundown.  In the evening our coaching staff from all levels of college football, will speak on subjects like getting into college for an education first and athletics second.  We explain what a core GPA is and how it relates to a SAT or ACT score.  We’ll talk about junior colleges, NAIA, and all NCAA division levels.  Most importantly, we’ll talk about life and life choices, doing the right thing all the time.  LinemenIinc is very “old school” that way.

Q.  What does it mean to be “old school”?

A.  It means that while at a LinemenInc camp it will be, “Yes, coach.” or “No, coach.”  No ah-ha’s or naa-ah’s.  It means you will treat yourself, coaches and fellow athletes with respect.  It means you will be on time for practice, meals and meetings.  It means you will do the work without complaint and make every effort to succeed regardless of the challenge.

LinemenInc is not now nor has it ever been a “meet and greet” the pro type of camp.  We don’t have pro’s standing around to have their picture taken with you.  There is no autograph opportunity and we have no gear to throw at you.  LinemenInc has no product sponsor’s, no sport drink or food partner’s trying to get you to buy their product.  We are a hard working, nose to the grindstone, get it done, get better, get challenged linemen camp.

Q.  What if I’m concerned that you are not teaching linemen what I am teaching my linemen?

A.  First, we are not teaching man or scheme, that is the job of the individual player’s coach based upon what they run at their place.  We are teaching fundamentals: stance, get-off, hand placement, first steps, good form, and finish!  On offense we’re teaching drive block, reach block, down block, pass pro, trapping and pulling.  On defense we’re teaching presnap reads, gap control, pursuit, pass rush, push-pull, rip, club rip and how to defeat the double team.  We’re teaching confidence and self pride through motivational speeches, a ton of repetitions and a level of competition unequaled.

Q.  Is there anything else that sets LinemenInc Camps apart from the rest?

A.  Well, we also run a coaches clinic concurrent with the camp.  This is open to both youth football coaches and high school coaches.  We provide classroom instruction and hands-on field instruction for these coaches.  Just like players, coaches need rep’s too!  Again, it’s all about giving back to the game and improving the level of play either through the player or the coach.  It’s an opportunity to be challenged and to improve.

LinemenInc is a unique opportunity that only comes around once per year.  It is an experience unlike anyother.  Just ask someone who’s been there.  If you are a lineman or a line coach, take that opportunity to joins us this summer and improve!

Just 43 days until the first LinemenInc camp!  Just 24 days to get your registration in. . .

 

How does LinemenInc continue to put together the coaching staffs that they provide at camp, year after year?  Believe me, it isn’t some huge paycheck, just ask our coaches.  If not money then something else, yes?  First, it’s a love of the game and coaching.  You have to take care of that which you love or risk loosing it.  Coaching at a camp is a way of giving back.  It’s an opportunity to positively influence the future through the impact you can have on a young player.  It’s a way to ensure things will be done right and to pass the torch.

Second,  it is being a part of something greater than yourself.  Football, playing or coaching is a special fraternity.  It’s one of those things that bond men together in a common goal and enterprise.  It’s about the hard work and sacrifice made together to improve and be successful. 

Third, it’s gotta be the great looking T-shirts we give them to wear during and after camp!  

Through the years, LinemenInc has and continues to attract some of the best coaches in the game.  2009 is no different…  We are proud to list some of these fine individuals slated to work our camps this summer:

Jim House – University of Nevada, Reno

Gary Bernardi – University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Bill Bedenbaugh – University of Arizona

DeChon Burns – University of Texas, El Paso

Dave Tipton – Former NFL Player/Stanford University (retired after 18 years)

Irv Pankey – Former NFL Player/College of the Sequoias

Jeff Remington – Sacramento State

Micah Nall – University of Central Oklahoma

John Mannino – Texas A&M, Kingsville

Monterio Witherspoon – Langston University

Jon Teuscher – Northern Arizona University

Rob Gatrell – Former NFL & Arena League Player/Santa Rosa College

And there are at least half a dozen more that due to space you’ll just have to view on the other camp web pages.  Two of our former participants are now coaching in the NFL: Jim Michalczik/Oakland Raiders and Kerry Locklin/New York Jets.  In the past coaches from UCLA, Fresno State, San Jose State, Colorado State and South Dakota State have work our camps!

Want to try something different this summer?  Want to really be challenged?  Want to survive the most intense three days of your life to date?  Want to do the very best camp for linemen, the only camp of it’s type west of the Mississippi?  Then get out of the weight room and off the couch this summer and come to a LinemenInc Camp!

Camp Registrations for all LinemenInc Camps are due June 1st.