Orlando area stars give back to youths
As made his way across the football field at Central Florida Christian Academy on Saturday, youngsters involved in a local football camp started to figure out who he was. Soon thereafter, the Green Bay Packers All-Pro safety was inundated with photo-seeking footballers clamoring for their quick brush with greatness.
The Central Florida All-Star Football Game Coaches and Players Clinic/Camp presented by Excel Sports, and the Aaron Jones Sr. Foundation during the weekend was a great example of how former local football stars are giving back to the community that gave to them.
Clinton-Dix was joined by former Clermont East Ridge and Jacksonville University athlete
who will be in camp as a receiver with the Detroit Lions this month after stints with the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys during the past two seasons. Some pro football free agents on hand included
(Edgewater/ UCF), (Agape Christian/UCF) and (East Ridge/JU), just to name a few.
“It means the world to me,” said Wood, who runs Excel Speed and has been training and coaching local youths for two nearly two decades. “I’ve always told them I would be Coach Lo for life and for them to remember I will always be there for them, no matter what.
“All I’ve asked of them is give back what was given to you … and to save me a jersey and get your college degree.”
The camp, as Wood put it, wasn’t just about posing for selfies with the stars. There was also work to be done.
“The kids will be able to take that with them forever, but it’s not about it being an autograph session,” Wood said. “They see these players out their showing them how to do it, not just telling them. All the guys are out there doing the drills, and these young kids want to go up against them to see how good they can be and train with them … not just say, ‘I was there.’
“Ha Ha was doing a lot of drills with the kids and a COMMENTARY lot of them didn’t even know who he was. When they realized who he was, they were all like, ‘Wow, he’s doing all the drills.’ So guys like him and Quincy [McDuffie] were all out there working and then kids were amazed at what they could do.”
The Orlando area is blessed with an abundance of football talent from high school to college to professional levels. It’s fun to watch these kids prosper as they go through their careers. What’s more exciting, however, is seeing them return to their roots to help out in their own neighborhoods and high schools, as well as at various camps around the region each summer.
They may go away in search of their dreams after high school, but many of them return to their place of original glory.
“It’s amazing, as a youth going through the same training with Lo Wood … To see all of the effort these kids are putting forth, it’s a great payback to be able to give back. It feels good and is good for the soul,” Jones said. “You put in hard work, something’s gotta come out of it. That’s the biggest message I’m letting these kids know. They get hot, they get tired … I say that’s when you get better. There’s no substitute for it. The best thing is hard work.”
And giving back has become a big thing for local athletes after they have reached the end of their own playing careers.
Former Dr. Phillips and Syracuse star
has been back at his alma mater for several years and has been head coach at Dr. Phillips since 2011. Former Lake Mary and Florida standout
has been the Rams’ head coach for more than a decade.
Numerous assistant coaches have returned to their roots.
formerly of USF, is back at Olympia.
(FSU/Eastern Kentucky) and
(UCF) are back at Edgewater,
(Pitt/Lindenwood) is at Dr. Phillips,
(UCF) is at Winter Park and former Edgewater and Michigan star
is now head coach at Cornerstone Charter.
Horton agreed with his former teammate Jones.
“In my mind this is what you are supposed to do. When I was in their position,” Horton said of the youngsters, “I always hoped to be the position where I was able to give back. I can truly say if it wasn’t for Coach Lo and Coach Aaron, I wouldn’t be where I was today.
“I can’t thank him enough. … the best thing I can do is come back and help give back to his brand and to his little piece of the community.”
Part of the camp was also represented by the Aaron Jones Foundation, which provides scholarship money to local seniors to help pay for college expenses. The three recipients this year, who were honored Saturday, are of East River and
of Foundation Academy, both of whom are headed to Morehead State, and Oak Ridge’s
who will be at Ferris State.