By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
It was hard to determine who was smiling more, Terrance Copper and his NFL friends, or the kids.
The Terrance Copper First Annual Football Camp, held under sunny skies Saturday morning at Washington High School, was a huge success. Nearly 200 kids participated in the camp, learning about offense, defense and agility drills.
Washington Pam Pack head football coach Sport Sawyer, who had a great deal of help from assistant coaches, volunteers and the Mom’s Club, was happy with the first camp.
Copper, a former Washington Pam Pack and East Carolina star, was joined by some of his New Orleans Saints teammates at the camp. Fellow receivers Lance Moore, David Patten, Devery Henderson and Robert Meacham all helped out, as did Houston Texans fullback Vonta Leach.
Each of the receivers and Leach said they were more than happy to help out Copper.
Meacham said he was honored to be asked by Copper to help with the camp.
Copper has assisted Leach at his camps at South Robeson High School. The Houston fullback, and former teammate of Copper’s at ECU, said he was happy to return the favor.
Patten, who owns three Super Bowl rings earned while playing with the New England Patriots, said he was happy to be in Washington to support Copper’s cause.
Moore jumped at the chance to help out the kids.
Ron DelDuca, Copper’s agent, made the trip from Pittsburgh to attend the banquet and camp.
Copper, who was joined by the other NFL stars in signing autographs at the end of the camp, was pleased with the entire weekend, which included a successful banquet Friday night.
All of the proceeds from the banquet and camp go to Washington High School. Copper, a Washington Walk of Fame inductee last year, said he’s happy he can give back.
Copper plans on bigger and better things in the future.
Lawrence happy to lend a hand at Copper Camp
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
The cleat was on the other foot for former Washington High School star Gerald Lawrence Saturday, however, the current East Carolina linebacker didn’t seem to mind.
Lawrence offered his time and football expertise Saturday as he was one of several instructors at Terrance Copper’s First Annual Football Camp at Washington High School.
The role was a reverse for Lawrence, who is usually on the receiving end of instructions, but on this particular morning the linebacker got to play another position.
It’s also been a revelation for Lawrence too, who joked that he can now relate to all his coaches’ frustration of teaching the same thing 16 times.
While the whole day was a lot of fun and games, on a serious note, Lawrence said he was happy to be helping out in the community.
Lawrence spent most of the morning paired up with his former Pam Pack coach Jon Blank, as well as Copper. Together, the trio worked on several individual defensive aspects.
Blank was equally thrilled to be coaching at the camp.
Blank said he was proud to see his former linebacker putting in time at the camp.
The campers had a lot of role models to chose from Saturday, as along with Copper, fellow NFL’ers Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Vanta Leach, David Patten and Saints’ assistant coaches Curtis Johnson and Carter Sheridan where all on hand to teach the young football players.
Camp attendee, and Pam Pack football player Shae Griffin, 16, said it was fun to be taught by professional football players.
While football was taught all morning long, some life lessons were passed along as well.
Saints’ wide receiver, and three-time Super Bowl champion David Patten took some time to dish out some personal advice to camper Marsalis Williams.
Williams, a Northside graduate who ran the fastest 40 time in the camp (4.4), said his conversation with Patten hit home.
Williams said he plans on attending St. Augustine this fall and will try out for the football team as well as run track.