News
Jon Cooper holding football clinic for kids
09 Jul 10
BY HAP FRY
HapFry@coloradoan.com
At 6-foot-8, 350 pounds, Phil Loadholt doesn't have to work too hard to get his point across.
So when the second-year starting tackle for the Minnesota Vikings got up to address a group of fourth through sixth graders during the second day of Jon Cooper's Fort Collins High School Youth Football Camp, one had to believe they were both captivated and attentive.
"All of you said yesterday you wanted to play college and professional football," Loadholt said to the group. "But you won't even be able to play high school football if you don't have good grades. Everybody here have good grades? OK, I'm going to check on them."
Loadholt was in town Tuesday and Wednesday to help Cooper, his former Oklahoma and current Vikings teammate, with his camp that concludes today at Fort Collins High.
That he chose to focus his message on academics wasn't all that surprising when you consider the former Fountain-Fort Carson standout had to attend junior college for two years before he was able to move on to Oklahoma as a junior.
"The route that I had to take was the route that I had to take," Loadholt said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it was a tougher route because of my grades. Coming out of high school, grades were not at the top of my priority list. Fortunately, I figured it out (the importance of grades) in the nick of time. That was my important message to them - just that they need to make sure their grades come first."
The three-day camp was free for the 100 registered campers after Cooper was able to get a $3,500 grant from the NFL Youth Football Fund. Powerade sponsored the beverages for the campers, who also received a free t-shirt.
Cooper, who starred and graduated in 2005 from Fort Collins High before moving on to Oklahoma, didn't hesitate at the opportunity of hosting a camp in his hometown the moment he learned about the NFL's Youth Football Fund.
"When I heard how the NFL helps out and gives out grants for this, I jumped on it the very first day I could," Cooper said. "I grew up in Fort Collins, and I loved it. I want to do everything I can to give back to the community.
"When we have breaks in the season, I come back and watch Fort Collins High School football games. I'm just trying to get some of these guys interested in Fort Collins High School football because it's a big deal to me."
Camper Kobe Sanders doesn't have much desire to play on the offensive line like Cooper or Loadholt. Instead, the incoming Harris Elementary fourth grader has his eyes set on playing another position.
"Playing running back has been my favorite thing at camp so far," Sanders said. "It's been a lot of fun. I want to play football for Fort Collins."
Isabella Alessi, a fellow camper and incoming Kinard Middle School sixth grader, said she recently was inspired to want to play high school football even though her parents might not think that's such a good idea.
"I haven't been able to play football because my mom thinks I will break my leg and won't be able to play soccer," Alessi said. "I met this girl at the gym and she plays football for one of the high schools. I want to play high school football because she's inspired me."
Campers were divided into age groups and teams and went from station to station Wednesday where they worked with Fort Collins High coaches and current players, along with Loadholt and Cooper.
The camp, in many ways, resembled a family reunion for the Coopers. Jon Cooper had his father, Tom, and older brother Eric, help out as instructors, while his mother, Chris, may have been the backbone of the operation. She helped with the registration and the organization of the camp.
"We've always been a football family," Jon Cooper said. "My mom kind of got drug around for the ride, but she enjoys it. She loves dealing with kids. My brother's been a mentor to me as well as my dad.
"We want the camp to keep getting bigger and bigger. We didn't do a whole lot of advertising, but when people heard about it, they jumped on it. It's just fun watching these kids run around and have fun. It's a lot of fun just being able to interact with them. It seems like they're really enjoying it."
