Tracy Press

 
Bulldogs spend week teaching young football players

Tracy High varsity football player D.J. Damon screams encouragement to a camp participant during Tracy High’s football camp. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

D.J. Damon reveled in his role of drill instructor as he yelled “You will not lose!” to young recruits as they sprinted back and forth across the football turf at Peter B. Kyne Field.

“They respond well to yelling,” he said, and the younger football players did seem motivated in their drills, all designed to make them stronger and quicker.

“I think they’re going to be amazing,” Damon said.

The Tracy High junior was one of the Bulldog varsity and junior varsity football players who took a week to show about 110 younger players the skills they need on the field.

“Most of them have been through this clinic,” head coach Mark Stroup said. “It’s a chance for them to give back a bit.”

Sophomore Casey Wichman, who will be a quarterback with the junior varsity team, helped young players work on passes. He said it reminds him of what it was like to learn the game and that players like him are still learning.

“They understand what we’re teaching them,” he said. “When I teach them, I remember what I’m supposed to be working on.”

Junior Cliff Hudson said it teaches him what his own coaches went through to help him on and off the field. Fellow varsity player Dominique Harrison added that he sees a little of himself in some of the young players as they start to learn the drills.

“We get to have fun with them,” he said, adding that older players also learn patience as they help young players learn their drills. “I didn’t do it that good at first, but I got better.”

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