HARLINGEN — It may be the middle of June, but for a few area kids, it was time for some football, as the TexasA&MUniversityKingsville coaching staff hosted more than 65 students at Friday morning’s Javelina Football Camp at Boggus Stadium.
The campwas a skill development clinic, which went over fundamental teachings of every aspect of the game by demonstrating the importance of catching, throwing, blocking and tackling.
While it gives campers an opportunity to learn from collegiate coaches, TAMUK enjoys strengthening its ties with the Rio GrandeValley area.
“Texas A&M Kingsville isn’t a huge name in the state, but in the Valley, people know about us,” said Javelina head football coach DarenWilkinson. “This is part of our foot print as a university and part of our foot print as an athletic department and football program.
“People know who we are and that makes it exciting for us to come down and teach these guys some ball.”
It was the second camp in the RGV in as many days.
The TAMUK coaches hosted a camp at Edinburg Vela Thursday morning, where they hosted more than 80 players.
Harlingen head football coach Manny Gomez, who was also on hand looking on, says the good turnout is a positive representation of Valley football.
“This is an opportunity to get better and every kid walked on here with a lot of confidence and you can see in their demeanor that they want to get better,” Gomez said. “Knowing you live in South Texas, the kids know the heat is not and issue and it’s a lifestyle. That’s a great example of what Valley football has become.
“Recruiters come down here to pick up kids because of the extreme work ethic.”
Wilkinson agrees, but went on to say that coachable athletes stem from the coaches in the area.
“The kids are coached well and there are coaches in this area who coach very well and know how to teach the fundamentals,” Wilkinson said. “Within the kids, because of that, the game means something to them .They love to compete, get better and work hard.”
