Gross camp deemed a success
Local youths attain valuable lessons from all-pro lineman
By: Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:58 AM PDT
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| RAY RODRIGUEZ | ARGUS OBSERVER
Fruitland High School graduate and current all-pro National Football League lineman for the Carolina Panthers Jordan Gross (left) hosted his inaugural football skills camp Monday and Tuesday with the aim to give youths valuable coaching on fundamental football skills, weight lifting, nutrition, responsibility and citizenship. |
Fruitland—Like many schools in the area, the 2009-2010 athletic budget for Fruitland High School was very much in a crisis situation.
So Grizzly head football coach Bruce Schlaich and Athletic Director Beth Holt reached out to an old friend of theirs — Jordan Gross.
Schlaich said all it took was a phone call, and, 15 minutes later, Gross was ready to throw his hat in the ring and help out his former school.
A Fruitland High School graduate and current all-pro National Football League lineman for the Carolina Panthers, Gross hosted his inaugural football skills camp Monday and Tuesday with the aim to give youths valuable coaching on fundamental football skills, weight lifting, nutrition, responsibility and citizenship.
“It’s just great for the community, and Jordan has been so willing to help out in our time of need with budget restraints being what they are,” Schlaich said. “We’re excited. The way he interacts with the kids is just magical. It really is. He’s just a big kid himself in a lot of ways. So we are just super pleased with the way this camp went, and we’re just laying the foundation and we’re going to build on it next year.”
The camp was something Gross had always wanted to get started earlier in his playing career, but he said the plan never came through.
Finally, everything came together.
“Coach Schlaich came and asked me to help out the camp when they were having some budgeting issues, and I had wanted to do a camp for a long time, so it was a perfect fit,” Gross said. “Fruitland has a great winning tradition, nice facilities, and it has just been fun today to raise some money for the high school and give back to the kids that grew up in the same place that I did.”
Monday, Gross worked with the younger kids, and he said many of the campers were awe-struck, and he fielded many questions. Tuesday, the high school-aged youths took the field where they worked on running and agility drills, and Gross’ long-time strength and conditioning coach, Cheyenne Petri, gave instructions on the proper techniques in weight training.
All the hard work is something Gross emphasized.
It molded him into the type of athlete he is today.
“That is what I tried to tell them today, was that they sky is the limit,” Gross said. “I came from the exact same place that most of these kids are from. It happened for me, so there is no reason they should be able to do what they want. Hopefully, this an be a little bit of inspiration to them and a motivator that anything can really get done if they want it to.”
One camper, Kody Graves, of Fruitland, said he was excited to get to the camp, one because of its cost-efficiency and also because he had an opportunity to rub elbows with one of the NFL’s elite players.
“He is cool. He is not like different than anybody else. It is cool being around a guy that has been like in the pro bowl and other things like that,” Graves said.
Graves said he initially underestimated the camp, but once the camp was complete, and his faced drenched in sweat, he was appreciative of all he learned.
“I will take everything I can form this camp to the football field,” Graves said. “It was funner than I expected.”
Holt, who had never met the all-pro before scheduling the camp, said she was pleasantly pleased with the great attitude Gross showed toward the school and community in its time of need.
“He is a great guy. He is as grounded as it gets. Something about him is he has not forgotten where he is from and who raised him. We just feel very fortunate that he is as good a guy as there is and he is giving back to Fruitland High School. He is involved. He just gets right in and acts like one the kids. The kids had a great time and we just hope it grows from here for all kids to come and participate.”
