Chris O’Leary
Edmonton Journal
It’s a simple concept, but one that took its time to take form. The plan is to amass the best high school football players the city has to offer and pair them up with the city’s best coaches and a handful of been-there-done-that members of the Eskimos to serve as reminders of what hard work can lead to.
The plan began to unfold on Monday, as the Eskimos hosted their annual high school football camp. Eskimo general manager Ed Hervey was there along with some of his players: kicker Grant Shaw, wide receiver Nate Coehoorn, linebacker Corbin Sharun, offensive lineman Dale Stevenson, defensive back Clint Kent and long-snapper Ryan King.
The inclusion of the entire local football community is a new twist on the camp.
“This is a new era in Edmonton football, that we’re all joining together and we’re all working together hand-in-hand to improve football here in northern Alberta,” Hervey said, taking a break from the activities at Clarke Field.
“It’s something that we pledged to do back in March with our football summit and it’s something we’ll continue to do together as we develop players here. No matter the guys, no matter what level they go to, if it’s the junior levels or the university level, the overall objective for these kids is if they make it to the professional level … hopefully they want to come back and play in Edmonton.”
“It’s about skill development and getting (local high school kids) out and playing the game the way it should be played,” said former Eskimo and current University of Alberta Golden Bears football head coach Chris Morris.
“The coaches at their high schools do such a wonderful job, it’s just nice to get the elite level coaches from the junior teams, the university and the Eskimos together all at the same time out to work with these kids, it’s nice to see.”
There had been talk of uniting the local football programs for this purpose for years, but it’s only now that all sides have made it happen.
“Maybe I’m wrong on this, but I’m pretty sure I’m not, in the last 10 years there’s never been a camp where all three groups are out coaching together and just trying to get football to be better in the city and that’s just a wonderful thing,” Morris said.
“That, if nothing else, is a great thing to come out of this camp.”
A unified coaching front should also lead to a more tightly-knit players’ community.
There are approximately 75 players at the camp, which runs through Friday at Clarke Field. Bonds formed at these camps can help influence where players want to play their university or junior football and who they want to play alongside. But those are just seeds being planted for now.
Spruce Grove Panthers offensive lineman Justin Lawrence was simply enjoying the opportunity afforded to him on Monday.
“It’s awesome,” said the Grade 11 student. “Seriously, these guys are some of the best coaches you’ll ever get. These guys have lived the dream, played in the pros and all of that. You’re getting the best possible coaching that you can get.”
“They’ve done it all. They’re really the ones you want to go to if you want to be on that level,” said Harry Ainlay Titans defensive back Jacob Janke, a 16-year-old in Grade 10.
While Shaw is paid to be the Eskimos’ kicker, he also played a lot of defensive back while in junior football with the Edmonton Wildcats and university ball with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
He gave Janke and the other defensive backs on the field Monday some valuable information.
“He’s been around the block,” Janke said.
“(I’m learning) as much as I can learn from him. If he can pass (his experience) on to me, I can take it back to my school, maybe not only get better as a player but teach someone else on my team and improve my squad.”
Hervey wants to make the camp as valuable an experience as possible for the young players and said that he’d like to start familiarizing them with the types of drills they’ll encounter at the CFL draft combine.
“Being here in Edmonton, we talk about our sense of community, being community owned and giving back,” said Hervey.
“It is in my opinion, and all of the coaches that are out here and all of the players, we believe that every individual has something to give back.
“Part of that is giving back to the community, but also understanding that we’re all united in this community. Anything we can do to help these kids get better, help them as players as well as human beings, we’re all for it.”