JOHNSTOWN — From Tom Brady to Kurt Warner, Artrell Hawkins and LaRod Stephens-Howling have played alongside some of the the biggest names in NFL history. So working with some local high school players at a camp in their hometown should be no problem, right?
But Hawkins, who played 10 years in the NFL before retiring in 2008, and Stephens-Howling, who is about to begin his second season with the Arizona Cardinals, had some nerves before their three-day camp started at Trojan Stadium on Thursday.
“I was really nervous coming in, and LaRod was nervous,” Hawkins said. “We talked (Thursday) morning. We were both like, ‘Did you go to sleep last night?’ Aw, I couldn’t go to sleep last night, either.’ We wanted it to be something that was effective and fun for the kids. I stayed up all night double-checking everything, and LaRod said he did the same thing.”
The free camp features 100 players from eight local schools, but it focuses on more than just football. Hawkins and Stephens-Howling also work with the players on community involvement and leadership skills.
“They’re learning a lot of things out here,” Stephens-Howling said. “We’re just trying to be as positive as we can be and be great role models for them.”
Hawkins, a Bishop McCort grad who went to the University of Cincinnati, and Stephens-Howling, a Greater Johnstown and Pitt alumnus, have both made an effort to give back to their hometown. The camp seemed like a perfect opportunity to do that.
“We had the time, we had the resources, and it was great that LaRod is in the NFL,” Hawkins said. “We can kind of tag team and give it that double Johnstown whammy with an NFL vibe. We always wanted to do it, so we found time, and we did it. It was great.”
Former Steeler and Bengals safety Myron Bell and Charles Fisher, another former Bengals defensive back and Hawkins’ radio co-host in Cinncinnati, helped with the camp on Thursday, as did Andres Taylor, the cruiserweight boxing champion from Johnstown. Bruce Haselrig, a Hall of Fame wrestling official and veteran administrator at Pitt-Johnstown and in the city government, gave a leadership and team-building exercise.
And that was only the first day. The camp continues for the next two days.
Hawkins expects some other NFL players to drop by, although he wouldn’t say which ones.
“I’ve got a couple of huge ones that may come through, but I don’t want to jinx it,” he said.
Hawkins wants to make the camp an annual event, so “A Night Under the Stars with the Stars” fundraiser will be held from 7-10 tonight at the Heritage Discovery Center in Johnstown.
“It’s only the first day, but this feels right,” Hawkins said of the camp. “We want to start right now for next year. Every year it’s going to get bigger and better and more effective. That’s why we’re having the fundraiser.”
The event, which features a silent auction of sports memorabilia from Larry Fitzgerald, Willie Parker and Darrelle Revis among others, will also benefit the Dave Seidel Scholarship Fund.
“There are some good items,” Stephens-Howling said.
“I know we’ve got some Larry Fitzgerald fans in this area. We’ve got some cleats signed by him, some gloves signed by him. I’ve got a team ball from Arizona. My signed jersey is going to be in the auction.
“There’s going to be a lot of great items that any sports collectors would want.”
If you go:
What: “A Night Under the Stars with the Stars” fundraiser to benefit the Summer Youth Football Camp at Greater Johnstown High School and the Dave Seidel Scholarship fund.
Where: Heritage Discovery Center.
When: 7-10 tonight.
Admission: $10.
Auction items: Sports memorabilia from NFL stars Larry Fitzgerald, Willie Parker, Darrelle Revis and many more. A golf package, Steelers tickets and a personal football game with Artrell Hawkins and LaRod Stephens-Howling are also on the block.
Read full article by Eric Knopsnyder in the Trible Democrat >
