FB: Camp gives lessons in football, life
Preston Football Camp pose with royalty of the Miss
Shelby County Pageant at Saturday's event at Center's
Roughrider Stadium. Fifteen campers took advantage of
the teachings at the mini-camp. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER -- In this age of the specialized sports athlete, players such as those who attended Saturday's 19th Annual Preston Football Camp were eager to soak up as much information on the positions they might want to play in the future as they prepare for their respective junior high or high school careers.
The athletes that attended the camp here at Roughrider Stadium received not only pointers on the positions, but valuable information from current and former professional athletes and collegiate athletes on how to prepare their minds as well as their bodies for the next level.
"You have to be self-motivated [in order to become a professional athlete] because not everybody is going to be there to help you do what is right," said former Center Roughrider and Green Bay Packer and current Minnesota Viking Michael Montgomery to the group. "For me, when I was coming up, I was self-motivated. I knew in my heart that I could do whatever I had to as long as I set my mind to it, as far as doing what I wanted to, whether it was being a lawyer, a doctor or professional athlete.
"Anything you want to obtain, you just need to set your goals and you need to start setting those goals today.
"When I was growing up, I didn't let a day go by when I didn't do something to help myself accomplish my goals. As far as my mother, she gave me great surroundings and I was fortunate that I could look up to her."
He told the athletes they must resist temptation and do the right thing in life.
"My mother prided herself in doing the right thing," Montgomery explained to the group. "As far as school, she told me to make good grades, do what I was asked by my parents and do my best on and off the football field if I wanted to succeed.
"And it was that kind of advice that will get you a long way in life and in the professional job field. Everywhere you go, make sure you're a positive influence for other people who might be looking up to you."
Montgomery warned that there will be those who doubt your ability. But it is only the individual who can decide how far they can go.
"I was never really an outspoken person," the sixth-year professional athlete continued. "I was told I wasn't going to make it; I was real shy. But I had something deep inside me telling me that I could make it and I could do anything. And that's what you have to instill in yourself. Ya'll need to start today; when you leave here you need to set goals for yourself and you need to stick with them.
"I know ya'll face pressure with drugs and alcohol and the opposite sex, but you need to set the goals and keep your eyes on the prize. You need to relax and have fun, but also keep your priorities right.
"When I grew up I never drank or smoke. People were always calling me 'square', but I wanted to be just like my mom. She did the same thing and she was successful and I prayed and asked God to help me be the same thing so I could be successful; and I believe He allowed me to be that way."
Montgomery, a 6-2, 282-pound graduate from Texas A&M University who has played the past five seasons with the Packers, was a key instructor at the camp, along with camp founder Dwight Preston, who was part of a conference championship team at Kansas Wesleyan in 1982.
Also helping was Robert Richards, another Center graduate who went on to have a successful college career at the University of Southern Arkansas and the Odessa Roughnecks of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Kenneth Cotton, a long-time camp instructor, was on hand. He played his high school career at Eisenhower High School and went on to play for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. Brent Gregston, a collegiate with the University of Southern Monroe and current high school coach was also giving instruction.
The 47-year old Preston said camps such as his are important for young athletes if they want to 'get ahead' in their gridiron careers.
"I would encourage any kid that really wants to go further and wants to get better to go to as many camps like this as possible," Preston explained. "If you don't learn but one thing at a camp, it's so important because you can take that one thing and work on it and make your game better the next year and it will benefit you.
"Today these kids have come out here to this camp and have gotten better. They have shown improvement in everything they've done, even running the 40-yard dash. They've learned from these instructors because they've each been specialized in different parts of the game and have given each young person pointers on how to execute a particular position better.
"In college I had the opportunity to earn a scholarship and to win a conference championship at Kansas Wesleyan. There's nothing like it. I was 5-9 and 180 (pounds) and when I got there I was going up against guys that were 5-11, 230 pounds. I didn't know if I could fit in.
"I remember people thinking that I wouldn't make it. But I made a promise to myself, just like Coach Montgomery said here today. I made a promise to myself that if this kills me, I'm going to make it. I then went out and became quicker and faster.
"I wish every one of these kids that are here today get the opportunity to feel what I felt when we won that conference championship and to get a ring like this because there is nothing like it."
Preston said he is a tribute that you don't have to be the most gifted athlete to become successful. He added that it takes a tremendous amount of willpower and effort in the off-season to get better and overcome the odds.
"I know some people think that you're born with talent or you're not," the camp organizer stated. "I'm living proof because I was a fat kid and I made a vow and said I wasn't going to be fat and I was going to turn things around and make something of my career. When I started playing in Center and began in the eighth grade and I worked on my speed and size and I eventually played in the backfield.
"In college I got the best hit in a scrimmage that allowed me to work my way up. We should have won the conference championship when I was a freshman, but the nucleus of us stayed together and came back two years later to win that conference championship."
The words from the instructors at the camp were the same: to focus on goals, to accomplish the little things both in life and in preparation and making it count when their game of football - or game of life - is on the line.