6th C.H.A.M.P. Camp Kicks Off at Rutherford

By Scott Rossman SPRINGFIELD, FL. You hear athletes and celebrities talk often about "giving something back" to the communities that helped make them what they are. Well for Anthony Kelly, who grew up in Campbellton, and graduated Graceville, before moving on to the University of Kentucky and now the Chicago Bears front office, this is how he "gives back." Kelly hosting the 6th C.H.A.M.P. camp, a football clinic for area youngsters. Kelly brings in area coaches, like Rob Armstrong, who coached Anthony years ago at Graceville, and is now the head coach at Rutherford. That campus hosting the camp this time around. Nearly 300 kids signing up and taking part in the camp, and along with learning about football, get a dose of character, heart, attitude, motivation and pride, or CHAMP for short. "Obviously, it's always special for me to be able to come back home and do this camp. When I look at these kids, I see myself. So we're always grateful to be able to give back in a manner, to especially the kids in this area. I tell people all the time, it's the C.H.A.M.P. Camp, not Champ's Camp. So it has nothing to do with me and there's no more proof than to watch these kids out here, running around, getting better." Rutherford and Georgia alum, and NFL veteran Will Witherspoon, who played for the Panthers, Titans, Eagles and Rams, also on hand for the camp. This the second straight year Witherspoon has also been on hand to dole out some advice and instruction of his own.

By |2015-07-01T11:58:34-06:00July 1st, 2015|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Day two of C.H.A.M.P Camp in the books

By Brianna MacNaught Day two of C.H.A.M.P Camp in the books. The rain holding off again and allowing the young athletes to get instructions from former collegiate and even professional athletes. This football camp is not like the others. Not only do these plays get to sharpen their skills on the football field but the young athletes get to hear from professional athletes about life off of the field. The C.H.A.M.P camp continues to grow every year. The camp started with 50 kids at the first camp six years ago to nearly 200 young football players at this years camp. During day two of camp, Champ challenged me to get out there and show my skills. Now keep in mind I didn't want to embarrass the boys too much so I wasn't performing at my peak level. During lunch break the athletes got the chance to listen to NFL veteran and Rutherford alum, Will Witherspoon. Witherspoon said, "The kids need to be taught how to be champions and that they can be champions in many ways. "It's not just about what goes on on the field and too be back here at Rutherford of all places where I got my beginnings it's you know it's great."

By |2015-07-01T11:56:19-06:00July 1st, 2015|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Day one of C.H.A.M.P camp in the books

By Brianna MacNaught Day one of C.H.A.M.P camp in the books. More than 200 football players at Rutherford High School today getting some tips for on and off the field. Graceville alum Anthony Champ Kelly returning home for the sixth straight year to host C.H.A.M.P camp. C.H.A.M.P camp brings former collegiate and professional players from all over the country to teach young athletes skills on the football field. The camp also teaches the athletes how to behave once they take their helmets off. Anthony's nickname is Champ and C.H.A.M.P also stands for character, heart, attitude, motivation, and pride. This free camp has grown from fifty kids in its first year to more than 200 young athletes at this years camp. Champ said, "We want to be tangible to those kids so that they can do or be anything they set their minds to. So yeah, we teach football fundamentals but the most important things we stress to this kids is how to be successful off of the field, how to make appropriate decisions." Tomorrow I will be out there for day two of the camp and maybe show off a little of my skills as well.

By |2015-07-01T11:55:00-06:00July 1st, 2015|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Champ Camp Is Ready To Return To Bay County

By Chris Marchand One of the biggest football camps in our area. The C.H.A.M.P. camp is returning to the panhandle for the sixth straight year this weekend. The camp is held annually by Graceville graduate Anthony Champ Kelly. Champ is not only Kelly's nickname, but it stands for Character, Heart, Attitude, Motivation and Pride. Last years camp had record numbers, as close to three hundred kids from ten to 18 took part in the camp. Receiving one on one instruction from former collegiate and even professional players. The camp is not just about football skills, but life skills as well. This year's Champ Camp is at Rutherford high school. The price to attend is $25.00

By |2015-07-01T11:53:00-06:00July 1st, 2015|Uncategorized|0 Comments

C.H.A.M.P. Camp kicks off in Lexington

by Alex Risen LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) - The annual C.H.A.M.P. Camp kicked off again this morning out at Lexington Catholic. The event brings out the UK names you know. Guys like former head coach Guy Morriss, former receiver Derek Abney and some other recent grads. And of course there's also the host of it all... former football Cat turned NFL front office man Anthony "Champ" Kelly. Kelly's excited about his new job as the director of pro scouting with the Chicago Bears, but he's even more excited about teaching young kids the game of football... and about life. Hear from Kelly in the video and check out a quick glimpse of the camp as well! Original Story and Video WTVQ-TV, LLC

By |2015-06-25T14:35:02-06:00June 25th, 2015|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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