eagles football camp draws big turnout

Veteran Seymour Eagles head football coach and school athletics director Gary Householder confirmed Monday that 58 youngsters showed up for the first day of the Eagles’ annual youth football camp held at the school.

Aspiring gridiron stars in grades third through seventh signed up for the camp, instructed and conducted by the SHS football coaching staff led by Householder.

“This is a pretty good turnout,” said Householder during one of several scheduled water breaks that allow the campers a few minutes to cool down and pour some cold liquid into their bodies before getting back to working out and learning football fundamentals under the hot July sun.

“We’ve had as low as 40 kids show up before and as high as 80 show up in the past. This year we’re about average, right in the middle,” said Householder.

Householder explained that the campers are taught basic football fundamentals by himself and the other members of his coaching staff, and more importantly, are given a chance to get some exercise.

“They come out here and play football, practice the fundamentals and it gets them out of the house for a while. It looks like we’ve got a good group of kids with us this year.”

Several of the Eagles players come out to help at the camp as well. Certain team members leave the camp in the afternoon and make the trek to West Knoxville, where the team’s skill position athletes, linebackers, defensive backs and kickers are participating in the annual non-contact passing league at Webb.