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Branch gathers stars
together for Fla. kids camp
Former ECU Star Draws on NFL
Friends and Foes for Special Undertaking
From staff reports and a
news release
©2005 Bonesville.net
Former ECU and NFL star
Reggie Branch flashes his
Super Bowl ring. Branch
was a running back at ECU
from 1981-84. (Photo:
Choo Justice) |
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View Ron Cherubini's
Pirate Time Machine
feature on Reggie Branch. |
PRO PLAYERS
YOUTH
Football/Cheerleading Camp
Host: Reggie Branch
Date: 81-19 March 2005
Location: Seminole High School, Sanford FL
Ages: 5 to 17
Registration Fee: $35
Fee includes:
Complementary ticket to
Celebrity Basketball Game,
Lunch, Camp T-shirt and
commemorative Photo.
Camp opens: 8 a.m. on the
main football field for both
football players and
cheerleaders.
Registration Locations:
• Liberty Tax Service
2311 French Ave.
Sanford, Fl 32771
Phone 407-330-3350
• W. Sanford
- Boy's & Girls Club -
919 S. Persimmon Ave.
Sanford, Fl 32771
Phone 407-330-2456
Exhibition Game Tickets: $5
(Available at Seminole High
School Box Office and at
Liberty Tax Service)
Game Time: 7 p.m. |
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For former East Carolina
and Washington Redskins’ great Reggie Branch, doing the kids football
camp circuit always had a special place in his heart.
One of his long time
dreams was to host his own camp, back at home in Sanford, FL, where his
own adventures in football began. As it turns out, his first camp will
be special for more than the obvious reasons.
This year he is hosting
the Pro Players Youth Football/Cheerleading Camp on Friday and Saturday,
March 17th and 18th, respectively, at Sanford High School in Sanford,
FL.
The camp is open to
children in the Central Florida area between the ages of 5 and 17.
Camp activities kick off
with a special celebrity basketball game at 7 p.m. on Friday evening in
the Seminole High School gymnasium. The game will feature the school
faculty versus the NFL Pro Players and special guests. It will be
especially emotional for Branch, who will see his high school jersey
retired at halftime of that contest.
An autograph session with
the NFL stars and community leaders will be conducted after the
exhibition game.
“I’ve been trying to (do
something like this) ever since I got in the NFL,” Branch said. “When I
put my name on something, I really want it be legit and first class and
I can't think of a better thing than a camp for the kids. I want to let
my former teammates and foes (in the NFL) know it is for the community
where I grew up, where I am from and the type of kids we got back there
in Florida.”
Branch will be calling on
former Pirates Jeff Blake — of the Philadelphia Eagles — and Ernie
Lewis, among others, to join him and several ex-NFL players, including
former Branch teammates as well as foes, most of whom are from the
Central Florida area.
Long-time prep coaching
legend and Seminole High coach Emory Blake, the father of Jeff Blake,
will also be on hand.
“It will be great to have
some of us (Pirates) together at one time,” Branch said. “I am really
looking forward to making this a great time for the kids and the
community. And it is more than just the pros — we have high school
coaches, Arena League coaches and others from the community coming in to
help the kids learn more about football, but also about other things in
life, like the importance of a good education.”
Pirate fans in the Florida
region are invited to drop in, noted Branch.
“The more the merrier,”
Branch chuckled. “Next year, I intend to add a golf tournament. We’re
expecting between 200 and 300 kids this year. We just want to see the
kids participating and trying their best — that is all we ask. And if
they try their best, anything is possible for everyone.”
Page updated:
02/23/07 11:31 AM
©2005
Bonesville.net. All
rights rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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