July 3, 2009

FORT WORTH, Texas -- For the last couple weeks, a group of football players have had the opportunity to be enrolled in a service learning class taught by Le Ann Roberts in TCU's department of communications.

In this class, we would spend the majority of our time going to the Fortress Youth Development Center to put on a sports camp for the kids. We tried to teach the kids about improving themselves as a student, an athlete, and as a person. We did this with our motto, "Keep It R.E.A.L." R.E.A.L. stands for Respect, Education, Attitude, and Leadership. We tried to involve each of these letters in everything the kids did throughout the day.

Also, throughout the class, the kids had the opportunity to work towards a prize - coming to the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility here at TCU for their last day of sports camp. In order to get this prize, the kids had to show every aspect of R.E.A.L. each day we were there. After every day, we would judge them as a group and decide how close they were to getting their prize. Each day, the kids would show signs of improvement, whether it was picking up their trash or telling the other team good job after a game; you could tell they were getting it. By the end of the class, they had earned their reward and got the chance to have the day in the indoor facility.

With high hopes, earnest hearts, and more anticipation than a kid on Christmas Eve, we began to set up the TCU indoor practice facility. Their reward for "Keeping It R.E.A.L" and our plan, five weeks in the making, would finally come together to conclude the sports camp in impressive fashion. Eight stations designed to show off the kids' punting, passing, accuracy, agility, speed, and (we think their favorite) tackling skills.

It felt as if time was standing still as we awaited the kids' arrival. We tediously went over the drills to pass time. Finally, they arrived excited and awe stricken. We were amazed at how much energy they had in 100-degree weather (of course, they hadn't met our strength coach Don Sommer either). The look on their faces was priceless; we don't think the indoor has ever housed that many big smiles at one time. And they remained just that big for the duration of the camp.

Closing it, of course, was the hardest part. But after a review on what it takes to "Keep it R.E.A.L" and Fortress' loudest "Respect: Education: Attitude: Leadership" chant to date, it was easy to see our message hit home and the kids had a wonderful time.

Go Frogs!!!

Tight end Evan Frosch and wide receiver Alonzo Adams will both be in their junior seasons this fall on the TCU football team.