Coach Bob Fello guides a group of football camp participants Wednesday, June 25 in Durant. Youths going through football passing drills at the Day of Champions football camp in Durant. (Photos by BRANDON FRYE)
Ken Heupel brings all-star cast of coaches to guide Choctaw Nation youth camp
By ZACH MAXWELL
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
DURANT– Coach Ken Heupel’s Day of Champions football camp drew 248 students of the game to Paul Laird Field on the Southeastern campus this week.
Heupel brought an all-star cast of coaches to the two-day event, including Bob Fello of Kansas State, former Chicago Bears’ assistant coach Earl Mosely, Northwestern Oklahoma alum Waleed Gaines, ex-NFL player Will Harris and former OU wide receiver Jarrail Jackson.
One of the highlights for attending youth was meeting Ken’s son Josh Heupel, a former OU quarterback who was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2000.
“This is a great opportunity to work with the Choctaw Nation,” Ken Heupel said. “They have a vision for their youth and their elders. And we teach young people how to listen and how to believe in themselves. And we’re also learning all the time.”
Terri Confer, mother of eight-year-old camp attendee Ayden Confer, said she signed her son up to, “get some exercise and sunshine.” She added, “We come from a town that has no football, so this is a good opportunity.” Her son played youth football for a Durant league last year and she wants him to “strengthen, train and learn something new” at the camp.
Heupel said the camp focuses on four principles: Discipline, respect, trust and hard work. The Day of Champions was one of several sports and cultural camps hosted by the Choctaw Nation throughout June. Other sports camps covered baseball, softball, basketball, golf and stickball.