By DOUG EADS, CJ Sports Writer
From July 15th to late-August each year, high school football coaches throughout the state begin feeling excited with anticipation when thinking about the upcoming season that lies ahead.
From counting down the days to that season opener in August, to filling out rosters from top to bottom, coaches begin the daunting task in mid-July each year of attempting to fit the pieces together for what they hope will be a successful year.
In short, in the preseason everyone is still alive for a playoff berth, and coaches are chomping at the bit to get things underway.
The first week of preseason practice has also marked the time each summer that Pulaski County head football coach Johnny Hines has conducted his youth skills football camp for youngsters from the first grade through the sixth grade.
That was the case last week, as the annual football camp at Pulaski County High School was held for the 11th time, and just as he did 11 years ago, the PC head coach still enjoys the camp as much as the kids do that attend this fun-filled event.
“We’re always tickled to do this camp and be involved with the youth league kids, whether it’s one or 100 that show up, we’re always glad to have them,” stated coach Hines at the conclusion of this year’s camp.
“We had 45 kids out here this week that wanted to play a little football and learn some specific skills, and we were tickled to death to have them,” continued Hines. “They did a great job this week, they had a great attitude, and I’m proud of our coaching staff for working with them the way that they did.”
As is always the case with coach Hines’ camp, on Friday night the PC head coach invited a special guest to speak to the campers that were in attendance.
This year, that honor was shared by ex-Maroon standout Jordan Gilliam, now a member of the Union College football team, and former Kentucky Wildcat running back Tony Dixon.
Dixon was a mainstay for coach Rich Brooks and the UK football team over the past two seasons, rushing for 430 yards in 2008 to go along with 7 touchdowns.
In Kentucky’s 25-19 win over East Carolina in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl way back in early-January, Dixon led the way for the Cats with 89 yards rushing in the victory.
The former UK standout from Parrish, Alabama pointed out Friday night before he spoke to the campers, that he takes advantage of any opportunity he’s given to speak to young people.
“I enjoy this more than the kids do,” stated Dixon. “I really get a kick out of talking to kids and telling them about my experiences, because I wasn’t able to experience somebody like myself coming to talk to me when I was a kid.”
“I feel like I’m giving back to them, and I enjoy sharing with them some of the things that I’ve had to go through during my football career,” Dixon added. “I think it’s more of an excitement for me than it is for them.”
Dixon told the football campers on Friday evening that anything is possible, if one is willing to sacrifice and pay the price to make their dreams, whatever they may be, come true.
And, Dixon is speaking from the heart when he shares this with the football stars of tomorrow.
The ex-UK running back pulled a hamstring from the bone during Pro Day at UK back in March, yet he still ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash, the event he was participating in when that injury occurred.
Dixon is hopeful of maybe getting a tryout this week with the Houston Texans when training camps across the NFL open, but whether he ever makes it on an NFL field or not, one thing no one can take away from him is the fact that he was part of a Kentucky program that one three consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history.
“I take a lot of pride in that, because that’s the reason I came to Kentucky in the first place,” Dixon remarked. “I told myself back in high school that I wanted to go to a program that I could help turn around, and be a part of a positive change. I’m proud of myself and of my team for what we were able to accomplish over the past three years.”
“Coming out of high school in Alabama, I had offers to go play at Notre Dame, Colorado, Mississippi State, Middle Tennessee State, Duke, and a couple of other smaller schools,” said Dixon. “Kentucky was the right choice for me, and I felt like it was the perfect fit, and it all worked out. I have a pending tryout with the Houston Texans next week, and hopefully all will go well. If I don’t make it, then I’m ready to get a job and get on with the rest of my life.”
What has worked out so far for Johnny Hines and the Pulaski County Maroon football program has been the success of the annual football camp.
Hines is set to go into the 2009 football season with arguably, one of the best teams in PC’s history.
Expectations are at an all-time high in the land of maroon and white, and the Pulaski head coach notes that some of that gridiron success can be attributed to all of the positives that come out of his annual football camp.
“I think this camp has indeed had a direct impact on the success of our high school program,” stated Hines.
“We’ve got kids on our team right now that were here at this camp when they were these kids age,” Hines continued. “They’ve came up through the system, played in the Pulaski Youth League, played middle school football in the county, and they came on to high school to play. So, if in some small way we’re contributing to that, then that’s a plus. We want to give the kids in Pulaski County an opportunity to play football, and have a very solid and successful career all the way from youth league football, to middle school, to high school.”
