SPOTLIGHT: Kickoff Camp
Aug 16, 2017 | Football
Texas A&M Football has held an annual "Kickoff Camp" during the month of August for each of the last 25 seasons.
Todd Jarvis hasn't missed one of them.
His favorite part?
"The practice," Jarvis said. "Watching the practices and being able to get up close, hear the coaches. You don't get to see this stuff during a game day."
The Aggies' silver anniversary edition of Kickoff Camp drew well over 100 campers, of all ages, many different walks of life and hometowns, to the Bright Complex and the Coolidge Practice Fields over the weekend.
Campers are offered a truly unique, exclusive and immersive experience. They attend team meetings and practices, hear along with the team from guest speakers and forge friendships through several social outings.
And thanks to the willingness of Kevin Sumlin's program to "pull back the curtain" so to speak for a few days and truly allow attendees inside the program, two cherished Aggie institutions benefit.
"With the help of loyal Aggies who have attended Kickoff Camp, we have been able to donate back to the Evans Library, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band as well as other projects," Sumlin said. "This was the 25th year for the Kickoff Camp and we appreciate those who have donated and taken time to attend."
Campers get to meet and spend time with coaches and also get to interact with players. It's a chance for the amazing Aggie Network to do its thing.
"So many of the players are such great kids and so sharp," said Jim Stark, a member of the Class of '84 who also received his MBA in 1986. "You meet them and you're like, 'My God, that kid is incredibly sharp'. (It's a chance for us) to build relationships with the coaches and the players for when they graduate, to try and help them get jobs."
Stark is one of nine campers who have attended for at least 20 years. Jarvis, along with Robert Jones, are the only two campers to attend every year. They were both presented with a commemorative watch this weekend.
"The first time was a blast," Jarvis recalled. "I met some new friends."
He's been back every year since.
For Stark, his time at Kickoff Camp quickly centered around the friendships which quickly blossomed among the attendees and the impact they can make around the state and nation to promote Aggie football in a positive way.
"It just became about the camaraderie of the people who were here," said Stark, who was attending his 24th Kickoff Camp. "They all had common interest in supporting the program, learning as much as they could about the program and then going out and being ambassadors in the community for what's really going on."
Over the weekend campers attended a talk to the team by motivational speaker Damon West, who shared his incredible life story, message of choosing the right path and the opportunity for a second chance.
They heard presentations on topics like the day-to-day operation of the program and the impact of the academic program.
They shared meals with the players and staff inside the state-of-the-art Slocum Nutrition Center, named after the man who organized the first Kickoff Camp back in 1992.
They even got to attend a motivational chapel service, delivered by longtime friend of the program Dr. Rick Rigsby, on Sunday morning before camp concluded.
"What's amazing to me is how much really goes in to all of this," Stark said. "People out there have no clue about that. You come (to camp) and figure out what they're doing spiritually, what they're doing strategically, and it's actually amazing. It's amazing how much effort goes into it."
For Stark, and some of the veteran campers, the access to practice has become old hat. But that will not stop them from coming year after year.
"Having been here 24 years, I don't even go to some of the practices," Stark said. "But I'm still going to pay my money, come up here, have fellowship with everybody and support the program."
Todd Jarvis hasn't missed one of them.
His favorite part?
"The practice," Jarvis said. "Watching the practices and being able to get up close, hear the coaches. You don't get to see this stuff during a game day."
The Aggies' silver anniversary edition of Kickoff Camp drew well over 100 campers, of all ages, many different walks of life and hometowns, to the Bright Complex and the Coolidge Practice Fields over the weekend.
Campers are offered a truly unique, exclusive and immersive experience. They attend team meetings and practices, hear along with the team from guest speakers and forge friendships through several social outings.
And thanks to the willingness of Kevin Sumlin's program to "pull back the curtain" so to speak for a few days and truly allow attendees inside the program, two cherished Aggie institutions benefit.
"With the help of loyal Aggies who have attended Kickoff Camp, we have been able to donate back to the Evans Library, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band as well as other projects," Sumlin said. "This was the 25th year for the Kickoff Camp and we appreciate those who have donated and taken time to attend."
Campers get to meet and spend time with coaches and also get to interact with players. It's a chance for the amazing Aggie Network to do its thing.
"So many of the players are such great kids and so sharp," said Jim Stark, a member of the Class of '84 who also received his MBA in 1986. "You meet them and you're like, 'My God, that kid is incredibly sharp'. (It's a chance for us) to build relationships with the coaches and the players for when they graduate, to try and help them get jobs."
Stark is one of nine campers who have attended for at least 20 years. Jarvis, along with Robert Jones, are the only two campers to attend every year. They were both presented with a commemorative watch this weekend.
"The first time was a blast," Jarvis recalled. "I met some new friends."
He's been back every year since.
For Stark, his time at Kickoff Camp quickly centered around the friendships which quickly blossomed among the attendees and the impact they can make around the state and nation to promote Aggie football in a positive way.
"It just became about the camaraderie of the people who were here," said Stark, who was attending his 24th Kickoff Camp. "They all had common interest in supporting the program, learning as much as they could about the program and then going out and being ambassadors in the community for what's really going on."
Over the weekend campers attended a talk to the team by motivational speaker Damon West, who shared his incredible life story, message of choosing the right path and the opportunity for a second chance.
They heard presentations on topics like the day-to-day operation of the program and the impact of the academic program.
They shared meals with the players and staff inside the state-of-the-art Slocum Nutrition Center, named after the man who organized the first Kickoff Camp back in 1992.
They even got to attend a motivational chapel service, delivered by longtime friend of the program Dr. Rick Rigsby, on Sunday morning before camp concluded.
"What's amazing to me is how much really goes in to all of this," Stark said. "People out there have no clue about that. You come (to camp) and figure out what they're doing spiritually, what they're doing strategically, and it's actually amazing. It's amazing how much effort goes into it."
For Stark, and some of the veteran campers, the access to practice has become old hat. But that will not stop them from coming year after year.
"Having been here 24 years, I don't even go to some of the practices," Stark said. "But I'm still going to pay my money, come up here, have fellowship with everybody and support the program."
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