Great Blog report of the Elite 11 Camp from Willy Korn:
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July 28, 2006:
Eyes on the prize Things got crazy last night. (Ryan) Mallett, Rontrelle Bailey, (Stephen) Garcia, John Brantley, Aaron Corp and I all went up to Trent Edwards, the quarterback at Stanford and Drew Stanton’s, the quarterback at Michigan State, room.
We toilet papered their room and put hair gel in their cleats. We just wanted to prank them because we heard they were planning to prank us. We also turned the heat all the way up in their room.
Then we went back into our rooms, dead bolted the door and put one of our dressers in front of it. That didn’t work. We thought there was no way they’d get in, but somehow they did.
Jordan Pollard, the quarterback at UTEP, Drew Stanton, Tyler Palko, the quarterback at Pittsburgh, -- they all got us pretty good.
At 4:30 a.m. I woke up. I had shaving cream all over my head and Diet Pepsi all over my face. The same happened with Mallett. They tried to cut Garcia’s hair. It was pretty crazy. We were up until 2 a.m. and then up again at 4:30 due to that.
By the end of the week we had begun to bond with the counselors, as well as each other. It was just a great camp overall.
We went out on the field for the last time at 9 a.m. and stayed out there until 11 a.m. We did some of the same footwork drills, seven-on-seven, stuff like that. Same as usual.
Then we had the competition again. I ended up coming in fifth for the overall tournament. Aaron Corp, from Southern California, won the whole thing.
Then they gave out some awards. The college players selected the awards. I got picked for most likely to play first in college. I was pretty happy about that. They also gave out an MVP award. Third place was Stephen Garcia. I was second place and John Brantley was the overall winner for the camp.
After we finished with that, we took a bunch of pictures with the guys and got everybody’s phone numbers, e-mails and such so we could stay in touch.
After we left the camp, my dad, my brothers and myself went down to Hunington Beach for the day. We’ve just been eating, walking around and looking at the beach.
As far as my experience at the camp, I learned some small (football related) details, especially from the college guys. They helped me with reads and to better understand defenses. I learned a little bit.
But, I think the main thing from the whole trip was making the relationships I did with the guys.
It was great because, regardless of what any of us were ranked, we’re just people. I know I’m not a cocky person. I’m not arrogant. I’m really humble and down to earth and I had fun with the rest of the guys who are a lot like me.
Every since I walked into the dorms at Soka University, put my stuff down, came back down to the lobby and watched "Braveheart" with Stephen Garcia, I knew I was going to have fun. Everybody started cutting up from then and haven’t stopped until the camp ended. From the start we have all been getting along.
After we took our showers and checked out, I was standing around talking to Garcia, Logan Gray and John Brantley, who were all on the same flight. We were just standing around talking to each other as long as we could.
Now I just want to get away from football for a couple days before (Byrnes High’s) camp begins and just be part of my family and get ready to win a fifth straight state championship.
While out here I heard there was a poll that ranked us first nationally. That’s unbelievable. That’s where the program is right now, thanks to coach (Bobby) Bentley. I am happy to be a part of it and am ready to get back to work.
Posted by Willy Korn at 02:27 AM |
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escription rdf:about="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/enjoying_the_experience.html" trackback:ping="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1688" dc:title="Enjoying the experience" dc:identifier="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/enjoying_the_experience.html" dc:subject="" dc:description="We got up Wednesday morning and, after breakfast, worked on seven-on-seven passing drills using different routes and learning where to put the ball to get completions. We had our competition following practice and I came in fourth. Ryan Mallett, who..." dc:creator="wkorn" dc:date="2006-07-27T10:50:53-05:00" /> </rdf:RDF> -->
July 27, 2006:
Enjoying the experience We got up Wednesday morning and, after breakfast, worked on seven-on-seven passing drills using different routes and learning where to put the ball to get completions.
We had our competition following practice and I came in fourth. Ryan Mallett, who is from Texas and is going to the University of Michigan, won today.
I am fourth in points overall, so I still have a chance to win the overall title today. Tyler Palko, the starting quarterback at Pittsburgh, John Brantley, who is from Florida and is going to Texas, and Mallett are the others in contention.
Following the workout, (camp director) coach Bob Johnson then met with us and the counselors to go over coverages for an hour and a half.
We also had a test where you have to read different lines of boards at different distances, then quickly go back and forth and read things. Matt Leinhart scored a 36, which I believe was the highest score ever at the camp. I scored a 38, so I was really excited about that.
Then we had a lot of free time. Everyone ended up in my room, talking a lot of trash, just hanging out and having a good time.
Logan Gray, who is from Florida and going to Georgia, Tyrod Taylor, who is from Virginia and going to Virginia Tech, Rontrell Bailey, who is from Arkansas, Aaron Corp, who is from California and is going to Southern Cal, Pete Lalich, who is going to Virginia, Keith Nichols, who is going to Michigan State and of course, Stephen Garcia were all there.
It was kind of crazy. We were talking about everything and telling a lot of jokes with, of course, Garcia entertaining everyone.
Probably the biggest news was that Logan Gray broke his bed Tuesday night. Since he weighs less than 190 pounds it was kind of funny. Actually it was very funny, at least the way his roommate Garcia told the story.
At 5 p.m. we met in the lobby and hung out a little before going to the mall at 6 p.m. We stayed until 11:30 p.m. We had a great time.
We ate at California Pizza Kitchen, then went to Dave and Busters to play video games in the arcade.
Garcia, Brantley, Logan Gray, Keith Nichols and I hung out there. We played this thing where you have to dance on the machine to make the game move. It was different.
We all won things. Logan won this three and a half foot pencil. What he plans to do with that I have no idea, but he was happy to win it.
We also played some basketball games and a football game.
We talked to some girls at the arcade but, to be honest, there wasn’t a lot of them there. After all, it was a Wednesday night. Not a big night for people hanging out at the arcade.
After I write this I’m heading to Garcia’s room, which is next door to hang out and cut up some more. Ever since the first day when he and I met up, we’ve just had so much fun. Everyone has really clicked and gotten along.
I’ve got to admit, I’m really sad that today is the final day. I’ll be excited to get back home, but I’m really having a lot of fun, more than I ever imagined.
We’ve all got each others numbers, and I know we’ll keep in touch during the season. It’s strange to think that we’ll all be in college and competing against each other next year.
I’ll be competing against at least two guys, Peter Lalich and Tyrod Taylor and possibly a third, Garcia who is going to South Carolina, or maybe Florida. Gray is going to Georgia, so it’s possible I’ll face him, too. Others I’ll probably face in bowl games.
This has been a great experience.
Garcia just came in the room. He’s bugging me to come to their room. Just about everyone is there. We usually hang out until about 11:30. But, this being the last night, we’ll probably stay up talking a little later.
Today we’ll have a workout from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., then I’ll take a shower and hit the road.
Posted by Willy Korn at 10:50 AM |
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escription rdf:about="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/just_boys_being_boys.html" trackback:ping="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1673" dc:title="Just boys being boys" dc:identifier="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/just_boys_being_boys.html" dc:subject="" dc:description=" We woke up at 7:30 and had breakfast at 8. Then we had our pictures taken together on the field - counselors, players and coaches. We had a workout from 10-12. We did a lot of the same stuff..." dc:creator="wkorn" dc:date="2006-07-26T04:22:36-05:00" /> </rdf:RDF> -->
July 26, 2006:
Just boys being boys We woke up at 7:30 and had breakfast at 8. Then we had our pictures taken together on the field -- counselors, players and coaches.
We had a workout from 10-12. We did a lot of the same stuff as Monday -- meeting with the coaches, throwing different routes, a lot of the same footwork stuff and a lot of drills.
Then we had the same competition at the end of the day. There are two rounds. After the first round I was tied with Tyler Palko, who is the starting quarterback at Pittsburgh with seven points. Then, in the second round, I stunk it up. I couldn’t get it through the tires. Aaron Corp, who is from California, ended up winning it. He’s going to be playing at Southern California.
My dad and my brothers Kip and Colton watch when we’re having drills. If we’re not working out, they’ll go to the beach or watch a movie.
They’re staying at a hotel about five minutes away. Once this camp is over, we’re going to stay for a couple extra days in a hotel right on Laguna Beach and have a good time together.
Both my brothers also play football. Colton is in the seventh grade and plays quarterback and Kip is playing defensive line on the eighth-grade team.
Kip has been one of the volunteers at water stations, filling up water cups for everybody. I know he’s enjoying that. Colton is kind of walking to each station and taking in what he can.
When we finished, we had lunch. Following lunch we were going over all the coverages again with the coaches and counselors -- cover three, cover two and different coverages, talking about different routes to throw to in different coverages.
Then we had about an hour, or an hour and a half, to ourselves to get ready because we were going to the beach.
I came up and took a shower. After that Stephen Garcia came up to my room. He, my roommate Ryan Mallett and I were just sitting around talking. Then Tyrod Taylor, who will be playing at Virginia Tech, came up and joined the conversation.
We went to the beach. When we got there, the first thing Stephen and I did was play beach volleyball. We ended up playing four-on-four -- me, Stephen, Keith Nichol, who will be playing at Michigan State and John Brantley, who is from Florida and will be playing at Texas, were a team.
We pretty much beat everyone we played. I think we lost one or two games. We were calling ourselves the volleyball dream team.
Then we went in the water for a while, doing some body surfing. I do it a lot with my dad whenever we go to the beach. The biggest difference from Myrtle Beach, where I normally go, is there are a lot bigger waves here. I was trying to ride them, but getting thrown all around the place.
At the end, we played a best of three (volleyball) series against some of the coaches. We ended up beating them.
We came back, took a shower and went to dinner. They had Outback for us -- ribs, salad and potatoes. It was really good.
Then we got the bracket set up for the video game tournament, NCAA Football.
I had bragged that I was going to win the whole tournament, then I got put out in the first round by John Brantley. I caught a lot of heat for that from pretty much everyone. Troy Smith, the starting quarterback at Ohio State, called me Peach head or something like that.
But I play X-box. I don’t play Play Station. That’s the excuse I’m going with anyway.
It’s like a big family out here, especially after having a couple days to get to know each other. Everybody is getting along really well. It’s a lot of fun to be out here with all this talent and to get a chance to play.
We talk a little about football, but not a whole lot. We’re usually just joking around about something, especially Garcia. He, Brantley and I are always joking about something.
We talk about everything. It usually consists of reciting quotes from our favorite movies like "Dodgeball," "Zoolander," "Anchor Man" -- funny movies like that.
Markus Russell, who plays for LSU, has a cannon. He was out there and he threw a ball 85 yards. Garcia and I came up with a quote from Napoleon Dynamite. `How much you want to make a bet you can throw a pigskin over the mountains over there?’
I joke around with Garcia all the time. I tell him to go to South Carolina so I can beat him for four years. He doesn’t really know what he wants to do, yet, but that would definitely make that rivalry a whole lot more tough for me. If he goes to South Carolina, it would be cool to go out there for warm-ups before the Clemson/South Carolina game and just talk smack to him and carry on with him. That would make it a lot more special.
We have fun goofing around but, at the same time, working hard. The guys around here make it that much better. It’s kind of relaxed because you can talk about anything.
I believe I’m holding my own with everyone else. Some of the guys have stronger arms. They can throw it harder, farther. But as far as accuracy, I think I’m right there with the best guys out here. I also think my footwork is good.
I’m so well coached. I’ve learned so much from (Byrnes) Coach (Bobby) Bentley. That’s helped me a lot out here.
I really didn’t know what to expect. You kind of think some of these guys are big-time quarterbacks, who are going to be playing at big colleges. In the back of your head, you’re thinking they might be stuck up, or they might be cocky. But really no one here is like that. Everyone is really down to earth and humble.
After all, we’re all just 17-year old guys playing high school football, you know?
When I first left, I was kind of homesick because I’m a pretty normal guy. I like routine, waking up and going to weight lifting. I miss Duncan pretty bad. I‘ve had all kind of contact.
(Teammates) Stanley (Hunter) has called me, Chad (Diehl) has called me, Coach Bentley has called, as well as (assistant) Coach (Brian) Lane and T. J. Jones, our cornerback. I’ve talked to a lot of the guys.
But I’m enjoying it right now. When it ends, it ends and I’ll be back home soon.
Today we have a workout in the morning, then we get to spend the entire evening at the mall. I’m sure I’ll get to hear some good stories from Garcia at the mall.
Posted by Willy Korn at 04:22 AM |
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escription rdf:about="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/post.html" trackback:ping="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1662" dc:title="Thrill of competition" dc:identifier="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/post.html" dc:subject="" dc:description=" We woke up this morning, then my dad, brothers and I went to this old World War II Air museum. I forget what part of California it was, but we spent the entire morning there because I didn’t have..." dc:creator="wkorn" dc:date="2006-07-25T04:18:47-05:00" /> </rdf:RDF> -->
July 25, 2006:
Thrill of competition We woke up this morning, then my dad, brothers and I went to this old World War II Air museum. I forget what part of California it was, but we spent the entire morning there because I didn’t have to check in until 2 p.m.
We got over here at about 2 p.m. and I checked in. Ryan Mallett is my roommate. He is a quarterback from Texas who is committed to Michigan.
He is really cool. His team is going to be in the same Kirk Herbstreit challenge in September that (Byrnes) is going to be in this season. It’s kind of cool to already get to know him.
I’m getting along with everybody. Everyone is getting along. They’re all really cool guys here.
They gave me my stuff -- new cleats, new work out gear, shorts, shirts, hats. Everything you could want. You name it. It was like Christmas. I called T. J. Jones, my teammate at Byrnes and told him about it. I said I was coming home with a lot of stuff.
Then I got everything unpacked and situated. I went down to the lobby and all the quarterbacks were there. I was hanging out with Stephen Garcia, who is a quarterback in Florida who is either going to be playing at South Carolina or Florida. I spent the majority of the time with him.
He brought his own DVD of "Braveheart" down to the lobby. That’s one of his favorite movies. He loves those kind of movies and so do I. I told him my favorite movie to watch before a game is "Last of the Mohicans." His is "Braveheart." We talked about "The Patriot," "Troy," movies like that.
All day he and I have been pretty much hanging out and talking. He’s hilarious - one of the funniest quarterbacks I've ever met.
They’ve got Play Station down there to play on, too, and we were taking turns playing.
We had a meeting at 3:30 to kind of go over what was going on. At 4 p.m. we had our first workout at the field that lasted until 6 p.m. Our counselors are Troy Smith from Ohio State, Drew Stanton from Michigan State, Jordan Palmer from UTEP, Tyler Palko from Pittsburgh and Trent Edwards from Stanford.
They’re out on the field working out with us. We went through a lot of footwork drills, making the right read drills. It was good, but it also showed me how good (Byrnes) coach (Bobby) Bentley is because they were things he has prepared me for.
At the end we had a competition. After every workout they give out this gold shirt, called the golden arm jersey that goes to the guy who wins the competition of the day.
They had targets set up, little hoops all around on the field. If you threw a football through a hoop, you got a point for it. Forty-yard throws, 10-yard throws, crossover throws.
It came down to a tie between Tyler Palko, Trent Edwards and me. We had a throw off at the end and Edwards won. It was pretty cool.
Working out with the counselors was great. You get to talk to them and pick their brain and see what they think about different plays, ask them about college life. They said we could ask them anything about college so they’ve been fun to learn from.
When we got done, we ate dinner. Then we got to come to our rooms, took a quick shower then get back downstairs to go over coverages and things like that.
We did that for about an hour. Then we had some free time. I played John Brantley, a quarterback out of Florida, on Play Station II. I beat him pretty good. I’ve been talking junk to all the guys, telling them I’m going to win the video game tournament (Tuesday night).
(Tuesday) is a big day. After breakfast at 7:30, we take pictures at 8:15 with our high school jerseys on. Our workout is from 10-12.
I don’t think we go to the beach, but we might. But we definitely have the video tournament.
When we were introducing ourselves, everyone had to stand up, say his name, tell them the school he attended and something the others don’t know about them.
I said my name and I went to Byrnes. Then I guaranteed a victory in the video tournament. I’ve got to back that up now.
Posted by Willy Korn at 04:18 AM |
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escription rdf:about="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/headed_to_the_elite_11_camp.html" trackback:ping="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1649" dc:title="Headed to the Elite 11 camp" dc:identifier="http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/korn/2006/07/headed_to_the_elite_11_camp.html" dc:subject="" dc:description="My dad, myself and younger brothers Kip (14) and Colton (12) drove from Hoover (Ala.) to Atlanta, Saturday night, following a passing camp (Byrnes High School) participated in at Hoover High School over the weekend. We were 8-0 going into..." dc:creator="wkorn" dc:date="2006-07-23T20:31:29-05:00" /> </rdf:RDF> -->
July 23, 2006:
Headed to the Elite 11 camp My dad, myself and younger brothers Kip (14) and Colton (12) drove from Hoover (Ala.) to Atlanta, Saturday night, following a passing camp (Byrnes High School) participated in at Hoover High School over the weekend.
We were 8-0 going into Saturday. We were the number two seed. We played at 8 a.m. and came out really flat. We didn’t play well defensively and we didn’t really click in the first game so we got beat by Spain Park (Ala.).
Then we had to play every game back-to-back-to-back with no rest in between. We won three in a row and were looking really good. We got down to the final four teams. We were playing Hoover’s `A’ team and they beat us by two points in a real close game. We played really flat in that game, too. We were low on energy. But it was a good tournament overall.
I think we could have won it. But the main goal was to get better and I think we did a good job of getting better. We made key plays when we needed them sometimes. But we need to make the big plays all the time. It taught us that we can’t come out flat. We have to be ready to play every day especially since, when the season begins, we’re going to get everyone’s `A’ game.
This was the only (passing camp) we haven’t won. We won (the) Vanderbilt and Wake Forest camps earlier in the summer.
We flew out of Atlanta, Sunday morning, stopped in Phoenix and then went on to California.
I’m really looking forward to the (Elite 11) camp. This is something I’ve wanted to do since probably the end of February. I heard about it during last football season. I knew (University of Florida freshman quarterback) Tim Tebow went to it and I knew I wanted to go and get an opportunity to compete with the other quarterbacks.
The thing I’m most looking forward to is competing with the other guys -- to see if I can throw as far as some of the other guys, to see if I can run as fast as the other guys.
The camp is at Soka University, near Laguna Beach in Orange County. Brian Stone, the guy who puts the whole Elite 11 camp on, asked who I wanted to room with. I told him either Ryan Mallett (from Texarkana, Tex., a Michigan commitment), or Tyrod Taylor (Hampton, Va., a Virginia Tech commitment).
I’ve talked to Ryan once. I also know Logan Gray (Columbia, Missouri, a Georgia commitment). We played them the first day at Hoover and when we were at Vanderbilt, too. I’ve heard a lot about Ty Taylor, so I’d just like to get to know him.
They gave us a schedule. Monday through Thursday there are four workouts, one a day, lasting two hours each. One night we will go into a classroom for two hours to go over coverages and stuff.
There is a lot of other stuff, too. They take us down to Laguna Beach for three hours on one day. There is a video game tournament between all the quarterbacks one night. They take us out to restaurants around there. It’s going to be great, but I’m sure I’ll get homesick a little bit.
I’m looking forward to going to California because I’ve never been there before. I want to see what the Pacific Ocean is like.
It should be a fun week, to go out and compete and learn stuff. It’s a competition, but I’m really just going into it trying to have as much fun as possible, eating food, getting free stuff, everything.
I see his brother's fame isn't helping at all.