Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
Charles Gills will never forget the time he spent with Antoine Winfield this weekend.
If Gills, a freshman at Firestone, ends up being an All-City defensive back in the next few years, he'll certainly need to thank his hero.
Winfield is a former Garfield star who was an All-American cornerback at Ohio State and won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1998, given to the top collegiate defensive back in the country.
Winfield is now with the Buffalo Bills, but this weekend, he just wanted to be with the kids.
Winfield held a three-day camp, ``Camp 26,'' which was sponsored by Men Count Too and The Boy Scouts of America, at the University of Akron's Lee Jackson Field. The camp was for area kids between the ages of 8 and 18. More than 300 youngsters and area coaches participated.
``For me to come back here and work with some of the kids in my hometown was long overdue,'' Winfield said. ``I think it's very important to give these talented kids a chance to meet someone who played on the same fields as they did. I'm hoping that they can look at me and see that if you work hard, you can be successful, not only on the football field, but in life.''
Winfield took a liking to Gills and for three days, he offered personalized, one-on-one instruction to the youngster.
``Man, he is the coolest dude I ever met,'' Gills said. ``He was showing me all kinds of techniques and how to read offensive formations. I just feel really lucky.''
Winfield had a little fun with Gills during one drill. Gills lined up as a wide receiver and had to go up against Winfield.
``He's strong and you can tell how physical he can get,'' Gills said about Winfield. ``I'm glad I came this weekend because it will give me so much confidence going into the season. I mean, if I can go up against Antoine Winfield, I should be able to do well against kids my age.''
The camp also featured some of the top players in the City Series, including Buchtel linebacker Tony Norman; Garfield wide receiver and defensive back David Haslam, running back and defensive back Erique Dozier, running back Chris Wells; North's Joe Copeland and Lyndon Gayle and East quarterback Aaron Mitchell. Buchtel running back Antonio Pittman, who will be a senior this season and has already orally committed to Ohio State, was at the camp Friday and Saturday. Hoban running back Tyrell Sutton also attended the camp.
``Everybody who is here wants to get better for the upcoming season, that's why we're out here,'' said Norman, sporting a Penn State jersey with his name on the back and looking like a Nittany Lion. ``We have some great athletes in the city and we're all here to work hard and learn some things from somebody like Antoine Winfield.''
Said Sutton: ``We're all friends and we all grew up knowing each other, but we're coming out here to compete. It's friendly competition and we know it's just going to make all of us better.''
The younger campers also were having fun with the drills and loved the opportunity to get first-hand instructions from someone such as Winfield.
``I know who (Winfield) is,'' said 10-year-old Greg Poole, who attends Schumacher Academy. ``I saw a few of his games last year when they played the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins and he was tough.''
Eight-year-old Jimmy Cianciola, a second-grader at Green Elementary, was having the time of his life. ``I remember (Winfield) played for Ohio State and he plays for the Buffalo Bills now,'' he said. ``My dad went to school with (Winfield's) cousin. That's how we know him.''
Winfield said he was planning to head back to Buffalo after the camp to prepare for the Bills' training camp.
He'll be entering his fifth NFL season and has been one of the most productive players for the Bills the past few seasons. In 2001, he led the team in tackles (106) -- the first cornerback in Bills history to accomplish that feat -- and he's excited about the upcoming season.
His original five-year contract with Buffalo expires after 2003 and he hopes to sign an extension before training camp opens for veterans on July 26.
``I'm in a contract year, so this is going to be fun,'' he said, with a huge, friendly smile. ``I'm ready to get to work.''
sears3820 said:Just like Prescott Burgess committed to us becuase he grew up a Buckeye fan.....
LordJeffBuck said:I hope that we're not going to be fretting this one for the next nineteen months....