Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Irish offensive coordinator Mike Haywood and the rest of the coaching staff serve as coaches at fantasy football camp.

 
Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp Kicks Off

Players ranging in age from 24 to 72-years-old taking part in camp

June 26, 2008

Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp Kicks Off

SOUTH BEND, IN (Wednesday, June 25, 2008) - SOUTH BEND, IN - They come from all corners of the United States - from as far away as Hawaii, Tennessee, Florida and Toronto - to become Notre Dame football players for a few days.

The 2008 class of the Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp that is already well underway in terms on excitement and enthusiasm truly kicks off when the campers hit the practice field in South Bend on Thursday morning. Determined though they are to impress the Notre Dame football coaching staff that will put them through drills and teach them fundamentals for the next two days, the 24 to 72-year-olds need to pace themselves.

"They have to make sure they leave something in the tank for Saturday," explained former Notre Dame running back and veteran Fantasy Camp coach Reggie Brooks. "Every one of them will be keen to impress his fellow campers, his coaches and even himself on the first day. But these guys need to stay healthy for the game on Saturday and not over-exert themselves the first time they step on the practice field."

The finale of the sixth annual Fantasy Camp at 1.30pm on Saturday will be a flag football game between a Blue and a Gold team to add some extra competitive spirit to the already passionate experience. An anticipated record crowd of more than 500 might seem dwarfed inside the 80,000-capacity Notre Dame Stadium, but that will not detract from the atmosphere.

"The response from family and fiends who want to see their husband, father or uncle pull on a Fighting Irish jersey and run onto the field to fulfill a dream has been overwhelming," said event organizer Patrick Steenberge. "I played in this stadium in the 70s and when I hear the click-clack of cleats of the Fantasy Camp players as they run out of the tunnel, it gives me that same feeling of excitement that makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck."

The camp's oldest participant is sophomore Artie Dumesnil from Terrytown, Louisiana, who signs in at 72 years young, closely followed by junior Larry Leamy, 71, from Marshall, MI. Traveling the shortest distance from home to the University campus are Steve Filbert, aged 59, from South Bend and Dan Heatherson, 61, from nearby Granger, IN. Freshman PT Brent has traveled the furthest - more than 4,300 miles from his home in Honolulu, HI.

The campers will interact with some of the legends of Notre Dame Football. They will have a team meeting with Head Coach Charlie Weis and dress in official team apparel for four practices, with instruction from current staff and former star players. They will have daily use of the varsity locker room in Notre Dame Stadium, and will eat, sleep and breathe just as the Fighting Irish football stars do during their season.