Former LSU defensive MVP Chuck Wiley faced some obstacles as he prepared for Saturday’s Bayou All-Stars Football Camp.
Heavy clouds loomed over Baton Rouge and the current Minnesota Vikings defensive end had cancellations from most of his big name players scheduled to coach, like Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper and Buffalo Bills receiver Josh Reed, both of whom had planned to help with the free camp for children ages 8 to 18.
Wiley said because of family problems and schedule conflicts, he had to call-up some former LSU teammates to fill in.
Former Tigers Trev Faulk, currently with the Arizona Cardinals, and Byron Dawson, with Montreal’s NFL Europe team, were among the replacements.
Walter Moreham and Kareem Mitchell, who were members of the 2000 LSU Peach Bowl Championship team, also were present.
Moreham, an old teammate and friend of Wiley, said he hoped to share with the kids some of what he knows about football.
“I hope to give them some technique and discipline,” he said.
Faulk said the variety of ages made teaching difficult.
“They got some real young ones,” Faulk said. “It’s kind of hard trying to teach the young ones.”
But the young kids still seemed to enjoy the camp. John Michael Erwin, 8, was in Faulk’s group. He said he liked how Faulk kept giving him positive feedback.
Brian Jones, a Belaire High School senior, also enjoyed working with Faulk.
“Trev Faulk helped me out with speed, awareness and quickness,” he said.
Wiley’s 99 Wayz 2 Win foundation sponsored the football camp along with Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission and Coca Cola.
Wiley said the camp, in its third year, went well, but he thought it still needed some tweaking.
“A lot of people couldn’t show,” he said. “We have enough coaches now but more would be great.”
Wiley said he also wants to get more equipment for next year.
The absence of the originally scheduled coaches failed to dampen the children’s spirits.
During the lunch break, many of the kids voluntarily ran back onto the field to play with the footballs, tackling dummies and other equipment that had been brought to the camp.
Wiley said he wanted the kids to have fun and learn mental toughness.
Though it did not rain Saturday, the field was wet and the temperatures were high. Wiley said it was a good opportunity for the kids to learn football is an outside sport and players often have to deal with irregular circumstances.
Wiley said he enjoyed giving the kids instruction and watching them work hard to correct their mistakes.
Belaire High School senior Ashton Sanders said he also enjoyed working with the coaches.
“They take time to show each individual what it takes to be successful,” said Sanders.