By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The Bucyrus football program had a camp Monday with all the intensity of Michigan week at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The camp came complete with former Buckeyes clad in Beat Michigan shirts led by James Cotton.
“It’s good,” said Bucyrus coach Aaron Eckert with a broad smile as he watch his football players file out and talk with the former Buckeyes. “”They’re talking about football. This year they’re also talking about tobacco use. They talk about things bigger than football.”
Cotton’s organization, Buck-Icon, uses the sale of memorabilia sales to fund camp appearances across the state. Prior to the camp, Cotton discussed what his group of ex-Ohio State players would be bringing to the future Redmen.
“Well football-wise, of course we’re just trying to teach them the fundamentals of the game,” Cotton said. ”This is where you basically get your foundation for life. We have a couple of guest speakers talking about the essential life skills that it takes to be successful not only on the field but off the field as well.”
This was the second year Cotton’s organization came to Bucyrus.
“We have Dionte Allen, Chris Fields, Corey Brown, Derek Ross and myself,” Cotton said. “We’ve got a good group of former Buckeyes here donating their time and helping us out.
Cotton, Allen and Ross have had NFL careers while Brown and Fields will be having training camp tryouts with the Steelers and Redskins, respectively.
The quintet not only brought knowledge, they brought enthusiasm to the camp.
“Today is the day you get better,” Cotton barked to the players. “Today is the day you prepare to play in the `Shoe.”
Cotton said the number of camps the players appear has grown to about 15.
Memorabilia is sold online at www.buckicon.com.