SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcat football coaching staff will host the 2007 Willamette University Youth Football Camp at McCulloch Stadium inside Bushs Pasture Park from Monday, July 9 through Thursday, July 12. Youngsters who will be in the second grade through the eighth grade during the 2007-08 academic year may attend the camp, which will begin at 8 a.m. (PDT) and end at 12:30 p.m. (PDT) each day.
Highlighting the camp schedule will be appearances by National Football League players Bill Swancutt and Derek Anderson, as well as Oregon State University running back Yvenson Bernard on Wednesday (July 11) at 11 a.m. (PDT). The special guests will speak to the campers and sign autographs.
Swancutt, 64, 270 lbs., who played college football at Oregon State, is heading into his third season as a defensive end with the Detroit Lions. Anderson, 6'6", 229 lbs., who also played football at Oregon State, is entering his third season as a quarterback with the Cleveland Browns. Bernard, who ranks third all-time at OSU with 2,648 career rushing yards, will be a senior this fall. In 2006, he played in 13 games and rushed for 1,307 yards and 12 touchdowns on 296 carries. Bernard averaged 100.5 yards per game.
Youngsters attending the Willamette Youth Football Camp will work on fundamentals related to their positions and their levels of skill. Participants will develop skills on offense, defense and special teams. They also will play organized non-contact games at the end of each session. Campers may register at the start of Mondays first session by paying the $85 camp fee plu a $5 walk-up registration fee. Each youngster should bring socks, t-shirts, gym shorts and tennis shoes or cleats. The WU coaching staff recommends cleats for better traction on the synthetic playing surface at McCulloch Stadium.
Parents of campers should be ready to pick up their children at 12:30 p.m. (PDT) each day. The Willamette Youth Football Camp is presented by American Family Insurance.