Tommy Bohanon Foundation hosts 10th annual football clinic at North High
There was a time when Tommy Bohanon thought he would just hold a football camp every summer and that would be it. It was understandable since when he started his foundation, he was still an active NFL player.
It is amazing what the Tommy Bohanon Foundation has done in the 10 years it’s been in existence. Bohanon isn’t playing anymore, but the foundation has become one of the true forces of good in the area with its many programs and scholarship opportunities.
Still, the annual football clinic remains the crown jewel of what the foundation does. Last Saturday, nearly 300 kids between ages 5 and 14 came to Moody Field at North Fort Myers High School for a day of training like a pro.
The free football camp allows the kids to run some of the drills college and pro teams use to get ready to play.
“When we got started, we thought this was what it would be, just this camp,” Bohanon said. “It’s grown into so much more, but it’s great we’ve been able to do this for 10 straight years. Through hurricanes and COVID, we still came out and did this camp.”
Tropical Smoothie and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office came with its ice cream truck to help make the day more fun on what turned out to be a typical blazing hot Saturday.
A camp like this can’t function without countless volunteers and coaches to put them through their drills.
Among the volunteers was North Head Football Coach Ira Riggins Jr., who got his players to also participate and give back to the foundation that has done a lot for the school.
“Just to show the leadership that Tommy brings and how he gives back, it’s the mentorship I want to bring my kids and one day follow in his footsteps and do the same,” Riggins said.
Another coach, Ron Kelly, has coached in the Pop Warner ranks for years and this is his sixth year doing the camp. He said this is an awesome camp that’s put on every year.
“It’s one of the best camps for development. Tommy also gives out scholarships for high school students going on to the next level,” Kelly said. “This all comes together as one big group. I do it for the love of the game and to guide youth in the right direction.”
As for the kids, they advanced to different stations where they got to throw and catch the ball, run obstacle courses and drills and learn to hit a tackling dummy to improve agility and technique. Numerous water breaks were included so the kids didn’t overheat.
Many of the kids were in Pop Warner, with a few girls sprinkled in, particularly at the younger levels.
Henry Sailors, 12, came to the camp for the first time because he wanted to work on his offensive line play.
“I’ve been doing a lot of working out. I’m trying to get stronger and faster,” Sailors said. “I’m definitely coming back next year.”
Garry Becker, 11, has been to the camp before. He said he had fun doing the workouts last year and decided to come back. Even though he plays defense, he would like to learn more about offense.
“I like the catching drills. I play defensive end. I learn about speed and carrying the ball and how to train the right way,” Becker said.