Nearly 10,000 student-athletes from 26 states and Canada have attended Lauern´s First and Goal football camps in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.
Players, parents and volunteer coaches share their thoughts on the LFG camps held at Lafayette College and Otterbein University.
What Players Had to Say...
I had a great day and learned a lot about football and also about myself. I met a lot of kids from all over the country and went head-to-head with them. Some of the coaches showed me some nice moves. My mom passed away when l was two and my dad is very sick. It was nice to put a smile on his face. It was a win for everyone who attended. Thank you, and thank you to Lauren. - Nicholas Mitala, Hamilton High West, Hamilton, N.J.
Thank you for a great camp. I lost my grandfather to brain cancer 3 years ago and I find myself thinking as I play what he would think of my success and failures. I was third row and watched as Lauren came to the microphone to speak. I felt the strength in her voice and I knew then that she had touched my heart making me a better person. God bless you and your family for all the giving that you do. - Christian Brown, Lexington High School, Lexington, Ohio
I had an amazing time at LFG that far surpassed my expectations. Even with 1800 guys the drills and coaching taught me new fundamentals and helped me gain an edge for the upcoming football season. Talking to players from across the region and nation, it became clear that football is not only a sport played on a 100-yard field, but also one that encompasses all aspects of life, all the way to pediatric brain cancer research. - Dan Sergeyev Central Bucks High School West, Doylestown, Pa.
I just would like to thank everyone involved in putting on this well organized camp. I believe this camp brings everyone together in the football community and makes us feel part of something larger than any one of us could ever imagine. - Ryan Wytanis, Freehold Boro High School, Freehold, N.J.
Thank you for the great camp experience you provided this past Sunday at Otterbein. The best coaching clinic/day camp I have been to. Your team did a great job and I appreciated it a lot. I was one of the fortunate ones that got to personally talk to your daughter, and made the experience even more memorable as she is an inspiration. - Marcus Keeran, Liberty Union High School, Baltimore, Ohio
This year was my second year attending Lauren´s First and Goal. Every year, my experience at the camp was nothing but the best. This camp is the best instructional football camp that I have been to since I started playing football. The coaches all have great attitudes and know what they´re doing, and really helped me improve my technique... The exposure to new coaches was awesome, and gave me new opportunities I wouldn´t have had otherwise. Whether you are an experienced football player, or a new person to the game, Lauren´s First and Goal is the best instructional camp to attend, and the proceeds couldn´t go to a better cause. - Calvin Kane, Northwood High School, Silver Spring, Md.
What Parents Had to Say...
My son was at your camp in Pennsylvania on June 5 and this was his first time, as he is going into freshman football this coming season. I really have to commend every one of you, who volunteered or worked so hard to make this day happen, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING SO ORGANIZED OR WELL PUT TOGETHER IN MY LIFE. The speakers, the coaches, the volunteers working the many stations in all aspects on the campus. What you´re doing to raise money is absoulety wonderful, and for teaching these players the game in your own time was great. My son walked out of there learning things that will stick with him for the coming years. - Nicole Schoelier, Hampton, N.J.
Over the Christmas break, my son Bernie gave his verbal to the U.S. Naval Academy. Bernie, I can assure you, never received one bit of interest from Navy before the LFG Camp. It was Mike Judge that noticed him during the lineman 1 on 1´s and began talking to him and eventually myself and my wife. Bernie, being only 6´2", found his dream of playing Division 1-A football quickly evaporating from his reach. The LFG Camp at Lafayette Campus IS THE REASON that his dream came true. - Bernie Sarra, Monessen, PA
My son Jason has gotten a lot of interest after attending your camp. He was injured and could not attend camp in 2010, so we decided last spring that he needed to keep the date of your 2011 camp free so he could attend. We thought it might be a good camp but we never thought it would have helped Jason so much. Bless you for helping us when we thought we were helping you! - Jason Hackett, Camby, IN
I like to take this time to thank you for having my son Corey attend the best camp we ever attended! I loved your high energy that carried right through all the coaches and all the players! Top it off with Coach Niumatalolo and Lauren, awesome! I have another son Chad who will be a junior next year and I´m going to let all the coaches know how great of an experience the WHOLE team can have next year! As of today, we got contacted by two schools already resulting from your camp. See you next year! - Jim Will, Middletown, Del.
The camp was very well organized, thought out and put together nicely... The colleges coaches were great and my son had the chance to talk to many of them, and hopefully we may be hearing from them in the future... My son has played football for many years, and he has attended numerous football camps but this was one of the best experiences that we have had by far when it comes to football camps. I definitely plan on spreading the word, I already e-mailed his football coach telling him about the camp, and the need for us to bring more of our players next year. - Lori Robinson, Columbus, Ohio
I was so happy that my son participated in this event. In past camps I´m always sitting there hoping he will perform well so someone would notice his skills so he can continue his dream of kicking in college. But this past Sunday, I sat there just with an overwhelming feeling that we were there to make a difference in something so much greater than football. Thank you for all that you do for not only your daughter but all of the other people battling this horrible disease. - Tammy Girton, Washington C.H., Ohio
What College Coaches Had to Say...
Otterbein University did an extraordinary job of hosting Lauren´s First and Goal camp. This will grow into being one of the fine camps in all America, and for such a wonderful cause. I am so pleased I was asked to participate in its beginnings here in Ohio. - Jim Tressel, head coach, Ohio State University
It´s not every day in coaching that you feel like you are making an impact on the world as opposed to just the world of athletics, but being at the camp and seeing all those coaches volunteering their services made me a little more proud in the profession I´ve chosen. - Mike Muehling, Defensive Quality Control, Syracuse University
I wanted to take a minute to say thanks for putting together such a great event... Making the drive home the two years I´ve taken part in the event, I have nothing but good feelings about the profession I´ve chosen to be a part of. Seeing so many of my fellow coaches being there on June 6th reminds me of the fact that there are a heck of a lot of great guys in this line of work. It´s the day of the year that I am most proud to be a collegiate football coach. And the first Sunday in June will have a place on my calendar for years to come. - Bo McDougall, Linebackers Coach, Norwich University
The camp was beyond outstanding. I really want to thank you for allowing me to be a part of the coaching staff this first year in Ohio. I look forward to next year´s camp. - Marzell Pink, Defensive Line Coach, Baldwin-Wallace College
