Moore making a difference with his Eat2Win Camp in Irmo
What: Eat2Win Football Camp
Where: Irmo High School, 6671 St. Andrews Road, Irmo, SC
When: Sat., June 18, 9 a.m.-3 p.m
Camp Information: Call 803-586-6796 or Email Eat2WinCamp@gmail.com
Website: www.eat2wincamp2016.eventbrite.com
Former Gamecock defensive tackle Langston Moore is passionate about two things: football and teaching kids about living a healthy lifestyle with good eating habits.
His fourth annual football (FUN)damental camp for children 9-17 aspires to combine both.
Saturday, Moore and his group of former college and NFL football players will teach the fundamentals of football, conduct a NFL style combine and preach the virtues of good eating habits in achieving long-term success to kids and their parents/guardians.
“We use football as a catalyst for discussion and education to remind folks that they are responsible for their own health and well-being,” Moore told Gamecock Central. “One of the motivations for creating this camp was emphasizing personal responsibility starts in the household.
“A lot of people get overwhelmed, so the camp is designed to give kids and their parents tangible examples how to do that. We’ve seen the same kids and their parents showing up year after year, and also traveling to other camps.”
The camp begins with most players rotating through a ‘country fair’ of stations in which various football skills are taught. After lunch and a discussion about pursuing a healthy lifestyle, camp participants will be tested in a variety of drills similar to the NFL Combine. The day wraps up with some competitions between the campers.
“When you’re young, you don’t really know what you’re good at, so we send them around and let them interact with different people,” Moore said. “We’ll also do some Combine stuff so these kids can test their times and get an idea of the work it takes to be a professional and play at that level. We always like to get those competitive juices flowing. When done in the correct context, competition is healthy and pushes kids to get out there and show their personalities. We enjoy that.”
Among the former Gamecock players providing instruction at the camp are Troy Williamson, Travelle Wharton, Bennett Swygert (currently offensive coordinator at Newberry College), Corey Peoples, Na’Shan Goddard (recently hired as O-Line coach at Newberry College), Shaun Smith, Fran Person, Rashad Faison (6th on USC's all-time tackles list with 349), Syvelle Newton and Dennis Quinn.
“We’ve seen some kids at our camp that if they continue on the right path they have a chance to be very athletic,” Moore said. “Ten years from now, we don’t know who is going to be the next Marcus Lattimore or the next Jadeveon Clowney or Travell Wharton.
“We’re just trying to give these kids an avenue or that opportunity might be lost. If this is a spark for someone to follow a path to go down in football or just be inspired to be better South Carolinians, it is worth it for us. Everybody has the potential to be great.”
Moore is one of several former Gamecocks now conducting Eat2Win style camps throughout the Palmetto State. Bruce Ellington conducted a similar camp last weekend in the Lowcountry, while D.J. Swearinger, Ko Simpson and Henry Taylor have run camps as well.
“That has been one of the most encouraging things for us, seeing so many people trying to help their communities in their own way,” Moore said.
