Registration underway for July youth grid camp

Registration forms are now being accepted for Big T Sports and Athletics 2016 Youth Football Camp, to be held Saturday, July 23, at Pawhuska’s Ormand Beach Memorial Stadium.

The noncontact football camp is for first- through sixth-graders and costs $95 per camper.

“Our goal remains the same: To help the youngest football players learn proper football fundamentals,” said Joe Tillman, whose inaugural local camp was attended by more than 80 youngsters last July.

Tillman — the new head football coach of the Pawhuska High School Huskies — said the instruction will be tailored to the specific skill level of each camper. The primary goal is to encourage youngsters to “be active, have fun and most importantly — stay safe.”

Organizers have added to last year’s already-impressive lineup of guest coaches. Former Oklahoma State University coach Pat Jones is to be guest speaker for this year’s event. Jones, who coached Hall of Fame running backs Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas at OSU, also served more than a decade as an assistant in the National Football League.

Other new guest coaches will be former OSU/NFL quarterback Rusty Hilger and the multi-talented Melvin Gilliam, who was a four-year starter in football and two-year starter in basketball for the Cowboys. The camp’s coaching lineup includes several additional stars from OSU and the University of Oklahoma, including ex-OU quarterback Thomas Lott.

Former NFL players from the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington, also will be guest instructors. They include Mark Moore, Terry Peters, Tony Peters, Lewis Blackwell and Mike Hudson.

All registered campers are to receive lunch, a commemorative T-shirt, bag and water bottle, plus a copy of Lott’s new book, “Getting in the Game.” Numerous other guest coaches are to be instructing at the elite camp, which will last from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tillman said.

Registration information can be found on the Big T website — www.bigtsportsandathletics.com — or on the Facebook page for Big T Sports and Athletics. Registration packets also can be picked up at the Highway 60 Express service station, located at 800 W. Main.