The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ABOUT 40 prospective American football players turned out to try their hand at developing a more in depth knowledge of football at the third annual Karl McCartney Camp and Scouting combine.

McCartney, along with the coaching staff of the Edmonton Eskimos, hosted a three-day schedule of events beneficial to coaches and players, which culminated with the scouting combine hosted at the Roscow Davies Soccer Field at the Blue Hills Sporting Complex.

The list of events began February 5 at the Crab House on Collins Avenue where they hosted a coaching seminar, followed by a seminar on February 6, teaching players the classroom aspects of basic football fundamentals.

McCartney is a four-year veteran lineback for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. He said he was delighted to be able to lend his support to the Canadian visitors as his whole objective is to see more Bahamians get an education and play football with the view of one day becoming a pro football player as well in the CFL.

“It will be good to see more Bahamians excel and actually learn a new culture and whatever they learn, they can bring back home and make the Bahamas a better place,” McCartney said. “There’s a lot of talent in the Bahamas. It’s just about getting the opportunity,” he said. “So some of the guys here have the potential to play professionally and some have the potential to go to college and get a degree. It all depends on who Holland College wants to take.”

The visiting coaching staff was from the Edmonton Eskimos, led by head coach Chris Jones.

Jones and his staff addressed the combine participants following the conclusion of the event. “You flew around, you worked hard, hopefully you were able to pull something out of today that’ll make you a better football player. I commend you for that. Hopefully we will be able to do this every year, football is a great game and you deserve to learn it,” he said.

Phillip Lolley, linebackers coach, said: “I was here years ago and it seems like it was growing. We want to get more people out, and keep doing it every year. It takes a lot of discipline and a lot of effort. Karl is from here, he cares about your well-being and he wants to give you the opportunity he has had.”

Stephen McAdoo, offensive coordinator said: “The first step is that you guys showed a lot of grit and determination by sacrificing the time to come out and learn the game of football. We appreciate that because pushing yourself is the only way to get better. It is a great opportunity for us as coaches. Believe it or not you’re actually making us better. It helps us sharpen our skills as teachers to be able to relay our knowledge of the game from the ground up. You guys are leaders now, when you head back to your neighbourhoods, teach what you have learned here to those guys all around you and little by little you will see the game continue to grow here in the Bahamas.”