Manning academy wows participants

High schoolers flock to Nicholls to learn from Super Bowl MVPs

By KYLE CARRIER

For the Manning family, the annual Manning Passing Academy was more than a teaching experience; it was a time to bond with family.

In its 13th year, the academy was held last weekend at Manning Field on Nicholls State University’s campus.

The Manning boys – Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton and New York Giants’ Eli – get so little family time in south Louisiana these days.

In fact, from the time training camp starts on July 24, the brothers likely won’t see each other until the conclusion of the season, which is why they look forward to the annual trip to Thibodaux.

“The chances for us to be together are very rare,” Peyton explained. “My dad and Cooper may come to a couple of home games each, but this is a chance to get together. It’s a special week being with my two brothers and my dad.”

Living in different parts of the country is no fun for the brothers, but it is the price of being a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in the National Football League – a feat both have experienced.

And with that caliber of talent leading the camp, the Manning Passing Academy draws attention – from media, public and future stars – from across the country. For Archie and Olivia Manning’s sons, it’s been amusing to experience.

“I got questions like ‘How did you escape that tackle?’ or ‘What is David Tyree doing right now?'” Eli said, referring to the questions most asked when he and Peyton first arrived Thursday night. “Last year, nobody knew who David Tyree was. It’s been fun to talk about.”

For three intense days, the Mannings and 130 camp counselors shared their experience with 900 aspiring high school players.

One of the most sought-after camps of its type, the academy had to be altered because of the overwhelming turnout in previous years.

“We had to set a limit this year because we had too many campers last year and the housing was a little hectic,” Archie said. “We had some no-shows, but it’s worked out for the best.”

Tri-parish standouts among those registered for the four-day academy were Matthew Adams of Terrebonne High; Joshua Aleman of H.L. Bourgeois High; Dustin Arceneaux, Ty Boudreaux, Rendell Clark and Jordan Caillouet of Central Lafourche High; Justin Billiot and Kenrock Verret from Ellender High; James Cantrelle, Dante’ Picou and Morgan Degruise from Vandebilt Catholic High; Grant Chiasson, Josh Jackson, Jordan Knight, Bradley Clement, John Daigle, Matthew Daigle, Tyler Duplantis, Cameron Moreaux and Tyler Thibodaux from E.D. White High; Jimmy Fry and Dylan Vaughn from Berwick High; Chase Garrett and Dylan Melancon from Morgan City High; Terrance Johnson and Ethan Smoorenburg from Patterson High; and Thibodaux High’s Aaron Richard and Shae Hebert.

For each camper, the opportunity to learn from professional and collegiate all-stars playing in the trenches is the highlight of the academy.

The college cadre of counselors read like a who’s who in football: Purdue quarterback Chris Painter, Oklahoma State quarterback Zach Robinson, Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford, Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton, LSU wide receiver Terrance Tolliver and Ole Miss quarterback Javon Snead among others.

Former NFL stars and ESPN personalities Merril Hoge and Sean Salisbury also offered their assistance, along with Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio and former Nicholls State quarterback Yale Vannoy, who was back for his fourth year volunteering.

“Oh man, it’s great to be able to be out here and to be around football again,” Vannoy said. “It’s good be out here with the Mannings. It’s always good to come back to Thibodaux and be a part of this. It’s what keeps me involved.”

For Salisbury, the most intriguing part of the academy is the effort the Mannings put into working with the campers.

“Here we have two high-profile athletes who will be in training camp in just two weeks,” he said. “Yet, they take time to put this camp on and help these young athletes better their game. I wish I had this kind of stuff whenever I was a quarterback. It’s great.”

Former NFL quarterback and Grambling head coach Doug Williams brought his son, DJ, 15 to the camp this year. It was the second year for DJ, a quarterback for Tampa Christian High in Florida, and his father’s first. The elder Williams was impressed with what he saw.

“I’ve always had this theory that some things are taught and some things are caught,” he said. “One thing I’ve learned is if you are not a self-starter, just going and getting instruction and getting to practice is not going to help you.

“I think it’s evident by the crowd that it’s a great camp,”?Williams continued. “It may be the best in the country. You have two back-to-back Super Bowl MVPs running this camp with their dad, who was another great quarterback. That speaks volume for itself.”

Williams, a former Washington Redskin quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, enrolled his son in the academy with the hope that DJ would be able to establish his own identity on the field instead of living in his father’s shadow.

“He has to make his own now,” Doug Williams said. “It’s about doing things on his own and learning what it takes to be a better athlete. This camp showed him that last year and I think he’ll get even more out of it this year.”

It’s returning athletes like DJ Williams that the Mannings base the academy’s success on.

“It’s exciting to watch them develop,” Peyton said. “My philosophy is if we are going to show them the drills and mechanics, that can make them into a better player when they go back to their schools and work on those drills, work with their receivers and run the drills.”

“These are all the same drills they run in high school. It’s the basic fundamentals of playing quarterback, receiver, running back and tight end,” Peyton added.

Eli said players develop quickly right out of the gate, another key to the academy’s success.

“I see the improvement between Friday and Sunday,” he said. “I like to start with the freshmen kids because a lot of these guys are just getting into high school football. They are just learning the fundamentals like a three-step drop and a five-step drop. We see them struggling, but we have to fill them with confidence.”

He added, “They’re better 10 minutes later and, by Sunday, they have it down pat. They are out there having fun and not thinking about it so much. You see the improvement and try to talk to them during the downtime to find out where they are playing and where they live. We get to know them on a personal level.”

The 2008 session marked the academy’s fourth year at Nicholls since leaving Hammond’s Southeastern University.

The Mannings signed a deal last year to keep the passing camp at Nicholls State through 2017.

“I can’t say enough about Nicholls State and the people of Thibodaux,” Archie said. “The way they have welcomed us over the last four years is astounding. It’s really been fun to watch this thing grow.”

Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning lets the ball fly during Saturday’s Air It Out Competition at Nicholls State University. * Photo by KEYON JEFF