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Former Mountaineers host youth football camp

by By Brian Gawthrop, The Daily Athenaeum; SOURCE: West Virginia U. , University Wire

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BRIDGEPORT -- Following a full day at the annual Anthony Becht football camp, an exhausted Owen Schmitt kneeled down for a picture with a child who, expecting the former Mountaineer fullback, shaved his head to duplicate Schmitt's infamous Mohawk.The fifth-grader wasn't even half the size of Schmitt, yet he had no idea of his impact on the current Seattle Seahawk."It's kids like him who made me - who made Owen Schmitt," Schmitt said. "Sure I've worked hard, but I've received so much support. I'm just doing my best to give it back."Schmitt was one of multiple current and former NFL and college football stars who served as instructors for the camp, which completes the third and final day today.

Former WVU and Cincinnati Bengal running back Quincy Wilson as well as current St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger highlighted the camp while current Miami Dolphins signal caller Chad Pennington is expected today.Campers were treated to a talk by former Mountaineer and College Football Hall of Fame coach Don Nehlen Tuesday.According to Becht, it's not so much players' attributes that make the camp worthwhile."They may know that some of us are in the league or that we played at WVU, but I really don't think that's why they come out," Becht said. "I just think that these kids are looking for someone to work with them while having a good time."Wilson, however, admits that he does hear a lot about both his collegiate and professional playing career, no topic more so than Wilson's run against then-No. 3 Miami in 2003 in which he knocked down Hurricanes' defensive back Brandon Meriweather for a 33-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter."They all know something about the Miami game," Wilson said, who recently signed to play for Orlando in the newly formed United Football League. "They either have seen replays of the run, their parents have told them about it, or they have pictures hanging in their home.I wasn't really in these kids' era - they've grown up watching more of Pat (White), Steve (Slaton) and Owen's time. But being about five years out of WVU, that's great that they still can relate to me somehow."For Schmitt, spending the days when kids revives him to keep him going."Today was the most fun I've had in years," Schmitt said. "It just gives you a new energy about the game. It's refreshing."Over 100 campers were on hand for the three-day camp, which took place in Harrison County for the third straight year. Becht also conducts a camp in Philadelphia near his hometown of Drexel Hill, Pa."This state is a second home to me," Becht said. "This area has opened their arms to me since I first arrived. I have no enemies around here, and I'd like to keep it that way."In due time, people will forget, new generations will come through, and this will all end for me, so I want to take every opportunity I get to give back."

Copyright 2009 The Daily Athenaeum via U-Wire

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