Kids enjoy T.O. time, even if it's overtime
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- A collection of hot, sweaty football-playing "campers" migrated to the middle of the field chanting, "T.O.! T.O.! T.O.!" in unison.
It was 3 p.m. The group of nearly 60 campers attending the Terrell Owens Youth Football Camp was ready for the star attraction. By 4 p.m., the time the first day of the two-day event was supposed to end, they were irritated. By 4:30, a few of them left.
"Where is T.O.?!" one young boy screamed.
A parent exhaled, "I'm through with him."
When Owens pulled up to the Birdville schools stadium in his Cadillac Escalade at 5:02 p.m., all was forgiven. Elvis was in the building.
Flanked by agent Drew Rosenhaus and one of his public relations representatives, Owens told the group of awe-struck campers: "I'm sorry I'm late. I've been playing for the Dallas Cowboys."
In his first major public appearance since signing with the Cowboys, Owens avoided embarrassment by showing up an hour late to play and interact with the campers. It was evidence that whatever transgressions Owens had with Philadelphia or San Francisco, the slate is shiny clean with the Cowboys, and the power of celebrity is great.
After shaking hands with the Cowboys' newest receiver, one child screamed in amazement, "He shook my hand! He shook my hand!"
The camp was scheduled before T.O.'s handlers knew there was a time conflict with Cowboys workouts.
While Owens worked out with the Cowboys at Valley Ranch, campers ran various "skill and technique" non-contact football drills in near 100-degree heat.
This was a camp that was about more than just running pass routes. It was about selling T.O.
A Cowboys truck sat outside the stadium peddling team merchandise. Another Cowboys truck sat just outside the north end zone with a JumboTron showing ESPN news. Inside the stadium, T.O. hats sold for $15.
But the reason people paid the big bucks appeared to be the chance to meet and play football with T.O.
He gave instructions on running routes to the older group, and playfully interacted. At one point, he took an Eagles hat off a youngster's head and said, "I just converted you from an Eagles fan to a Cowboys fan."
He threw passes to giddy campers as parents took pictures, shot video with camcorders or recorded images with cellphone cameras.
He playfully chided one youngster who didn't come up with a catch, "I betcha, if that was a pizza, you woulda caught it!"
By 5:45, even the happiest and most content campers looked spent. They had been under the sun since 9 a.m.
A group gathered around T.O. for some words of inspiration.
"You can be anything you want to be," he said. "It starts at home listening to your parents. Do well in school. Do that, and you can buy as many things as you want."
Then, just before the huddle broke, he said, "If you had a good time say, 'T.O.'"
Less than a second later, the kids screamed, "T.O."
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- A collection of hot, sweaty football-playing "campers" migrated to the middle of the field chanting, "T.O.! T.O.! T.O.!" in unison.
It was 3 p.m. The group of nearly 60 campers attending the Terrell Owens Youth Football Camp was ready for the star attraction. By 4 p.m., the time the first day of the two-day event was supposed to end, they were irritated. By 4:30, a few of them left.
"Where is T.O.?!" one young boy screamed.
A parent exhaled, "I'm through with him."
When Owens pulled up to the Birdville schools stadium in his Cadillac Escalade at 5:02 p.m., all was forgiven. Elvis was in the building.
Flanked by agent Drew Rosenhaus and one of his public relations representatives, Owens told the group of awe-struck campers: "I'm sorry I'm late. I've been playing for the Dallas Cowboys."
In his first major public appearance since signing with the Cowboys, Owens avoided embarrassment by showing up an hour late to play and interact with the campers. It was evidence that whatever transgressions Owens had with Philadelphia or San Francisco, the slate is shiny clean with the Cowboys, and the power of celebrity is great.
After shaking hands with the Cowboys' newest receiver, one child screamed in amazement, "He shook my hand! He shook my hand!"
The camp was scheduled before T.O.'s handlers knew there was a time conflict with Cowboys workouts.
While Owens worked out with the Cowboys at Valley Ranch, campers ran various "skill and technique" non-contact football drills in near 100-degree heat.
This was a camp that was about more than just running pass routes. It was about selling T.O.
A Cowboys truck sat outside the stadium peddling team merchandise. Another Cowboys truck sat just outside the north end zone with a JumboTron showing ESPN news. Inside the stadium, T.O. hats sold for $15.
But the reason people paid the big bucks appeared to be the chance to meet and play football with T.O.
He gave instructions on running routes to the older group, and playfully interacted. At one point, he took an Eagles hat off a youngster's head and said, "I just converted you from an Eagles fan to a Cowboys fan."
He threw passes to giddy campers as parents took pictures, shot video with camcorders or recorded images with cellphone cameras.
He playfully chided one youngster who didn't come up with a catch, "I betcha, if that was a pizza, you woulda caught it!"
By 5:45, even the happiest and most content campers looked spent. They had been under the sun since 9 a.m.
A group gathered around T.O. for some words of inspiration.
"You can be anything you want to be," he said. "It starts at home listening to your parents. Do well in school. Do that, and you can buy as many things as you want."
Then, just before the huddle broke, he said, "If you had a good time say, 'T.O.'"
Less than a second later, the kids screamed, "T.O."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:16 AM
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