Family plays important role in Witten's annual football camp
By Wes Holtsclaw
SPORTS EDITOR
wholtsclaw@starhq.com
With cameras rolling at the end of the morning session at his annual football camp Saturday, Jason Witten was rushed by 750 of his campers as a crew shot scenes for an upcoming United Way/NFL commercial.
Off to the side of the field named in his honor, Witten's grandfather, former Elizabethton football coach Dave Rider and his wife Deanna watched proudly as they were joined by family and friends.
Jason's older brothers, Shawn and Ryan Witten, and his uncle Scott, the head football coach at Volunteer, were amongst the volunteers on the field trying to maintain control of the kids for the film crew. They each played a big role in the instruction and organization of the campers.
The proud mother of the three Witten boys, Kim, took care of various tasks on and off the field, as did Jason's wife, Michelle.
There were numerous additional volunteers from the community, but as evidenced in the previous five years, the camp is truly a family thing.
Because of the work the family has put into the camp behind the scenes, each year comes off more successful than the year before.
Of course, when you have an All-Pro tight end in the family with several of his current and former teammates, such as Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, and friends in the mix, the kids are going to continue to be interested.
Saturday, over 1,000 kids set a camp attendance record. To go from 400 kids to 1,000 in five short years is a big accomplishment.
"I think I heard somebody say it's the largest non-profit camp, especially on the east coast," Coach Dave Rider said Saturday. "They just do a great job, especially his brothers, his wife, his mom. Deanna and I don't do much. We're here and supportive, and everything. It's a great thing."
Witten's mother, Kim, was in charge of the registration aspect of the camp this year. She was overwhelmed by the interest of the event.
"This is the first year I've done the registration and I was overwhelmed at how many kids do this," she said. "They had told me how many kids I'd get and I'd think it was nothing. Then some days I'd spend three hours on the computer doing the registration."
It says a lot about an event when kids travel from places such as Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia for two memorable three hour sessions.
The camp taught football skills and gave kids an opportunity to interact with their heroes. But more importantly, kids at the event left with several positive messages from their role models.
"I almost cry when I see all of the kids out here," Rider said. "Just like Tony (Romo) and the speech he gave them, and Jason talking about the drugs and the problems and running around with good people. These are things that their parents want them to hear coming from great athletes.
"Like Tony said, having fun and working hard. That's what the name of the game is. That's what you're supposed to do when you play ball and go to school. It ought to not be a hard time. It ought to be a great time for you. We're so proud of our boys for doing this."
Not many have been a better role model for the youth in Elizabethton and Carter County than Jason Witten.
Witten has been a great example of the old adage that 'hard work pays off.'
Originally recruited as a defensive end at Tennessee, Witten worked his tail off to become one of the top tight ends in the college game. Now he's one of professional football's elite.
But as much attention as he puts towards his career and his family, Jason does a lot of additional work with underprivileged youth in the Dallas area and has announced the formation of the Jason Witten Foundation.
"We're awful proud of Jason, obviously, for more than being a football player," said Scott Rider. "He's a great person and to do this for the kids, is great. And he's starting the Jason Witten Foundation that's going to help some underprivileged kids.
"To come from where he came from and want to give back to underprivileged kids to make their dreams come true, that says a lot about the true person. That's the kind of person both he and Michelle are."
Jason credits his experiences in Elizabethton and lessons learned from his family.
"I think my upbringing helped a lot. When you get in the NFL, there's only one way to do it -- to work hard at it," he said. "I remember going to school out here and growing up on these fields being an equipment manager. Now that I've had success, I don't want to forget that and these kids. That's what it is, athletes are role models whether they want to be or not. That's what I've tried to be."
The camp is special to the Rider family, but also a fitting tribute to a hard-working coach and his wife, who instilled life lessons in their children and grandchildren that are benefiting youth on a regular basis.
"I think that my mom and dad have had a big influence on all of us," Scott Rider added. "They've instilled hard work and believing in yourself and all. That's what it's all about. As far as coaching goes, it's not about what you know x's and o's, it's about having confidence in yourself and what your kids can do.
"I know that my mom and dad, there's lessons I use everyday that I remember being taught by them when I was little," he said. "It's special for us, but it's real fitting for my mom and dad to see this happen."
SPORTS EDITOR
wholtsclaw@starhq.com
With cameras rolling at the end of the morning session at his annual football camp Saturday, Jason Witten was rushed by 750 of his campers as a crew shot scenes for an upcoming United Way/NFL commercial.
Off to the side of the field named in his honor, Witten's grandfather, former Elizabethton football coach Dave Rider and his wife Deanna watched proudly as they were joined by family and friends.
Jason's older brothers, Shawn and Ryan Witten, and his uncle Scott, the head football coach at Volunteer, were amongst the volunteers on the field trying to maintain control of the kids for the film crew. They each played a big role in the instruction and organization of the campers.
The proud mother of the three Witten boys, Kim, took care of various tasks on and off the field, as did Jason's wife, Michelle.
There were numerous additional volunteers from the community, but as evidenced in the previous five years, the camp is truly a family thing.
Because of the work the family has put into the camp behind the scenes, each year comes off more successful than the year before.
Of course, when you have an All-Pro tight end in the family with several of his current and former teammates, such as Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, and friends in the mix, the kids are going to continue to be interested.
Saturday, over 1,000 kids set a camp attendance record. To go from 400 kids to 1,000 in five short years is a big accomplishment.
"I think I heard somebody say it's the largest non-profit camp, especially on the east coast," Coach Dave Rider said Saturday. "They just do a great job, especially his brothers, his wife, his mom. Deanna and I don't do much. We're here and supportive, and everything. It's a great thing."
Witten's mother, Kim, was in charge of the registration aspect of the camp this year. She was overwhelmed by the interest of the event.
"This is the first year I've done the registration and I was overwhelmed at how many kids do this," she said. "They had told me how many kids I'd get and I'd think it was nothing. Then some days I'd spend three hours on the computer doing the registration."
It says a lot about an event when kids travel from places such as Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia for two memorable three hour sessions.
The camp taught football skills and gave kids an opportunity to interact with their heroes. But more importantly, kids at the event left with several positive messages from their role models.
"I almost cry when I see all of the kids out here," Rider said. "Just like Tony (Romo) and the speech he gave them, and Jason talking about the drugs and the problems and running around with good people. These are things that their parents want them to hear coming from great athletes.
"Like Tony said, having fun and working hard. That's what the name of the game is. That's what you're supposed to do when you play ball and go to school. It ought to not be a hard time. It ought to be a great time for you. We're so proud of our boys for doing this."
Not many have been a better role model for the youth in Elizabethton and Carter County than Jason Witten.
Witten has been a great example of the old adage that 'hard work pays off.'
Originally recruited as a defensive end at Tennessee, Witten worked his tail off to become one of the top tight ends in the college game. Now he's one of professional football's elite.
But as much attention as he puts towards his career and his family, Jason does a lot of additional work with underprivileged youth in the Dallas area and has announced the formation of the Jason Witten Foundation.
"We're awful proud of Jason, obviously, for more than being a football player," said Scott Rider. "He's a great person and to do this for the kids, is great. And he's starting the Jason Witten Foundation that's going to help some underprivileged kids.
"To come from where he came from and want to give back to underprivileged kids to make their dreams come true, that says a lot about the true person. That's the kind of person both he and Michelle are."
Jason credits his experiences in Elizabethton and lessons learned from his family.
"I think my upbringing helped a lot. When you get in the NFL, there's only one way to do it -- to work hard at it," he said. "I remember going to school out here and growing up on these fields being an equipment manager. Now that I've had success, I don't want to forget that and these kids. That's what it is, athletes are role models whether they want to be or not. That's what I've tried to be."
The camp is special to the Rider family, but also a fitting tribute to a hard-working coach and his wife, who instilled life lessons in their children and grandchildren that are benefiting youth on a regular basis.
"I think that my mom and dad have had a big influence on all of us," Scott Rider added. "They've instilled hard work and believing in yourself and all. That's what it's all about. As far as coaching goes, it's not about what you know x's and o's, it's about having confidence in yourself and what your kids can do.
"I know that my mom and dad, there's lessons I use everyday that I remember being taught by them when I was little," he said. "It's special for us, but it's real fitting for my mom and dad to see this happen."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:08 PM
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