Fambrough: Manning camp about instruction

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 13, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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THIBODAUX — Some events are never as good as advertised. Don’t put the Manning Passing Academy in that category.

The annual camp held at Nicholls State University could be the prototype for an event to overhype. The special project of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and his two Super Bowl-winning sons, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Eli Manning of the New York Gaints, is no token event.

With 1,000 players going into grades 9 to 12, the Manning Passing Academy is not limited to top prospects as some might expect.

“I don’t think the Mannings or Buddy Teevens (former Tulane football coach), who was organizing this with the Mannings back at Tulane in the mid-1990s ever dreamed it would get this big,” Catholic High coach Dale Weiner said. “I think a lot of it is due to the Manning name and the success that Peyton and Eli have had. Everybody nationwide knows the Manning name.

“Archie does a great job of emphasizing that this is not an elite camp and it’s not a recruiting opportunity for any college coaches who come. This is an instructional camp for all levels of ability. The kids get equal instruction regardless of their skill level. The Mannings are committed to that.”

How do you instruct 1,000 players? That’s where coaches like Weiner come in.

Former Catholic High and University of Texas quarterback Major Applewhite attended the first Manning camp at Tulane University. The next year, Weiner began working the camp. This weekend’s camp is his 12th.

Weiner’s son Neil, the new offensive coordinator at Central High, was also among the coaches. Independence coach Keith Carona was another familiar face working with one small group of players on a field in front of Nicholls State’s John L. Guidry Stadium on Friday morning.

Neil Weiner began working the camp six or seven years ago. Carona was an assistant for the sixth year, dating to the when it was held at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. Likewise, Franklinton’s Shane Smith started working the MPA in Hammond and has continued on.

Others working the MPA include LSU quarterback Tommy Hodson, ex-University of Louisiana at Monroe quarterback Bubby Brister and ex-ESPN analyst Sean Saulsberry, a former Southern Cal quarterback.

Players from across the nation descended upon Nicholls on Thursday. The MPA opened that night with a series of agility and speed drills on the main field.

Three-a-days began at 9 a.m. Friday. The two-hour sessions started at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. It was the same on Saturday.

The morning began with circuit training. Quarterbacks rotated between six stations. Each station is manned by either a high school coach, a college coach or one of the ex-players or college players working the camp.