STEALTH Camp Series – A Day That Student Athletes Will Never Forget


There’s a new movement going on and it’s making its way from Florida to California. A movement that will change the fabric of communities. A movement that will empower our youth to embrace the concept that if you are going to take, you must first learn to give. A movement that will empower our youth that education is paramount but learning how to ‘play the game’ and applying that education is power. A movement that teaches our youth that if you get the ‘process’ right, the final product will always be right. A movement that requires our youth to master critical thinking skills so that they will be able to control their own desired destinies.

WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-14The third Saturday morning in April in Pasco County 75 student athletes, their parents and high school coaches got the chance to personally experience that movement at the inaugural Warren Sapp’s STEALTH Camp Series at Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson, FL. The event was presented by Keeping Dreams Alive Foundation a 501(c)3 non profit organization since 2001.WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-27

Unlike any camp or combine in today’s marketplace this event started by requiring one thing. If you want to participate you must giving back. How? By requiring each student athlete who participated in the event to bring at least one canned food item for the Warren Sapp Food Drive that was donated to the local Baptist Church food bank. Was it effective? Just ask Devin Nichols, Hernando High School Varsity Football, Brooksville, FL what happened when he came through the registration line without a canned item… Nichols was a long ways from home and to his surprise he was told no food, no camp. Devin’s look was like you can’t be serious! I said we were, no food, no camp. So Devin walked away from registration to return 20 minutes later with a can of potato soup and a big smile on his face… And Devin ended up being one our outstanding student athletes that day with a personal one on one interview with HSPN Sports analyst Andy Hecht.WarrSapp Food Drive Pic (1)

As registration closed, Coach Hurlie Brown gathered the student athletes in the gym and instilled some encouraging words as we wrapped up making sure the food bank reps had loaded all of the food. We took pictures and I thought they were on there way when one of the elderly gentlemen turned around to me and asked,”the next time you guys come to town you think you could bring us some socks and tennis shoes, our homeless people really need socks and tennis shoes?” I replied,”absolutely, we will make sure they get socks and tennis shoes the next time we come back.” I asked him how the food was dispersed and he replied, “There was no way that many of the homeless could even make it to the food bank so they deliver the food to them on the streets.” And at that, I began to see tears well up in his eyes and roll down his cheek, we embraced with a hug and he said thank you for what you all are doing and turned away, loaded into their van and left on their journey to go find and feed the hungry.WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-32

As we began our presentation to the student athletes, parents and coaches in the gym we explained to them that today we were going to focus on making sure we (as an organization) imparted to them 4 main objectives we call SEMP: Spiritual, Emotional, Mental & Physical. During the spiritual component I told them the story of legendary linebacker Mike Singletary and his mens prison ministry and how, when he asks the question to the male inmates to give a show of hands to those that had a positive relationship with their fathers. After years of his prison ministry none had ever raised their hands… But, as Singletary continued, he explained to them that there was a God that was much bigger than any earthly father could ever be, that would always love them (unconditionally) and have a positive personal relationship with them. It was interesting to see the reaction and the raw emotions that it stirred as captured in our photos.

WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-29I then transitioned into the PTRG (Playing the Recruiting Game) Educational Component with two fundamental topics all students athletes and their parents and coaches needed to learn in order to master the recruiting process. These two topics were based on the 2 different ‘Scholarship Types’ and the hidden ‘Grant Money’ universities don’t want you to know. Concluding with realistic expectations and a clear understanding where they really fit into the recruiting world.

WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-3Ryan Stoutt, Director of Broadcasting, HSPN Sports then let them know about the live broadcast, individual interviews and what to say and not to say as 894 college coaches had been invited to watch the live broadcast via email prior to the event. By 9:30am we had hit Spiritual, Emotional & Mental and now all that was left was the Physical (what they all thought was the only thing they came for in the first place) and Coach Hurlie Brown told them it was time to hit the field.WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-15

As soon as they hit the field Tony Sands (Getsandsational Fitness) had it set up for the combine portion of the event and Coach Hurlie Brown quickly turned it over to Sands and they went to work being measured on their 40 yard dash, broad jump and vertical jump. Once completed the NFL pros took over as Coach Hurlie Brown directed each athlete to their designated individual drills followed by the one on one competition.

WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-20Some of the most memorable parts of the day, during the individual drills and one on one drills was getting a chance to watch legendary Coach Art Kehoe and HOF Warren Sapp work with the OL & DL. Lessons taught and learned with personal one on one interaction, a day those lineman will never forget.

WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-16The HSPN Sports team covered the entire event live with play by play action and individual players and coaches interviews.

After a long day of combine and showcase activities the camp closed with 5 student athletes with the fastest 40 times as well as highest combined GPA’s receiving awards. The awards were donated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the PTRG Academy. The Bucs donated 5 NFL signed footballs and PTRG Academy donated 5 scholarships to their online recruiting learning management system. And final words of wisdom were imparted by Hall of Fame and camp host Warren Sapp.

WSSCS-'16-Florida-Regional-(Acion-Shots)-5The next stops on the Warren Sapp’s STEALTH Camp Series are Dallas, TX (June 4th), Dayton, OH (June 11th) and Orange County, CA (July 16). They will all be broadcast live on the HSPN Sports network hspnsports.com. Join the movement…