Football Visits Martin Luther King, Jr. School Tuesday
Apr 15, 2008 | Football
April 15, 2008
NEW ORLEANS - Children's faces lit up at the sight of college football players at their school when members of the Tulane University football team and coaching staff visited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology in the Ninth Ward Tuesday, and held a football clinic for the students.
When the players and coaches walked into the school "cafetorium", the students bore huge grins and made comments in amazement of the giants in football jerseys that walked through their lunchroom. The elementary and middle school is the only one currently operating in the Lower Ninth Ward.
Head coach Bob Toledo spoke briefly to the wide-eyed students, and introduced his staff and players to the group before heading outside for the clinic based on the fundamentals of football. The students broke up into groups and rotated to different stations learning the basics of each position on a football team.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Dodd and quarterbacks Kevin Moore and Joe Kemp taught the students how to properly throw the football, offensive line coach Mark Hutson and offensive lineman Nick Landry demonstrated how to line up as offensive linemen and block defenders, and wide receivers coach Thomas Woods and wide receiver Brian King instructed the kids how to run pass routes and catch passes.
Meanwhile, running backs coach Greg Davis, Jr. and running back André Anderson led the students in running drills, tight ends coach Doug Lichtenberger ran the student through agility drills and relay races, and defensive line coach Grant Higgison and defensive lineman Tony Bryant helped the kids line up as defensive linemen and fire off the ball toward the quarterback.
On the other side of the rotation, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach O'Neill Gilbert and linebackers Travis Burks and Lamont Simmons taught the students how to play linebacker, and two groups of defensive backs led by defensive backs coach Jason Rollins and cornerback Matt Harding and by safeties coach Greg Jackson and safety Devin Holland instructed the students on fundamental techniques of playing defensive back.
After the clinic, Toledo brought all of the students into a group and spoke to them about the importance of staying in school and working hard to make good grades so they can play football when they get to college.
