Yesterday, July 13, 2024, Savannah, Georgia's Nolan Smith hosted his 4th annual Pups Day Out football camp. The camp was free and open to kids ages 10-13, with over 100 attending. It took place at Daffin Park on Victory Drive in Savannah, Georgia. Smith, a University of Georgia two-time national football champion and now an NFL football player with the Philadelphia Eagles, aims to give back to the community and support young athletes' development.
The camp consisted of free camp shirts for all campers and football fundamental drills led by Nolan and his volunteer coaching staff, which consisted of local Savannah football coaches. There were also free book bags and free food at the end, with free Pizza donated by Donatos Pizza of Savannah. Smith was thrilled that the camp was free because of the sponsors.
"The first camp was $10. But with NIL, it's been free ever since. And I'm just getting sponsors and coaches to come out and try to do as much as possible, you know? And really, giving back to the community and letting the kids know that there are more avenues to do different things, and you can, especially coming out of Savannah," stressed Smith.
The sponsors were Optim Orthopedics again for the 4th year, who supplied an athletic trainer and fluids throughout the whole camp, Momentum Sports Performance, Frank Callen Boys Club, who had members interview Smith at the end of camp with WJCL "Big Guy" morning co-host anchor Frank Sulkowski, The Brown Firm, Donatos Pizza Savannah, Savannah Harley Davidson, Savannah Coca-Cola, and E93.
At the end of the camp, campers surrounding Smith shared words of wisdom with the kids, emphasizing the importance of focus and hard work while cautioning against distractions like social media. "You have distractions, on social media, Instagram, tik tok and shopping. They are all distractions. You need to put that down, stop hanging around, and work hard on your academics and skills," stated Smith. His speech aimed to motivate them to remain dedicated and strive towards achieving their dreams of becoming the next great football players from Savannah, Georgia.
Smith and the campers had a surprise visit from Uga, the famous University of Georgia Bulldog mascot, at the end of the camp. It was a special moment for everyone, including the coaches, local media, and the campers, who were all there for this special appearance.
After the campers left, Smith fielded questions from the local media, he expressed his happiness and pride in giving back to his community through the camp. Smith stressed the importance of inspiring the children like he once experienced and making them realize their significance as the future of Savannah football.
He recounted his childhood experiences at camps and expressed his eagerness to offer a free camp to support local athletes. He characterized his coaching approach as relentless, aiming to prepare the children for the trials they may encounter.
Smith recalled to the local media when he spotted a former camper during an official visit to the University of Georgia. "Man, we had a couple of kids come through two years ago. They came to my camp a two years ago, and I saw one there on their official visit to Georgia. I was excited," said Smith. "Then I saw him sitting down at a table with Coach Smart. Coach Smart told me to come over. When I sat down next to him and saw him and his eyes and him having the opportunity to go to Georgia, I couldn't be prouder that he was a part of one of my camps. You can't, and you really can't describe the feeling. That kid from Savannah was there, and all I did was was help him here at camp and told him to contact me if he needed anything else."
Seeing the achievements of former camp participants brings Nolan great joy and a deep feeling of satisfaction that goes beyond his on-field accomplishments, as demonstrated by Smith's response to the media question.
Smith's commitment to the camp's growth is unwavering. He intends to host the camp each year, striving to enhance it with new drills and experiences. His dedication to giving back to his community and empowering Savannah area athletes to realize their potential through dedication and hard work is a beacon of hope for the future of the youth of Savannah, Georgia!
Photo Credit: Prep SPorts Report
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Optim Orthopedics is a familiar face on Savannah's prep sports scene, from the diamond to the court. More than just logos on jerseys, Optim's dedication to local athletes runs deep, providing crucial medical support to eight powerhouse high schools: Dr. Don Aaron: Bryan County Middle/High School, Dr. David Sedory: Benedictine Military, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County, Dr. David Palmer: Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham, and Dr. Thomas Alexander: Savannah Country Day, and St. Vincent's - Southeast Leaders in fellowship-trained Orthopedics Surgeons. Optim Orthopedics proudly sponsors the Prep Sports Report. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.
