Football season begins long before the first whistle

June 19, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/Frontiersman

COLONY HIGH SCHOOL - Everest Moore is a young man with a fitting name. As a senior offensive tackle for the Palmer Moose football team, the mountainous Moore's job is to open up holes in the line of scrimmage by using his massive bulk (the 17-year-old Moore goes 250-plus) to squash opposing linemen. With one season of high school ball left, his immediate goal is to bring a state championship home to Palmer.

&#8220I'm pushing to win state, that's my focus right now,” Moore said while taking a break between sessions at the All-Alaska Football Camp Monday afternoon.

But while he's dedicated to his upcoming season, Moore also has his eye on a bigger prize, landing a college scholarship.

&#8220That's the plan,” he said.

By attending the annual All-Alaska camp at Colony High School, now in its 15th year, Moore hopes to take a step toward both his goals.

Camp director Randy Klingenmeyer said the camp has become a success over the years because it serves a number of roles within the prep football world. Part classroom, part recruiting tool, part team camp, the four-day event has become the biggest event of the off season in Alaska football.

&#8220We're able to provide a quality, positive learning environment if you're a freshman or if you're a senior all-conference player,” Klingenmeyer said.

College coaches from programs around the nation staff the camp and provide instruction to the players while also keeping an eye out for talented youngsters. Klingenmeyer said that because of the level of the coaching staff (which includes former NFL players and a number of current college head coaches), players are able to make huge leaps forward in just a few short days.

&#8220The drawing factor is we have great coaching,” Klingenmeyer said.

One of those coaches, Dennis McCullough of North Dakota's Valley City State University, has been coming to the camp for the past 12 years. McCullough said the camp has been a blessing for his NAIA program, which is often forced to compete with numerous other schools for a limited talent pool in the upper Midwest.

&#8220Alaska for us is a stable now,” McCullough said.

There are 18 Alaskans on VCSU's current roster, including six starters.

&#8220It's a major part of our football program,” he said.

Klingenmeyer said he believes that the camp is responsible for opening up a pipeline to the college football world that didn't exist for Alaska players 15 years ago.

&#8220The majority of those kids are recruited as a result of this camp,” he said.

But he said that to focus on only the recruiting aspect of the camp is missing the point. While 40 to 50 Alaskans might move on to the college ranks next spring, more than 400 are attending this year's camp. Klingenmeyer said that's because the vast majority of players simply are looking for a way to improve themselves and their team - and the summer camp is the best way to do that.

&#8220We want them to become the best high school football players they can be,” he said.

Palmer head coach Rod Christensen is a firm believer in the camp's abilities to improve a team. Christensen strongly encourages his players to attend, and said the event enables teams like Palmer to get a jump start on the regular season.

&#8220It's a team building situation with us,” he said.

Christensen said players who attend the camp end up with a renewed enthusiasm for football that lasts right up until the first practice of the year.

&#8220They all come out pretty jazzed,” he said.

In addition, Christensen said the instruction and high level of competition also can be a motivational tool for players whose summer condition programs haven't been what they should be.

&#8220For some of them it's a wake-up call,” he said.

Christensen said he likes the camp because the college coaches who staff it come mainly from small schools, where instruction is a priority.

&#8220They're teaching coaches,” he said. &#8220You really have a quality learning situation with these guys.”

And it's not only players who benefit from the instruction. Christensen said he learns something every year he attends the camp.

&#8220I'm here to learn,” he said.

While recruiting and learning are the two primary reasons players and coaches take part in the camp each year, most players Monday admitted that there's even a bigger reason they chose to attend.

&#8220I'm having a blast,” Everest Moore said.

Moore said the camp is the best chance he'll have until the first practice to get out and butt heads with his fellow linemen.

&#8220It feels great to strap on the pads again,” Moore said.

One of Moore's adversaries in the trenches, Colony lineman Wyatt Evans, expressed a similar mindset. Evans said he and nearly 50 of his Colony teammates participated this year out of a desire to stay at the top of their game.

&#8220We train hard, so that's why we're here,” Evans said.

Evans said he believes the camp will provide a solid fountain he and his teammates can bring into the upcoming season.

&#8220I feel this is a great camp to go to,” he said.

And while the off-season practice is vital to a successful year, Evans did admit he's anxious to hit the field for real.

&#8220I'm excited for that first game.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com