Norris J. Tabor
July 8, 2013
UNO brings back Maestri
July 9, 2013
For one week a year, Thibodaux stands at the epicenter of the professional sporting world.
Fortunately for Tri-parish fans, this week is that week.
Eli, older brother Peyton and the rest of the Manning clan are ready to ascend into Lafourche Parish this week for the annual Manning Passing Academy, which will go on throughout the week on Nicholls State University’s campus.
The four-day camp begins tomorrow and will continue through Sunday.
The public’s payoff comes at John L. Guidry Stadium Saturday afternoon at 6 p.m. with the Air-It-Out Quarterback Challenge presented by Wheaties.
That event will showcase the arms of the two All-Pro NFL brothers, as well as some of the top collegiate quarterbacks in the country – a list that is expected to feature Texas A&M Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger and Alabama’s AJ McCarron, among many others who will attend the camp as counselors.
Admission for the passing challenge is $15, and tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (985) 448-4790 or visiting www.nichollstickets.com. Those wishing to stop by Nicholls’ campus throughout the week to watch the individual training sessions may do so free.
Both Peyton and Eli said at last year’s event that they always relish the opportunity to return to the Tri-parish area.
“They treat us well here,” Peyton Manning said. “The city of Thibodaux and the surrounding area has been tremendous in helping us make this a special event. We love coming here, and we really appreciate the support that we have from Nicholls State University.”
“It’s awesome,” Eli Manning added. “We’ve been coming here a while, and every time, it seems like the event just keeps getting better and better. The people in this area are very supportive and they always do their absolute best to go above and beyond their calling to make sure that we feel at home while we are here. We always look forward to coming back.”
The Manning Passing Academy has become a nationwide go-to spot for aspiring young quarterbacks, halfbacks, receivers and tight ends.
This year will mark the 18th year of the camp’s existence. It started at Tulane and then moved to Southeastern Louisiana University.
But since 2005, the camp, which annually houses more than 1,000 participants, has called Nicholls State University home.
The relationship between the Manning Family and the local university has been beneficial to both parties, as the quarterbacking family donated a $500,000 field turf playing surface inside John L. Guidry Stadium in 2006 as a way to “give back to the university and athletics department.”
The Colonels returned the favor and named their football field “Manning Field.”
All of the proceeds at the gate for the Air-It-Out competition will benefit Nicholls and its athletic programs.
“We really love having them here at Nicholls,” Colonels Athletics Director Rob Bernardi said at last year’s academy. “The family has been good to us throughout the years, and we do the best that we can to make sure that they feel welcome here during their stay. We definitely take pride in hosting the camp each year.”
While the Tri-parish area works to make the Manning’s comfortable, the football family gives its knowledge to its young campers.
In addition to Super Bowl Most Valuable Player winners Peyton and Eli, the campers who attend the event pool knowledge from some of the best college quarterbacks in America.
Top-level draft picks like Andrew Luck, Christian Ponder, E.J. Manuel, Andy Dalton and Matt Barkley are among many signal callers who have lent their time to the camp.
The camp does not release an official list of counselors in advance, but Manziel said in May that he planned to attend the event.
Mettenberger and McCarron both attended last year and are expected to return to Thibodaux again. For the Alabama signal caller, this will be his third time as a counselor at the event.
“It’s funny how it works,” McCarron said at the 2012 camp. “They call us here to lend a hand and to share our knowledge with the campers. That’s fine. I think we are all happy to do that to help out the next generation. But what is so funny is how when Peyton and Eli throw, you’ll see all of the counselors staring with wide-eyes soaking it all in just like the kids are doing for us.
“They are the first family of quarterbacks, and it’s an absolute honor to be able to lend a helping hand at this awesome event.”
But while the camp employs a staff loaded with elite talent, Archie Manning cautions annually that the Manning Passing Academy isn’t a blue-chip camp, nor a camp that discriminates based on skill level.
He said that any child wishing to polish his skills is welcome at the event.
“Some people get the wrong idea that this camp is about blue-chip, five-star athletes,” Archie said. “But that’s not what we’re about. We really just want to take those high school quarterbacks and receivers and help them to get better and talk to them about the passion of playing football so that they can enjoy the high school experience.”
The camp will get underway tomorrow and several practice fields will be plodded out along Nicholls’ campus.
By night, campers will rest in Nicholls’ dorms.
They are also known to sneak out and head to a local restaurant or two.
It’s the only time of the year little ‘ol Thibodaux sits in the center of the sports world.
“I just can’t tell you how much we appreciate and are grateful to Nicholls State University and the Thibodaux area,” Archie Manning said. “There’s such wonderful hospitality with what they do for us.”
Southern Miss quarterback Austin Davis fires a pass during the 2012 Manning Passing Academy. The prestigious camp returns to Thibodaux this week, beginning on Thursday. The public will have an opportunity to see some of the best college quarterbacks in the country on Saturday at the Air-It-Out event. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is expected to attend the event.
