June 28, 2007

Their turn to be football stars

Valley Christian holds inspirational Football Camp for Down syndrome athletes

Trevor Lucken playfully pats camp coach Jeff Schweiger on the stomach during Football Camp for the Stars at Valley Christian High School on June 22.

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

A student with Down syndrome—and a stalwart to the Warriors’ football program—inspired Valley Christian head football coach Mike Machado so much that the coach decided to create a football camp just for kids with Down syndrome.

Machado, along with a horde of former and current Valley Christian football players, hosted the Football Camp for the Stars, a two-day football camp for children with Down syndrome who love the sport, on June 22-23. Machado said he’s wanted to hold the camp for years now, and has finally done so in part because of the inspiration he’s received from Andrew Watson, who has Down syndrome and has served as the Warriors team manager for the past 10 years.

Richard Valcazar dives for the ball during drills at Football Camp for the Stars at Valley Christian High School on June 23.

“Andrew comes out every day to practice and the games, and his level of excitement and his passion for the game of football and just his ability to catch the ball and throw the ball; I mean, he’s an athlete,” said Machado, who also has a background in special education dating back to his days at Saratoga High School in the 1980s and early 1990s. “People look at these kids and I don’t think they give them a lot of credit for that stuff. They’re on the sidelines watching and I wanted to design something that would put them out in front. They’re the stars today. That’s what I wanted to do, to allow them that experience, and I’ll tell you, I love watching them.”

Those sentiments were echoed by former San Francisco 49er and current Valley Christian assistant coach Dana Stubblefield, who also noted that the football camp for Down syndrome athletes was a unique venture.

“It’s just a great thing,” said Stubblefield. “Me and coach Machado just kind of thought of it. He (Machado) has worked with these kids for years, and I’ve been working with Special Olympics for 12 or 13 years now, so it’s something that has not been done, as far as football-wise, and having the volunteers come out here has just been great. It’s a good thing that we’re doing and something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

Justin Willis, a San Jose State University football player and assistant coach for Football Camp for the Stars, shakes the hand of Champ Pederson during a break at Valley Christian High School on June 22.

That said, Machado noted that the camp was designed to put the campers through real football drills, similar to the ones Warriors players go through. Former players, such as Jeff Schweiger, who recently transferred from USC to San Jose State University, as well as former Warriors and current San Jose State Spartans Dante Perez and Colin Maher, among others, put campers through the paces, teaching proper handoff techniques, wide receiver running routes, and other fundamental football drills.

“That’s been a big thing that we wanted to do with this camp, to really treat them like football players,” said Valley Christian Athletic Director Eric Scharrenberg. “These kids come here and they’re going to have an authentic football experience.”

“Everything we’re teaching them and they’re learning is stuff what we know and we teach our kids,” added Stubblefield.

Mike Singletary signs the wristband of Richard Valcazar during the Football Camp for the Stars.

And while the campers had the chance to go through drills—and show off some creative touchdown dances—they also received star-studded visits from former San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions head coach Steve Mariucci, current 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, and Hall of Fame NFL linebacker and current 49ers assistant coach Mike Singletary. All three coaches have, and have had, children who attended Valley Christian. In fact, Mariucci’s son, Tyler, is returning to the school to serve as the assistant athletic director and assistant football coach this coming season. For Stubblefield, seeing his former head coach Mariucci and the way he spoke to campers brought back vivid memories from his own playing days.

“Watching him talk to the kids while I was standing back and looking at him, it’s like I was back in the locker room having him talk to me as a player,” said Stubblefield. “I was telling his (sons), ‘your dad never lost it.’ He hasn’t lost it. Him speaking to these guys was like he was speaking to us as players with the Niners.”

Campers and coaches at Football Camp for the Stars get ready to break the huddle at Valley Christian High School on June 23. Photos by Dan Miranda

Machado also noted that he was proud to see his former and current players, as well as former and current Valley Christian parents, come together for a good cause.

“Our program is like a giant family,” said Machado. “Steve Mariucci was a part of it, because Tyler played for us and now he’s coming back to coach this year. To me, this was a Valley Christian family affair. We all decided to come together with one common goal, and that was to put on a quality event for the Down syndrome kids.”

For Machado, the camp was also satisfying on another level as well: seeing the campers have fun as football players.

“You’re going to have to show me somewhere else where you can get this kind of satisfaction watching something like this,” Machado said. “Because this to me, is what it’s all about.”