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Local youngsters treated to NFL player and local football legend at annual summer camp
The center of attention Saturday morning, at Lemoore Lions Park, was former Tiger, USC Trojan, and Oakland Raider David Ausberry, who managed in his few hours with the kids, to light up a bunch of faces in the young throng of would-be future National Football League hopefuls.
The talented wide receiver and tight end, who helped lead his 2005 football team, a squad loaded with immeasurable talent, to the Central Section title, is on sort of a hiatus right now. His latest stop was with the Detroit Lions where he unfortunately ruptured his Achilles Tendon. “That’s just the way it played out for me that time,” said Ausberry. “I think I’ll be back. That’s not going to be the last of me on the field, I’ll tell you that right now. You might see me in a few months.”
Following his championship year at Lemoore High, he was heavily recruited by former USC Coach Pete Carroll, and following his freshman redshirt season, the future Seattle Seahawks and Super Bowl winning coach announced that Ausberry would start for the Trojans at wide receiver.
He was drafted by the Raiders after his college career where the talented receiver spent much of his first four years on the injured list.
The 29-year-old, who currently lives in Los Angeles, returns to Lemoore often. “This my home town. I grew up here. I’m the same kid as I was when I attended Meadow Lane Elementary School and Lemoore Elementary. I see a lot of myself in these guys running around here. It’s all about fun and giving back, and making something of it.”
He had nothing but praise the youngsters who took part in Saturday’s camp, but more importantly does the NFL veteran see any future hall of famers amongst the myriad of smiling and eager faces? “All of them,” said Ausberry. “All these kids have potential to get somewhere in life, and it’s whether you put yourself in the right position to get there.”
It’s obvious that Ausberry sort of likes this coaching gig, and he plenty of help too, including his brother George Gaffney.
“I’ll probably end up being a coach at the end of the day. I’m pretty good at it. I’m probably not the smartest guy on earth, but I do know some football, and I know how to work with kids. I love it here. This a great opportunity to work with these kids and let them know that I’m one of them. I think I’ve got a great mind for football and a great mind for developing kids.”
There are many who agree.
Camp Director Allan McGhuey, the program’s longtime director, couldn’t agree more. McGhuey, who will help coach Lemoore High School’s wide receivers this year, has been the camp director for the camp for the past 18 years. He also coaches Lemoore Youth Football and has coached at other schools.
“I just basically wanted to do something with kids in a fundamental instructional football camp,” said McGhuey. “We let them come out here and work hard and have some fun, while learning a little bit about football.”
It was indeed a busy but productive day for the 40 or so kids who attended this year’s camp. “We go for a good five hours. We feed them lunch: watermelon, turkey sandwiches and Gatorade.” They also got a special treat of popsicles, which fortunately for the campers, came in handy when Saturday’s temperature’s neared 100 degrees.
McGhuey was pleased that Ausberry found the time to return to Lemoore to help with the camp. “I’ve known David (Ausberry) since he left Lemoore High School. I worked him out before he went to USC and stayed in contact with him through his college and NFL career. I know he’s come back and helped out Lemoore High School receivers, and he wanted to jump in on the camp this year.”
Based on Ausberry’s fondness for his home town and his love of coaching, Lemoore just may see a lot of Ausberry in the future – and based on a bunch of kids’ unwritten testimony – that just may be good thing.
