Hundreds of high school football players from across the state of Kentucky were on campus this past week as Campbellsville University hosted Joe Price's Hawg Heaven Football Camp, July 11-13, and organized a high school 7-on-7 tournament July 17 at Finley Stadium.



Saturday's 7-on-7 tournament drew 11 teams from across the state, including the 2009 state champions Boyle County High School. But at the end of the day, it was first-year program Collins High School that stood out, beating Elizabethtown, 28-25, in the south end zone of Finley Stadium to win the tournament.

"There were some great teams here. We're very excited about it," said Collins head coach Jerry Lucas. "The main thing we wanted to do (this summer) is make sure the college coaches can see our kids. It's great for us to get out and do this, but it's great for them to see our kids. The fact that they're interested now in four or five of our kids only makes it that much better."

Another plus for Collins' players was the chance to play on a synthetic turf surface similar to the one that is being installed in their new stadium, a surface they won't be able to set foot on for a few more weeks.

In addition to recruiting, the camps helped bring back former Campbellsville football players and coaches. Seven coaches at the tournament played their college ball at CU, including Collins freshman team coach Brian Wigglesworth.

"It means a lot to be able to come back where I played and share the experience that I had here with the kids that I coach," said Wigglesworth, who played from 1996-2000.

He added that his players were surprised by the Tiger football program.

"Campbellsville is kind of stuck out on the middle of an island in south central Kentucky, and they weren't expecting what they got. A lot of them see that this is going to be a top-notch facility once it's over. It's going to be a huge recruiting tool," he said.

The week began with the annual Hawg Heaven Camp, directed by Owensboro High School head coach Joe Prince. The camp brought nearly 400 high school players to Campbellsville University, as the teams trained on the lawn of Stapp Hall and in Finley Stadium.

"There's no where in the state of Kentucky where you can have 300 to 400 players from all over the state participating in competition and challenges," said Tim Rogers, the Tiger's camp organizer and recruiting coordinator. "It's the perfect time to evaluate them. We think that camp will grow, as Joe has a goal to reach more than 500."

The 7-on-7 tournament concludes the summer camp schedule for the Tiger coaching staff , as far as involvement in the camps goes. It began in June with the Junior Tiger Camp, where the coaches taught the young participants every position. It continued with the program's first skills camp, which drew 50 student-athletes from across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.

Rogers said the biggest advantage of the summer was having many kids step foot on campus who had never been to Campbellsville University and also drawing back alumni who are now coaching or bringing their sons to camp.

"It's been a rebirth of pride in our alumni," Rogers said.

CU will bring in a few more teams later this summer, as seven high schools will conduct their preseason camps at Campbellsville.

From a revenue perspective, Rogers said the program has not made much money off the summer camps, but does not lose money. The reason is because the camps are geared more toward recruiting and giving back to the university.

"We'd rather put more into the university than ourselves," Rogers said. "The team camps will give us a chance to create revenue. Any money we make off team camps, the largest percentage of that income is going to go to the "More Than a Game" campaign. We want to make sure that we invest as much as we can to see that this campaign is followed through and meets its goal for the turf, lights and other plans they have."

Campbellsville, which finished the 2009 season with a 7-4 record and No. 29 ranking, will open its 2010 season at home Aug. 28 against Kentucky Christian University in the program's first-ever home night game at 7 p.m. CU, rated the No. 6 most improved program in the NAIA, is picked to win the Mid-South Conference East Division in 2010.

HAWG HEAVEN PHOTO GALLERY
7-ON-7 PHOTO GALLERY