Tuesday, June 27, 2006
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- "Where can you go to hear and see so many coaches like this in one area at one time?" asked Ron Stoops, director of the annual Cardinal Mooney Football Camp of Champions, in explaining Monday's record-breaking turnout of some 300 kids at the Mooney Athletic Complex.
Stoops, an assistant football coach at Mooney and part of the famous Stoops coaching family, credited the appearance of Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and an array of other big-name area collegiate coaches for the record and growing success of the camp for students in grades four through eight.
"We had kids from Seneca Valley, New Castle, Painesville Harvey and from the surrounding communities," said Stoops, believing the good word about the camp is spreading around.
"The coaches are a huge attraction. They will spend a couple of days here," Stoops said. "Having coach Tressel here is a big factor."
Stoops, who helps head coach P.J. Fecko at Mooney and is the son of former Mooney assistant coach Ron Stoops, said these coaches at the camp are very busy but still found the time to attend the first of two planned sessions. The camp concludes today.
"This is a great testament to these guys. They have so little time left from their jobs but they chose to spend time here. They believe so much in our area," said Stoops, who has three brothers who have achieved collegiate coaching fame.
Bob is head coach at Oklahoma, Mike is head coach at Arizona and Mark is an assistant at Arizona under Mike.
Mark at camp
Mark was the only one of the three to attend the camp but Bob appeared at the Fifth annual Golden Cardinal Bocce Social Sunday at the MVR Restaurant along with Tressel and many other coaches and celebrities. The social served as a fundraiser for Mooney students.
"Jim Tressel and Bob Stoops were at the bocce fundraiser Sunday. [Their teams] are ranked 1-2 in the country in some polls. It's a real treat," said Ron Stoops, who called the twin appearance of the famous coaches "a rare treat for the Mahoning Valley to have them both with us Sunday."
Mark Stoops said he loves coaching with brother Mike.
& quot;It's a lot of fun. We have good rapport. We have a lot of similarities. We think a lot alike," Mark Stoops said. "It's a great comfort level.
"We're cut from the same cloth. We both know defensive football and a lot of what we know is the same."
Like father in some ways
Mark said he and Mike are like their father in some ways, but not in others.
"Not so much the Xs and Os but very much [like his] philosophy and our relationships with players. We learned a lot of that from dad and Don Bucci [former Mooney head coach]. They made up demanding programs."
The elder Stoops, who died in 1988, also was a top defensive strategist.
Ron Stoops said he is grateful for the support to the camp by Denise and John York of The DeBartolo Corporation, which owns the San Francisco 49ers.
"DeBartolo-York is our only sponsor. They too want to help make this a success," Stoops said.
Other Mooney graduates and now coaches who were scheduled to appear at the camp and/or the bocce fund-raiser were: Tim Pichette, former Duquesne defensive back and now an assistant coach with the New England Patriots; and Frank Colaprete, Johns Hopkins defensive coordinator.
Other coaches billed were: Pete Rekstis, Kent State defensive coordinator and former YSU aide; Mark Dantonio, Cincinnati coach and former YSU and Ohio State assistant coach; Dereck Slesh, Case Western Reserve defensive coordinator; and Mel Tucker, Cleveland Browns defensive backs coach.
kovach@vindy.com