i-Dare U to hold football camp in Columbus Saturday

Former Carver Tiger and Georgia Bulldog Glenn Ford is bringing his i-Dare U program to Columbus Saturday.

Ford’s football training program is hosting the Southwest Exposure camp at Kinnett Stadium from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The program is for any football players from eighth grade to 12th grade at a cost of $10 for those who register online. Walk-up registration will be held Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. for $30.

“I’m excited about coming back to my hometown,” Ford said. “I’m anxious to see if the kids still have the same skillset they had when I played. When college coaches call me and ask about a certain kid, it’ll be good to be able to say, ‘Hey, go look at this kid at Jordan High School or at Spencer or Columbus or Hardaway.’”

Ford said the camp will focus on fundamentals, giving players position-specific drills to show off their skills. He said over 150 players have already registered, leading him to estimate about 200 will participate.

Ford thanked Muscogee County athletic director Jeff Battles for help setting up the event at Kinnett Stadium. Ford has hopes of bringing i-Dare U, which is based in Atlanta, to Muscogee County on a full-time basis.

If that attendance number comes to fruition and the camp is well received, the program may be closer to making that happen.

“(The camp) gives us the opportunity to show the community who we are and how we work. It could help spearhead where we can have an i-Dare U in the Chattahoochee Valley area,” Ford said. “We have to make sure this is something the parents are wanting to do. We can’t do anything if the kids aren’t out there.

“We’ll be able to tell after this camp, once we get the kids out there and ask them, ‘Is this something you’ll want to do in the offseason?’ Of course, if they say yes, it’s definitely something we would do.”

Ford expects writers from recruiting sites such as 247Sports and Rivals to also be on hand, which could help local players catch some considerable recognition.

Given every piece of the puzzle, Ford made it apparent he thinks those who are serious about their football futures should be on the field at Kinnett come Saturday.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to get in front of people who actually know other coaches involved, get in front of them,” said Ford, who played defensive back at Georgia from 1994 to 1998. “Never miss out on an opportunity that could change your life, especially (at the price) and if it’s in your backyard. Usually, a kid in Columbus would have to drive 100 or 200 miles to go to a camp. You have no excuse why you’re not there.”

This story was originally published July 27, 2017 at 2:30 PM with the headline "i-Dare U to hold football camp in Columbus Saturday."