Womack conducts fundamental skills camp for youth
By Andy Collier
Sports Editor, The Bolivar Bullet
It’s always special when someone that makes it big in life comes home to help the community.
Cleveland native Floyd “Porkchop” Womack, who played on the offensive line in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, the Cleveland Browns and the Arizona Cardinals from 2001-2011, gave back to the place he grew up at last weekend.
He held the Pork Chop Womack Football Camp on Friday (June 10) and Saturday (June 11) at Leroy Byars Field. The camp was a fundamental camp for youth ages 5-15. Even though there were some heavy rains on the first day of the event,many young athletes came to learn football and have a good time. There were 198 campers on the first day and 162 participants on the second day.
Womack got a lot of help from the community as area coaches came out to run drills and teach the young players. He received a lot of help organizing the event from his wife Sherika Womack.
“My wife and I came together and figured out that with all of the stuff that’s been going on in our community, we needed to be there,” said Womack. “This was a chance for us to give back. Now, our kids know there’s somebody out here for them and the community is out here for them. That’s what we’re striving for.”
Sherika echoed her husband’s sentiments.
“Our goal was to give back to the community and let the children know that we are here and that our community cares,” said Sherika. “We just want to let them know don’t give up.”
Womack, who currently lives in Brandon, graduated from East Side High School in 1997 where he was a standout player. He went on to play college football at Mississippi State University where he earned All-SEC and All-American honors in 2000. After college, he was selected as the 128th overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks in 2001. He played with Seattle from 2001-08 where he was a member of the 2005 team that went to the Super Bowl where the Seahawks lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10. During his time at Seattle, the Seahawks went to the playoffs five straight years from 2003-07. After his time with the Seahawks, Womack played for the Browns in 2009 and 10 and finished his career with the Cardinals in 2011. He played in 120 games during his NFL career.
Womack felt football has been a blessing to him, and he wanted to teach some of the valuable life lessons he learned from the sport.
“You talk about being smart, being tough, being competitive and hard working,” said Womack. “You take those lessons to the work force no matter what you’re doing. Not everybody can make it football, but at least you have that discipline and those core characteristics no matter where you go. To be successful, you have to put forth great effort and have a great attitude.”
Womack was also thankful for the coaches he had growing up playing youth sports and high school and junior high athletics.