DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats had a full slate on Saturday's fourth day of football camp, with two important practices. Sure, there was practice on the field, but more importantly, Bethune-Cookman football made several of its annual outings in the practice of community outreach.
"Anytime we get an opportunity to get out and work with the youth or leaders in the community, we do it," said Head Coach Brian Jenkins, "because we're committed to helping this community just as much as this community is committed to helping us."
Starting early in the morning, a small contingent of Wildcat players and coaches made the trip up to Daytona Beach's Derbyshire Park to hand out school bags and spend a little time with disadvantaged children, taking the opportunity to talk to the kids and their parents, and learn about their lives.
"It was a good experience giving back to the community," said linebacker Jarkevis Fields, "especially since I was also in that same position when I was younger, and it was great to show them that Bethune-Cookman cares about Daytona Beach."
Another group left the football offices for Volusia Halfway House, where the players and coaches had a sit-down talk with some of the facility's newcomers, looking to provide them with some encouragement, and maybe some direction and guidance. Saturday's visit was the fifth trip to the facility in the three years with Brian Jenkins as head coach.
The team rounded out the morning with a visit to Halifax Health Medical Center's pediatric unit. Coach Jenkins led a group of 12 players and coaches on rounds of the unit to spend some time with the patients and help to brighten their day.
"As guys in a position where people are watching us, we're just trying to do everything we can to reach out to kids," said wide receiver Eddie Poole. "That's special to us. We were small like that once, and if we were in the hospital and caught a surprise visit from the local college team, that's a great moment, and that's what we were trying to give them."
The players and coaches laughed with those in the unit, learning about hobbies and family, and got an opportunity to get to know each patient, and the guys got their own enjoyable memories in return.
"It was real good to look at somebody else's situation and bring light to it," said offensive lineman Terrance Hackney, "and to see how some other people have it worse. We really connected with this little boy named Riley, and he liked fishing, football and riding four-wheelers. It really touched our hearts that he found joy in the visit, even though he was still in the hospital, and he's only five."
With time well spent in the first half of the day, it was back to work on the gridiron for the Wildcats, who returned to practice in New Smyrna Beach in the late afternoon, fighting not only the rigors of the fourth day out, but also the weather.
B-CU ran through its normal routine in preparing the team for the tough 15 weeks to come, working out in shells again for the second straight day. As the players came together for the team portion of practice, a storm rolled in from the south, bearing rain. While some would look at it as a situation of adversity, the team practiced even harder as the rain grew heavier.
"It helps you to stay in the moment and work through whatever elements and obstacles come in your way," said Jenkins. "If you give in to the weather, you might as well not play the game. You never know what elements you're going to be up against, but you've just got to prepare to be able to work through whatever comes to you."
At this early juncture in camp, Coach Jenkins is not ready for evaluations, but just working every day to get the players into the detail-oriented work ethic Wildcat fans have come to expect.
"We'll go watch the film and see," Jenkins said. "Once we watch the film, the eye in the sky doesn't lie. Then we'll know a little more than what we saw out here today."
The Wildcats return to practice on Sunday afternoon, with the annual Media Day event and worship services occurring early in the day.
