Young football players with stars in their eyes have always longed to make the big tackle or the big play with dreams of being in the National Football League.
On Friday, a former NFL star will be looking at them eye-to-eye and making sure they make those adventurous moments on the field safely and properly.
Former NFL quarterback Jake Plummer will conduct a player safety camp at Thunder Mountain High School Field as part of the USA Football Heads Up Football Player Safety Clinic adopted by the Juneau Youth Football League.
“It means a lot to hold these clinics in Alaska,” Plummer said. “I get to be in one of the most beautiful states in America to help teach young football players and their coaches and parents the fundamentals of football. I’m not sure, but I doubt many former NFL players travel to Alaska to teach Heads Up Football, so for me it will be fun to see all the young kids eager to get their seasons started.”
Plummer will also attend the JYFL Flag, Cub, Junior and Senior games on Saturday.
When asked of his fondest memory of playing football, Plummer said it would be hard to name just one.
“My fondest times were playing Optimist Football - youth football - in Boise, Idaho,” Plummer said. “I loved to suit up, play and then figure out which pizza place we were going to afterward. I played with passion and had fun throughout my whole career. In all those years, time spent on and off the field with my teammates bring my fondest memories.”
Plummer, one of more than 70 former NFL players participating in the program as Heads Up Football Ambassadors, will be accompanied by NFL network correspondent Andrea Kremer and the NFL Network Crew documenting the clinics for a half-hour special. The group just finished clinics and sightseeing trips in Anchorage.