Ferndale Football Camp Builds Team and Tradition

FERNDALE – Four days by a lake in Northern Michigan is supposed to be nice and relaxing. Not for Ferndale football.

The Eagles recently spent four days up in Otisville by the lake for football camp and it wasn’t just fun and games. Coaches ran players through two intense practices a day to get them ready for the upcoming season.

Many teams in the Oakland Activities Association have moved away from a holding an overnight training camp, but Ferndale believes it’s an important component to their training regiment.

One of the first things head coach Ryan Dunlap did when he took over the Ferndale football program six years ago was to put the camp on the calendar.

Kids fundraise throughout the offseason to pay their camp fees. The annual .

“A lot of teams in the area don’t do it because it’s expensive,” Dunlap said. “But these kids fundraise really hard. About half of them cover the trip 100 percent and the other kids at least raise money that partially covers the cost.” 

The trip has become something all varsity players look forward to throughout the year. Dunlap holds exit interview with graduating seniors and they’ve told him year after year how great that experience is.

“There are kids on the team that haven’t done that up north, lake experience that Michigan is known for,” Dunlap said. “You know a lot of these kids come from single-parent homes and have to pull a lot of weight. This is a chance for them to have a really unique experience.”

It also helps to get kids away from their phones and computers for a few days.

“There’s so many distractions now between texting and social media outlets,” Dunlap said. “It’s good to get away from all that.”

There’s a free period everyday and the students aren’t allowed to use their phones during it. Players are only able to use their cell phones at night while they are waiting for the shower.

The focus of the free time is team building. Kids can go to the lake to swim and use boats. Dunlap said the seniors do a good job of bringing the team together, especially during those open hours.

“We are going to have a stronger bond this year,” senior running back Earl Tillford said.

That team chemistry will be even more important this season.

Ferndale had a small team last season and its numbers are even lower this year. The Eagles have only 28 kids on the varsity squad. That’s the lowest Dunlap has had in his six years as head coach.

The only disappointing thing about this year’s trip was the scrimmage at the end of camp was cancelled due to rain. Dunlap wasn’t too upset though because for the first time in a couple of years there were no injuries on the football field.  

“Usually we come home a little battered and bruised,” Dunlap said, laughing. “This year we were injury free. That is definitely a good thing.”