By Myra Bean
It seemed like old home week when Jamarca Sanford returned home and brought some former teammates with him.
Sanford of the New Orleans Saint and former South Panola and Ole Miss standout and Michael Oher of the Carolina Panthers and former Ole Miss standout presented the “Beat the Odds, Inc. Free Football Camp” Saturday on the South Panola football field.
However, with thunderstorms moving through the area, the camp was first delayed and then canceled after an hour. The participants did get in a workout between storms, then were fed lunch.
Oher, of The Michael Oher Foundation, said he loves having the camp in Batesville.
“This is my hometown,” Oher said. “I know a lot of people here. They treat me like family. I love the town. It’s like I went to South Panola. I love coming back here with all of these guys. They have great tradition, great football. They come out and work and are serious about it.”
Sanford has a message about following your dream that he imparts to participants of his football camps.
“I was a kid that had dreams,” he said. “Sometimes people kill their dreams by telling them what they can’t do it. I was one of those kids once upon a time.
“It’s not all about football,” Sanford continued. “Football gives me the platform I have right now but it is more about touching lives, trying to tell these young kids that they can be whatever they want to be.”
Sanford said someone told him that he was crazy to have the dream that he had.
“I tell the kids they had that dream or that thought for a reason,” Sanford said. “If you dream, you can do it. It’s not just going to happen. You have to go out and work, stay dedicated and keep God first, everything will work out in His favor.”
Sanford was a member of the 2003 South Panola State Championship team. He grew up and played in the shadow of the 1993 and 1998 teams which had won state championships. He remembers being in junior high at the pep rallies watching the varsity players.
“I was looking at those guys like they were just super stars. They were my role models,” Sanford said.
Two players from the 1993 team who made it to the NFL that are his role models are Deshea Townsend and Dwayne Rudd.
“Those were the two guys who stood out and they played on the same football field so I knew my dream could become a reality,” Sanford said.
Joining Sanford and Oher was another NFL player from South Panola, John Jerry of the NFL who is also a former Ole Miss standout.
Others joining them was former NFL Atlanta Falcon Peria Jerry, also a former Rebel and hall of famer Jaki Slater
Former South Panola players helping out were Tavares Lee, Carlos Robinson, Ira Perry, Dorian Sanford, Travis Sanford, Terrance Pope, Derek Pegues, Fred Hentz, Marcus Griffin, Issac Gross, Nickolas Brassell, Robert Lester and current player O’Bryan Goodson.
“Right now I am living out my dream. Just to give back to the youth, give back to my community. It just feels great,” Sanford said.