BILOXI - Former Alabama and current Millsaps College coach Mike Dubose will have a unique twist for his football camps in South Mississippi.
They will be free.
The Fourth and One Future Champions football camp is free and designed to help the development of players between the ages of eight and 12.
The camps kick off Wednesday at Hancock High School and move to Biloxi on Thursday. The camp concludes with stops on Monday at Picayune and Moss Point next Tuesday.
The camps are being offered in conjunction with local parks and recreation departments as well as the South Mississippi's Boys and Girls Clubs.
"It is free," Dubose said. "According to NCAA rules, once a student reaches the ninth grade, they become a prospective student athlete. We feel like it's best to keep this camp in that age group so there will be no question about paid or not paid.
"We do have camps that we charge, but this one is free for those between the ages of eight and 12."
Before coming to Millsaps, Dubose spent four seasons as the Crimson Tide's head coach from 1997-2000 before resigning. In 1999, Alabama won the SEC Championship and played in the Orange Bowl.
Before accepting the Alabama head coaching position, Dubose was the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator and line coach. He lettered four years under the legendary Bear Bryant.
Along the way, he coached five first-round NFL Draft picks, including Cornelius Bennett (1987), Jon Hand (1986) along with John Copeland and Eric Curry (1992).
After coaching on the high school level, Dubose took the defensive coordinator position at Millsaps three years ago under then head coach David Saunders.
Dubose stepped into the head coaching job two years ago when Saunders left to become the linebacker coach at Ole Miss.
Millsaps posted a 7-4 record last season losing in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. The playoff berth was achieved after the Majors lost their first three games of the season.
After the season, Saunders rejoined the Majors a few months ago under the Fourth and One Foundation and now spearheads the Future Champions camp.
With Saunders in place, the camp became a reality - with South Mississippi being the main focus - thanks to the accounting firm of Horne LLP of Jackson and the Paul Benton Law Firm in Biloxi.
"We have people sponsoring the camp," Dubose said. "What we are trying to do is target the age group that may not be going to another camp.
"We would like to help those who are still trying to overcome Katrina, like single moms. We saw a real need for the camp."
The Millsaps staff, including offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and quarterback coach Fred McNair, will be on hand.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. for each camp and drills run through noon.
"Our staff will be working the camps along with the high school coaches at the various schools," Dubose said. "All the young guys need to bring is what they plan to wear. After registration, we will work on offensive and defensive fundamentals.
"We hope to make this a yearly event with the same guys, plus new ones, coming back year in and year out."
