By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Last Saturday (June 20) in Attalla, Freddie Kitchens
returned to Jim Glover Field at Etowah Stadium to host his 16th
annual football camp.
A standout two-sport athlete for the Blue Devils in the
early 1990s, Kitchens went on to play both football and baseball for the
University of Alabama.
Kitchens had an all-star staff assembled for this year’s
camp, including former UA teammates Todrick Malone and Pierre Goode and former
Auburn University star running back Brent Fullwood. In addition, high school
coaches from throughout Etowah County were on hand to assist with the more than
250 young athletes who turned out for the camp.
“I want the kids to have a good time and grow some
way,” said Kitchens. “Whether its technically, personally or spiritually.
I hope they will learn something today that will keep them from going through
it again in the future.”
Following graduation from the University of Alabama,
Kitchens traveled to Milan, Italy, to continue his football career. While
there, he suffered a career-ending injury when his arm was broken. He also
suffered a severe shoulder injury. After weighing his options, Kitchens
accepted an assistant coaching position at Glenville State College in West
Virginia.
“After one season there I took an assistant coaching
position with Nick Saban at LSU,” he said. “From there, I went to North Texas
State University and later Mississippi State University as an assistant. In
2005 I got my chance to move to the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football
League.
Kitchens is currently the quarterbacks coach for the NFL
Arizona Cardinals.
“I do not set goals for myself, I just do the best job I can
and see what happens next,” said Kitchens when asked what the future held.”