Archie, Peyton, Eli back in Thibodaux for annual Manning Passing Academy football camp
Associated Press
07/10/09 9:40 AM EDT
THIBODAUX, LA. — Super Bowl champion quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning are back in their native Louisiana for the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University.
The camp features the Manning brothers, along with their father, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, and other stars of college and professional football. They help teach skills to about 750 youngsters who come to Thibodaux for the four-day camp that opened Friday.
It's the fifth year the event has been held in Thibodaux, where residents and businesses welcome the visitors.
"All week you hear the buzz — if they are going eat somewhere or going to drink somewhere," said Neal Swanner, co-founder of Bubba's Restaurant and Sports Lounge in Thibodaux. "You always hear that buzz. You know people are out there trying to find them. The excitement is there."
Nicholls State estimates that each year, the Manning Passing Academy attracts about 4,200 visitors, including friends and family of the participants. The camp annually makes the university between $10,000 and 15,000.
"It is a delight for us to host the first family of football and to have the national recognition," said Brandy Toups, Nicholls' director of continuing education. "To have students from across the United States right here on our beautiful campus ... it's a recruiting opportunity that we are very fortunate to have."
While the camp participants stay on campus, friends and family stay in neighboring hotels.
Sierra Hamilton, desk manager with the Days Inn and Suites Bayou Land said that the hotel is nearly booked to capacity this weekend.
"It brings in people from all over the country," she said.
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Information from: Daily Comet, http://www.dailycomet.com
