MONTAGUE — The Detroit Lions youth football camp made its regular visit to Montague this week, with former Lions star George Jamison this year's team ambassador and guest coach.
Jamison was on hand Tuesday evening to help the Lions' youth coaches guide the players through, appropriately, drills focused on defense. Jamison played linebacker for the Lions for nine of his 12 seasons in the pros, also suiting up for the Kansas City Chiefs, before retiring following the 1998 season.
The drills the campers participated in Tuesday were focused on getting into good position to make tackles. The youth coaches were zeroed in on posture, letting the campers know where their head, shoulders and feet should be positioned.
"It takes me back to when I was a kid," Jamison said of being a guest coach. "I know if I had something like this then, that would really excite me."
Jamison started 82 games in nine Lions seasons - including all 16 regular-season games for the 1991 Lions who had, until the team's recent run, the franchise's most recent playoff win - totaling 480 tackles and nine interceptions. He returned two of those picks for touchdowns and also scored on a fumble return during his career.
Jamison said he's been a guest coach before, so being out among young Lions fans was nothing new to him. He said he felt like seeing players who have actually worn the Honolulu blue of their favorite team can provide motivation to the campers.
"I think they're excited," Jamison said. "It might possibly give them some motivation and give them some incentive for how to do things the proper way and then just be motivated and do their best at all times."
Like other former Lions who have been part of the Montague camp in recent years, Jamison is excited about the trajectory of the franchise under current coach Dan Campbell. The Lions reached the NFC championship game in 2023 and earned the No. 1 seed in the conference last year before being upset by the Washington Commanders.
"We had a slogan back when I played, Restore the Roar," Jamison said. "They went beyond that. It's great to see the city behind the team. They just give us all support. Everybody is excited. The stadium's sold out. The city's abuzz and the state's abuzz. It's great to have that feeling when football (season) comes around."
Between the team's recent performance and the visit from Jamison, there was plenty to look forward to for Lions youth campers, many of whom likely spent the week dreaming they too might wear the iconic silver helmet someday.
"I think it's great that the kids get to have adventures here and they learn some valuable lessons about how to do the proper techniques and more importantly, just always give your best," Jamison said. "It helps them be focused."
