Former NFL athletes Gio Carmazzi and Alex Van Dyke returned for year two of the Game Plan Academy camp Sunday. Offered to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors in the Sacramento area, the camp combines football and academics with the goal of translating hard work on the field into classrooms off the field.

Most of the approximately 10 staff - student athletes themselves - grew up in Sacramento attending Jesuit High School, including former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Gio Carmazzi.

While Carmazzi did not have wild expectations for the first season, he said he was pleasantly surprised at the outcome so far.

"The three returning quarterbacks from last year, they're doing so well with the concepts," Carmazzi said. "I didn't expect it to stick. I'm very impressed."

Speaking with each member of the team, it became clear the SAT preparation and classroom skills portion are considered the most important part of the program. High school athletes not only get a chance to learn from the former professionals, but they have the opportunity to sit down with academic tutors such as Brent Pottenger or David Campos.

"We explore college possibilities, assess goals," Campos said. Each participant prepares for the SATs and works on personal statements and other areas of college applications. "We just use football as the hook," he said.

A hook that is proving successful, as the program is now in its second year and is growing, with about 40 high school student athletes in attendance. Certainly having former professional athletes on-hand is exciting, but parents do not forget the importance of academics as well.

Richard Rios, the father of a Cosumnes Oaks student, talked about the importance of Game Plan Academy. "The SAT prep, the higher test scores, the better overall test scores," he said of the benefits, "it's good for these kids."

Maurice Talley Sr., another Cosumnes Oaks father, added that student-athletes getting "involved with anything possible, especially educational-driven," is another benefit.

Although the camp does not turn anyone away, the specialties of the professional staff were limited to quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs last year. This year, however, with the addition of former NFL cornerback Lyle West, GPA expanded to work with defensive backs as well.

Friends with Carmazzi, West recently took interest in the camp. "I was interested in the off-field connection with the kids. If I can improve you as a football player, I can improve you as a person," he said. West has come on board with the message that football is a vehicle to get an education.

After more than an hour with the professional athletes, the group gathered to listen to guest speaker Rich Callahan, director of the University of Southern California State Capitol Center, whose message was loud and clear.

"Be strong. Be open to learning," Callahan told the boys. "Live by core values." He preached casting fear aside by opening up to new experiences, and remaining mentally tough, that the mental toughness would translate into the classroom. "When you fail an exam, it's not the end. It's the beginning. Teach yourself success, resiliency," he said. Callahan explained to the boys their roles as leaders and inspiration to classmates, teammates and even coaches and teachers.

Game Plan Academy participants are chosen carefully. First, the GPA staff contacts schools in the area based on low income and low standardized test scores. From there, each school's coaching staff nominates players they feel fit the program, will benefit the most and take the camp seriously.

Carmazzi stressed that without the likes of Pottenger, Campos, Brian Geremia, and the other academic staff, the camp would never have come to be.

"Our job is easy. We show up and teach (football), but those guys, you really have to appreciate everything they do," Carmazzi said.

Academic preparation and football skill acquisition aside, the student athletes of Game Plan Academy may have yet another benefit: networking. The group members have the chance to associate with fellow particpants they would not spend time with otherwise.

"It's not about competing, it's about getting better with the person next to you," said former NFL wide receiver Alex Van Dyke.

All participants receive T-shirts, testing and college resources, and contact information from all the team at Game Plan Academy. For more information visit www.gameplanacademy.com.

Photos 2&3 courtesy of Brian Geremia, Game Plan Academy