DADE CITY, Fla. — Mickens Field, in the heart of Dade City, holds a lot of memories. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. grew up on this field and has some very fond ones.
“Just a lot of touchdowns,” Penix said.
For the second-straight year, Penix helped create some special football memories for some very young players. His annual youth football camp shone a spotlight on the Dade City community, and Penix wanted each player to feel like he does whenever he sets foot onto a football field.
“Mainly just have fun. Just be where your feet (are) and enjoy the moment,” he said. “Enjoy every moment.”
The free event saw 270 kids, and they ran through the paces with various drills. They got to run around the same football field Penix ran on, got to participate and catch passes from the NFL quarterback, and they got to dream — dream of maybe one day going pro like Penix.
“This is a product of what happens when we do things right,” Dade City Mayor Pro Tem Normita Woodard said. “When you reach back and bring another one along, this is what this community is doing.”
This is family for Penix. And family means everything to him. That’s why he came home, and why he will keep coming back and keep giving back.
“It means the world, just to come back (and) give the kids resources,” Penix said. “Just giving them a familiar face that was able to come out of this small town, and be able to make it, and big things in life, and give them hope.”