10th Anniversery Charity Auction & Dinner

              Friday May 14th, 2010

    Big Sandy Super Store Arena, Huntington W.Va

The 2009 Charity Auction and Dinner was a huge success! Thank you to every single person that contributed either by purchasing an item at the auction or just by lending a helping hand.

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University football greats joined with long-time friends and former Thundering Herd and National Football League players will once again be gathering for this years event at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, kicking off Bartrum and Brown Football Camp weekend activities.

This year will be the biggest and best ever. In addition to the kids football camp several other events are being planned with additions of a car show , a kid zone with jump castles, concerts, a first ever VIP tent, and lots of food and fun for everyone.

These events are being planned now, so signup for our newsletter and you will receive updates as they happen.

We will have a very special celebrity guest speaker at the auction and dinner. Sign up for the future newsletters to find out who it is!

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2010 Kids' Football Camp 

                  May 15th,2010

              CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION

Marshall University Joan C. Edwards Stadium

HUNTINGTON -- Football obviously was at the fore of Saturday's Bartrum and Brown Football Camp, but life lessons balanced the tone of an eventful day.

A barbershop quartet kicked off the annual camp with renditions of 'The Star Spangled Banner' and 'America the Beautiful.' Along with teaching technique, Troy Brown, Mike Bartrum and other college and National Football League standouts stressed the importance of character to the large gathering of campers at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

Saturday's afternoon session prematurely ended with a startling thunder clap, followed by an extended downpour. Autographs were signed in the stadium's concourse, however, and campers received ample one-on-one time.

Just before exiting his first Bartrum and Brown camp, sixth-grader James Swann received a hug from Bartrum. Interaction, as much as football instruction, spurs the former Marshall University teammates to host Bartrum and Brown weekend.

"Meeting the guys and hanging out with them and getting autographs," Swann said, naming his camp highlight. "They're really nice guys. I just like hanging out with them."

Along with a patriotic opening, Saturday opened with Philadelphia Eagles placekicker David Akers showcasing his skills. Akers, a former teammate of Bartrum, drilled a 65-yard field goal and nearly connected from 70 yards, drawing a strong reaction from youngsters.

Numerous former Thundering Herd players, including Chad Pennington, Steve Sciullo, Reggie Giles and so many others annually participate in Bartrum-Brown activities. Adding to the draw are appearances and coaching from NFL players beyond Marshall's football fraternity, including Akers and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel, a former teammate of Brown with the New England Patriots.

"From Dave and (former Super Bowl MVP) Deion Branch a few years back and (Eagles running back) Brian Westbrook and so many others, we're so blessed to have so many good people," Bartrum said. "Last night when Chad talked and Dave Akers talked, they spoke about surrounding yourself with good people.

"And that's what we've done. I don't consider myself great, but I surround myself with great people. It's a family. We're a family."

True to form, the now-retired Bartrum spoke with more enthusiasm of mentoring kids concerning real-life issues compared to comments on the game.

"That's what it's all about -- planting seeds for God's way and that's what this camp is all about," Bartrum said. "We start it off with a prayer every year."

The former NFL veteran, long regarded as the league's top long-snapper, continued, reflecting on the campers' reaction to the barbershop quartet's Saturday morning openers.

"It just gives you cold chills because you're just planting seeds all up and down the river throughout the Tri-State," Bartrum said.

   Camp is conducted in two sessions. The morning session from 8:30 a.m. to noon is for campers in grade one to four. After a lunch break the second session from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. is for players in grades five through eight.

Other former Marshall players and coaches and some NFL players are expected to attend the camp and work with the youngsters.

  The cost is $30 per child for early registration (May 3 deadline) and $40 on the day of the camp. The cost for each additional camper registered is $20. 

For Information contact Mrs Mary Gannon 304-697-5640

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2010 Bartrum and Brown

   Celebrity Golf Classic

                      Sunday May16th

Twin Silos at Lavalette Golf Course

LAVALETTE -- Former Marshall linebacker John Spellacy lives in Parma, Ohio and works as an attorney in Cleveland.

As he was getting started in that profession, Spellacy crossed paths with John D. Drinko, a Marshall graduate and prominent attorney in Cleveland. Spellacy said he got some good advice from Drinko, one of Marshall's greatest benefactors and most well known graduates. The Marshall library is named for Drinko.

"He helped me get started in law," Spellacy said. "He told me to give back, get involved and maintain contact with the school."

Spellacy, who is 42, put those words into practice this weekend. He assisted in the Bartrum and Brown Football Camp on Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. On Sunday, he took part in the golf scramble at Twin Silos at Lavalette. This is the first time he worked the camp where he instructed the youngsters at the linebacker station.

"I'm trying to give back, get more involved," said Spellacy, who was recruited to Marshall by Stan Parrish and played under George Chaump.

The tournament had 25 foursomes and served as the wrapup to the "Making Memories Weekend." Proceeds from the Celebrity Auction (Friday) and golf go to youth programs and charities. The forces behind the events are Mike Bartrum and Troy Brown, members of the Thundering Herd's I-AA national championship team in 1992 before embarking on careers in the NFL.

Spellacy's son, John, one of his five children, joined him at the golf outing. After seeing all the NFL celebrities in town, Spellacy said his son hit him with a good question.

"He asked why didn't I go to the NFL? Why law school?" Spellacy said with a smile. "It's really neat to come back. It's amazing the whole transformation at Marshall, not just athletics. I'd never heard of Marshall before Stan recruited me. I'm glad I came. Things happen for a reason."

Orlando Hatchett, Stephen Geoly and Aaron Ferguson, all former Herd players, participated in the weekend's activities.

Hatchett, 39, lives in Canton, Ohio. This was the former running back's second time to the camp.

"What's great is what the kids get out of the camp," Hatchett said. "They have to understand you have to have heart. It's more than what you see on TV. It makes you appreciate what Troy and Mike do. Hopefully they (kids) will hold onto that.

"Mike and Troy are such great guys. I'm fortunate to have had some part in what goes on. It's a good feeling."

Ferguson won four letters at Marshall. He started all 15 games in 1996 when the Herd went undefeated and won the I-AA national title. He won the Jacobs Trophy that season as the best blocker in the Southern Conference.

For Ferguson, the camp and golf concluded a busy stretch for him. There was the reunion of the 1999 team at the Marshall spring game, Chad Pennington's bowling tournament and Brown's Fantasy Camp.

"People want to give back to something that's worthy of a gift," Ferguson said. "These guys are as genuine as can be. They're two of the most genuine people I know. They deserve all they get. To see those children's faces at camp was special. They had a blast. That's what it's all about."

Geoly, age 40, played on the offensive line from 1988-90. The former Yeager Scholar is now an attorney in Greenwood, S.C.

At camp, Geoly hooked up with former lineman P.J. Woods and they handled a tackling drill. "It's more fun to teach it than do it," Geoly said.

This was Geoly's first trip to a Bartrum and Brown Camp.

"I miss old Fairfield," Geoly said of Fairfield Stadium, the home of Herd football until 1991 when Edwards Stadium opened. "I like the new one. Marshall's a family. It's good to mix with all the guys. I met a lot of guys I didn't know. This was a chance to reconnect. I'll be back."

Brown, who played on three Super Bowl championship teams while with the New England Patriots, said he appreciated the support shown by all.

"The economy's down. There's flooding in southern West Virginia," said Brown, who played wide receiver and returned kicks while with the Patriots. "People still come out and support us. You couldn't ask for better times than what we've got."

"This shows we care," Bartrum said in his address to the golfers before they teed off at 9:30 a.m. "It's not Bartrum and Brown. It's all of us. Chad (Lewis, former teammate of Bartrum's with the Philadelphia Eagles) in his talk Friday night said surround yourself with great people. You're the reason we can do this."

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     For Sponsorship or entry questions contact Mrs Mary Gannon 304-697-5640 

         Chad Pennington gives hands on instruction to a 2009 camper

Brian Westbrook of the Philadelphia Eagles can out run defenses in the NFL but couln't escape a tackle from kids at the 2008 B&B football Camp.

Mike Vrabel, Ohio State Legend and LB for the New England Patriots makes sure EVERY child has a great experience at the 2008 football camp.

We are Marshall Legendary Coaches Jack Lengyel and Red Dawson join Troy Brown and Mike Bartrum for a photo at the 2008 Golf Classic

Philadelphia Eagles Kicker David Akers Booms a 65 yard field goal at 2009 Camp

A Lebron James Jersey in the live auction hand painted by sports artist Scott Harrell

Kids enjoy the day at the 2009 Football Camp

Autograph signing for the kids at the end of Football Camp

Troy Browns lines up a putt at the 2009 Celebrity Golf Classic

2009 Charity Dinner Silent Auction