Sanders' hopes to educate youth through sports nationwide

Four chartered buses, packed with youth football equipment, food and about 100 kids and parents, were scheduled to pull out of Dallas late Sunday night.

The first stop for Deion Sanders' select football program on its Georgia-Florida tour: New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.

Sanders' post-career calling has been to help young people in the Dallas area by putting together an educational and Christian-based football program with all the trimmings of a pro team.

The parents provide the helmets and shoulder pads, and Sanders -- who played for the Braves and the Falcons -- provides the rest though his non-profit company, Prime Time Association.

He called on several former teammates to help. Ex-Falcon Kevin Mathis is one of the head coaches, and Emmitt Smith's son plays for the program.

Sanders hopes to expand the program into baseball, basketball and soccer and is in discussions with the University of North Texas about starting a charter school, grades 6 through 12.

"I've always done things with kids," Sanders said. "I've always been tied into the community."

Attempting to help children and their families through sports seems to be a nice fit for Sanders.

"You can complain about youth sports and how they are being taught and the way and manner, or you can do something about it," Sanders said. "I've always chose to do something about it, instead of sitting back and complaining."

With the help of former NFL players such as Mathis, George Hegamin and Solomon Page, the youth football program was launched. Hegamin is the director of operations.

"We really coach and run this like the pros," Sanders said. "We run our summer camp like the pros run their training camp. We run our offseason programs like the pros run [organized team activities]."

It is not just about football for Sanders. There is an educational component to the program and a mandatory summer camp. The players all had to try out in an NFL-style combine at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to be selected for the team.

"Our kids must maintain A's and B's, or if they started off with B's and C's, they must maintain them," Sanders said. "If their grades slip, they get mandatory tutoring. They are in school."

Sanders also attempts to motivate parents and students by sending daily inspirational e-mails and text messages.

Former NFL running back Jamal Lewis, who retired after last season, went to Dallas to study Sanders' program. He's attempting to bring it to Atlanta through the Atlanta Vikings program that he's affiliated with.

Sanders' teams will scrimmage against the Vikings at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Anderson Park.

"Some of the coaches from our team went to Dallas to actually see how they run their operation and how they manage the kids," said Lewis, a graduate of Douglass High School. "He already had the structure and the program already going."

Before the scrimmage, Sanders will take his players to watch the Falcons' practice Tuesday morning.

Sanders' teams are called the T.R.U.T.H.

"It's an acronym for keep trust in God," Sanders said. "R, respect myself and others. U, understand that I have unlimited possibilities. T, try my best and never give up and H, honor the truth and spirit at all times. My kids, ages 5 to 14, can recite that on command."

Sanders has partnered with the Dallas parks-and-recreation department and area schools for transportation and practice facilities.

"We have several school buses that pick up kids from all over the metroplex of Dallas and bring them to a remote location which is in the inner city to practice, compete, play and get educated," Sanders said.

Before leaving for their trip, the kids recently completed their summer camp.

"You get to know a kid after you spend six weeks with him from 7:30 a.m. to 5," Sanders said. "You get to know them pretty well."

Sanders wants eventually to expand his program nationwide.

"I thank Jamal Lewis because he sent several of his players and coaches down here to see our formula and game plan. We ended up partnering with the team and the organization from Atlanta," Sanders said.

Lewis tries to downplay his role.