The excitement of being a future Bulldog could not be contained.
Eighty kids in Bulldog gear gathered at the top of the Winner’s Ramp, jumping around as they waited to take the field. It was hard for them to pay attention to their coaches as they burst onto the field and waited for Artesia coach Jeremy Maupin to come over and say hello.
A taste of Bulldog Bowl
Artesia football players and coaches ran the camp. Maupin said he met with his team before they took the field and reminded the players what it felt like when they were younger and wanted to be Bulldogs.
“Guys, remember when you were a kid and how much you wanted to be a Bulldog,” Maupin said he told them. “This is your chance to go be that for those kids.”
Maupin said his two daughters went through the camp and loved it, too.
“I just heard a lot of positive things,” Maupin said. “I am really proud of our guys who ran the camp. We want to give them a little taste of being down in Bulldog Bowl, and we even turned on the lights so they get a sense of what it means to play football on a Friday night. It was great. We loved it.”
Community support stands out
Maupin said he loves Artesia and the support the community shows for everything from academics to athletics.
“I love this place,” Maupin said. “This is such a good place to raise kids. I think it is such a unique community, the way we support all of our kids, our academics, our teachers, our administration and each other.”
Carrying the legacy forward
Maupin said he feels honored to be in charge of the program, to lead it and to fill the shoes of those who came before him. He said he wants to make sure he is doing them proud while honoring past players, coaches and administrators.
“I want to continue to make this place better,” Maupin said. “In 50 years, when I am dead and gone, I hope people look back and see that I helped make this place better and tried to continue the legacy of Artesia. I hope the next guy does the same thing, and the next guy, and that it continues forever.”