Urban Meyer, Mark Dantonio, Brady Hoke, Penn State Head Coach James Franklin and 200 college coaches, plus NFL greats Bettis, Vickerson leading 1,000 teens in Detroit football academy

HARPER WOODS, Mich., June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio State University's Head Coach Urban Meyer, confirmed yesterday that he will be joining some of the greatest names in the NFL and college coaching during the Sound Mind Sound Body (SMSB) Football Academy June 12-13 in Detroit.  

"It's more than just football," said Deon Johnson, coach and camp director.

Partnering with adidas Football and DBA Worldwide, SMSB successfully executed a top-notch training and engaging camp experience held in Boca Raton, FL on June 7. 

Never done before, as part of their "Sound Mind" initiative, SMSB captivated and maintained the student-athlete's attention via the ever-popular social mediums of Twitter and Instagram. 

Encouraging captions and tweets were read, retweeted and regrammed around the world utilizing the hash tags #SMSBTakeover #SMSBFootball and #TeamAdidas. During that weekend, #SMSBTakeover became one of the top trending topics on Twitter.  Continuing its partnership with adidas Football and DBA Worldwide, SMSB will multiply its success in Detroit and later moving on to DC on June 20.

"Together, we're doing our part in helping to create a positive space on social media, and it's working.  Since this past weekend, our social media engagement numbers have increased by over 500% and growing," said Johnson.

SMSB is a program of the Lifting As We Climb Foundation, an effort for the betterment of youth development, community awareness and athletic enrichment. 

Johnson further noted that, "We do more than 'sell' camps, hopes and dreams. We dream together with our student-athletes and communities. We paint possibilities, tap into the power of youth-purpose and create movements encompassing healthy living initiatives."

During the 2-day academy, SMSB will host a free community initiative, "the village," where family, friends and neighboring communities are welcome to attend, watch the student-athletes and learn and engage with sponsors and partners: food, fun, helpful information and healthy living initiatives.

Confirmed NFL greats Jerome Bettis, Kevin Vickerson and more than 200 college coaches will help lead the annual academy, to be held at Chandler Park Academy.  

Confirmed coaches participating include: Ohio State University's Urban Meyer, Michigan State University's Mark Dantonio, coming off a Rose Bowl win; University of Michigan's Brady Hoke; Indiana University's Kevin Wilson; Penn State University's James Franklin; University of Illinois' Tim Beckman; Grand Valley State University's Matt Mitchell and more.

Celebrating 10 years of service this year, SMSB has touched more than 8,000 high school football players since its inception. Of these, more than 6,000 have graduated from high school; more than 1,000 have gone on to college with athletic scholarship; and seven have been drafted to the NFL:  Philadelphia's Brandon Graham, Green Bay's Nick Perry, Detroit Lions' Chris Greenwood, New York Jets' Jonathon Hankins, Tampa Bay's Gholston, New York Jets' William Campbell and St. Louis Rams' Joe Barksdale.

SMSB will provide two full days of solid instruction, coaching and mentoring, including sessions led by many of the national collegiate coaches:

• National speakers on conflict resolution, STD awareness, dining etiquette, nutrition, goal setting and effective communication.
• Sessions on NCAA initial eligibility, ACT/SAT prep, careers in sports and college enrollment, as well as a college player panel.
• Athletics sessions on speed school, position specific training, "one on one," recruiting 101, student-athlete marketing and O-Line Academy.
• Safety sessions on concussion awareness and management.

Players from across the country will be in attendance.  As a key sponsor, Adidas provides all uniforms for the academy.

For more information on Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy, visit www.smsbcamp.com.  For more information on adidas Football, visit http://www.adidas.com/football.  For more information on DBA Worldwide, visit www.dbaworldwide.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For press conference media RSVP, contact:

Jennifer L. Payne          
DBA Worldwide             
www.dbaworldwide.com         
(248) 402-5028             
(248) 770-9163

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140612/117311

SOURCE Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy