By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Terrance Copper has never forgotten his roots.
The New Orleans Saints star, who returned home this weekend to watch East Carolina’s annual Purple-Gold spring football game, got his start in Washington. Copper, who recently signed a two-year, $2.75 million contract with the Saints, will hold his first football camp in Washington this summer.
The Terrance Copper First Annual Football Camp will be held June 13-14 at Washington High School.
A banquet will be held on June 13, a Friday, at the Civic Center in downtown Washington. Curtis Johnson, the Saints’ receivers coach, will be the guest speaker.
Prior to his start with the Saints, Johnson was the receivers coach at the University of Miami for 10 seasons where he helped Andre Johnson, Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne, among others, earn first-round selections in the NFL Draft.
The camp, which will be for kids ages 7-18, will be held on June 14.
Copper will be joined by Saints’ teammates Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, David Patten, Robert Meacham and Lance Moore. Also expected to help run the camp are former ECU teammate Vonta Leach, who is the fullback for the Houston Texans, along with former Pirates’ Richard Koonce, Marvin Townes and Donald Whitehead.
Copper, a new father, had a good time himself during this weekend’s ECU festivities. He and his wife, Kandy, recently celebrated the birth of a son, Tyreek, who joins siblings Terrance Jr. and Taniya.
While the game was cut short because of inclement weather, the former ECU standout wide receiver and record-holder liked what he saw.
The 6-0, 207-pound Copper is currently in conditioning with his New Orleans teammates. While Copper already has four years of NFL experience to his credit, he’s far from complacent.
Copper, who hauled in 15 receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns last year, said the Saints are hungry for a big year.
Copper and the Saints will start their season in London. New Orleans will kick off the 2008 NFL season Oct. 26 against the San Diego Chargers at London’s historic Wembley Stadium.