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NFL star hopes to make his camp a permanent Utica fixture
July 1, 2007

UTICA ? Will Smith has no more family ties to this area.

His football camp, though, is here to stay.

Smith, the former Thomas R. Proctor High School star and New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl defensive end, was back in his hometown Saturday, hosting his first "Where There's a Will, There's a Way," football camp and combine at Proctor's D'Alessandro Stadium and promising it will be even bigger and better next year.

"We're going to be back," said Smith. "This is going to be an annual event, and the goal is to get bigger and make it even more competitive."

Seeing Will give back to the community is good," said Steven Brown, an 18-year-old halfback and defensive back from Utica, who will be a Proctor senior in the fall. "He's trying to give back to the community, to show he's still part of this community, by spending time with the kids and not being selfish. He's a good role model. That's real good to see.

"Today was a special day."

uticaOD.com - The Observer-Dispatch - NFL star hopes to make his camp a permanent Utica fixture