Ted Ginn Sr's Magical Bus Tour.

Terry O'Keefe · Jun 11, 2006

In looking at the stops, I find it interesting that a group of kids from the Midwest would have Eastern Michigan but not Michigan on the list.

Taking dreams on the road

A long route offers big gains for high school football stars

Saturday, June 10, 2006
Bob Fortuna
Plain Dealer Reporter

It started in 2001 with Glenville football coach Ted Ginn Sr. piling eight of his top players in a rented van. Ginn's goal was to get the players exposure in front of big-time college coaches.

Six years later, the "Ted Ginn Road to Opportunity Football Combine Bus Tour" has blossomed into a 47-player contingent embarking on a chartered bus on a 13-day trip to 13 Midwest college football camps. Grander plans are not far down the road.

"I see it going nationally as early as next year," Ginn said Thursday on the eve of the venture. "I have colleges from all over the country that want us to come to their school because they want to be on the same playing field as everybody else.

"Six years ago, the perception was, colleges would not come into Glenville High School or anywhere else in the city of Cleveland to recruit our kids. I couldn't wait for the coaches to come here, so I went from state to state to showcase some of my kids."

Two players from the initial tour were former Ohio State safety Donte Whitner, who was chosen in the first round of the NFL draft in April, and ex-Michigan linebacker Pierre Woods.<b>

This year's journey began early Friday morning. The first stop was a combine workout Friday at Ball State. They will visit Cincinnati today to take the ACT, then participate in combines at Cincinnati and Marshall.

The other combine stops are Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Iowa, Notre Dame, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Eastern Michigan. The tour ends June 21. </b>

Ginn last year expanded the tour to include players from other high schools. Eleven of this year's participants are from Glenville.

The rest come from 22 other schools, including from the Columbus and Toledo areas.
Players are recommended by their coaches. They each pay $300 that goes toward hotels and meals. The rest is covered by Ginn's Foundation and private sponsorship.

"It's all about giving kids the opportunity of getting recognized by the college coaches," Ginn said. "I figured if [the tour] worked out well for my kids, then it could work out well for the other kids."

Of the 37 players who participated in last year's tour, 27 earned college scholarships.

Former Glenville lineman Robert Rose and quarterback Arvell Nelson participated in last year's tour and both will be college freshmen on full athletic scholarships this fall, Rose at Ohio State and Nelson at Iowa.

"[The tour] gave me the chance to visit schools I would have never visited," Nelson said. "I took to Iowa the minute I stepped on the campus and liked it even more by the time we left. I got to show them what I could do and I interacted with the coaches very well."

Kyle Jefferson, an incoming senior wide receiver/safety at Glenville, is on his second consecutive tour.

"I want to be one of the leaders this time because I feel better prepared," Jefferson said. "It took its toll on me, mentally and physically, near the end of last year's trip. It's a lot of fun, but it's also serious business.

"What I do at these combines could determine my future."
Click to expand...

Terry O'Keefe · Jun 12, 2006

I was informed that Ted Ginn Sr. and Lloyd Carr are don't invitums and that is why he's not taking the bus to Mich.

Terry

BuckeyeT · Jun 12, 2006

Mr. Ginn is obviously a man of taste... :lol:

Terry

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Ted Ginn Sr's Magical Bus Tour.

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Ted Ginn Sr's Magical Bus Tour.

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