Donald Penn: Buccaneer Man
June 25th, 2013
The Bucs like to promote their players to the community as “Buccaneer Men.” It’s something that has been a focus of Bucs coach Greg Schiano.
What is a “Buccaneer Man? One who gives his all on the field, and gives back to the community; a player who makes fans proud.
Well, Donald Penn, stepped forward. While he didn’t give back to the local Tampa Bay community in this particular instance (he has in the past), his kindness helped out his old high school football team, which has fallen on hard time. That’s surely what a Buccaneer Man is all about, writes Jason Lewis of the Los Angeles Sentinel.
Penn hosted a youth football camp at his old high school, even brought along Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson. The cost? Not one red cent, just dedication and work from the campers, that’s all.
“The camp was remarkable,” St. Bernard High School football coach John Bibb said. “It was an outstanding thing for the community and the boys. That pigskin brings together a lot of things that inner city kids need, outer city kids need, youth as a whole need. Discipline and teamwork.”
Many children do not have the opportunity to be coached by NFL players, especially because of the cost of many camps.
“This day and age the economy is rough,” Bibb said. “So I want to emphasize that this camp was free. There are camps from here to Alabama to Texas, and locally at UCLA and USC. Camps have to get the money to run the camps. They have to pay for the coaches, and to pay for the facilities. One thing Donald Penn did was give this to us for free.”
That’s just very cool for Penn to do that (and Dickerson and a few others) out of their own time, using their own checkbook.
If that’s not what a Buccaneer Man does, then Joe doesn’t know the definition.
June 25th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Penn’s impressed the hell outta me this offseason so far. I think he’s definitely matured. If he’s not already, I think he’d be more than deserving to inherit the ‘C’ on his jersey that Ronde vacated.
June 25th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Always have been a big fan of Penn.
June 25th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
@Tampamac
I think the “C” goes to another defensive player if I not mistaken.
June 25th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Sneedy,
I thought about that after I posted.. Lol.. I think it’s 2 def, 2 off, and 1 ST. But in principal he’s deserving of captaincy.
June 25th, 2013 at 6:14 pm
Ive always loved Penn. He’s an Awesome LT.I love his attitude! And obviously very generous.Way to go Penn!!!
June 25th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
The guy shuts down the best of the best, game in and game out. (Even when the pro bowl guard next to him goes down.) He beats defensive ends physically AND mentally. Hopefully he gets the recognition he deserves this season. (As well as the Buccaneers team in general.)
June 25th, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Love Penn… Left Tackle extraordinaire and Offensive Enforcer. The bucs need a Defensive enforcer hopefully Barron and Goldson fill that roll it’s been missing since Lynch left.
June 25th, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Tamponcon next week you will say Penn is overweight. Stick that in your crack pipe..Nazi
June 25th, 2013 at 10:08 pm
I prefer water pipes sir!!!! Never said a bad word about Penn and never will. Next time you want to take a shot back at me make it relative and creative. Thanks!
June 26th, 2013 at 4:15 am
Way to go Penn. And yes thi is the Buccaneer man way !!!
June 26th, 2013 at 10:15 am
He kinda looks like pirate in that picture…