NORMAN — While at Texas Tech, Kliff Kingsbury didn’t have the most enjoyable trips to Norman. From 1998-2002 the former Red Raider quarterback success rate at Memorial Stadium didn’t match his talent.

However, seven years later, Kingsbury is finally finding the success he always wanted in Oklahoma. He just had to change venue. He was in town Monday and Tuesday as a counselor with the inaugural Hudl Up Quarterback Camp, which was held at Norman High School.

“It still scares me to come to the city,” Kingsbury said. “I took some tough losses in this city. I still kind of get a cold sweat going by the stadium. But it has been a great deal. Have a good group of counselors and kids. It has been a fun time.”

Kingsbury was joined by six other former college quarterbacks who wanted to pass on their knowledge of the position to the area’s youth. They included Nebraska’s Joe Ganz, UCLA’s Brian Callahan, Iowa State’s Austin Flynn and Houston’s Brian Thiebuad.

This collection of talent was brought together by former Norman High quarterbacks Zac and Press Taylor. Zac Taylor, who also played for the Cornhuskers, wanted to find a way to help give back to his community. And this is one way he was able to.

“There is not a whole lot of quarterback camps in Oklahoma,” Zac Taylor said. “I knew a lot of guys that had played Division-I quarterback that I was close fiends with that would be willing to come in here and help out the local kids. So the first five guys I asked wanted to come do it.”

Campers included Norman North’s Brad Valentino and Norman’s Michael Beard.

“We started the camp as a way for kids to get a jump start on their competition by learning from some of the best,” Zac Taylor stated. “All of our instructors have been in the same shoes as the campers they are helping, so they know what coaching points and advice they can give the kids that will truly help them in the fall as they prepare for their season. We have a great venue to do it at. Norman High was more than willing to work with us.”

The camp had specific features designed to help young quarterbacks. There were several cameras filming the drills over the course of the two days and the film was cut-up after the camp and posted online for each camper to watch their clips.

But almost as important as the techniques the quarterbacks are teaching, are the stories of hard work and dedication they pass along.

“I think they can look at me and my brother especially and see we are not great athletes,” Zac Taylor said. “Not very big guys. But we may have just worked a little bit harder than some other guys. Some things worked out for us. It’s a long road. Neither one of us had an easy road there. But hopefully some of these kids can hear that story and realize that no matter what their size is they can just work hard and they can get the opportunities.”

The opportunity to be able to gather knowledge from a veteran group of players like the ones at the QB Academy is one of the drawing points the counselors are banking on.

“When I was a kid if a former quarterback or Division I quarterback like these guys had come back and give a camp, that would have been awesome as a high school kid,” Press Taylor said. “These are guys they saw on TV. Zac and Kliff have both won Big 12 Offensive player of the Year and stuff like. Kliff was up for the Heisman. They have got all the experience in the world in front of them just to answer questions for them and help them out.”

Press Taylor is committed to Marshall University after playing for Butler County Community College.

In its first year, the camp had a solid beginning with 25 campers ranging from sixth to ninth grade. They plan to make this an annual event, if all things work out.

“There are some NCAA regulations and they are telling us this is the last summer you can work a camp outside your state and be a D-I coach,” said Zac Taylor, who is currently an assistant coach with Texas A&M.; “We are hoping that kind of gets overturned next year. We are going to plan on working it next summer until someone tells us other wise.”

Kingsbury, who is currently on the football staff at the University of Houston, also plans to be back with the camp. Even though he is not from Oklahoma, he believes he still has a lot to pass on to area’s youth.

“They just want to know what college football is like. What the NFL is like,” Kingsbury said. “Things of that nature. How hard do you have to work. All are pertinent questions. I think the kids are learning a lot. As far as quarterbacks go, there can only be one on the field. But don’t let that discourage you. If you are not starting, just keep working hard. And when you get your chance, make the most of it.”