Eagle sighting
Former NFL player Lewis instructs Zuni youth

Chad Lewis, a former tight end with the Philadelphia Eagles, throws a pass during a football camp on Saturday at Zuni High School. Lewis came on behalf of American Indian Services, a group that raises money for Native Americans to go to college, to teach football and encourage students to work hard, stay in school and stay away from alcohol and drugs. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

By Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

ZUNI — For nine years Chad Lewis competed in the NFL, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams.

Now, he looks to give back.

Last Saturday, Lewis put on a football camp at Zuni High School for local football players.

Ever since playing in college at BYU, Lewis said that he has had a special bond with Native Americans. One of his good friends at BYU was Nathan Claw, a former Shiprock Chieftains quarterback.

Lewis, born in Fort Dix, N.J., went to school in Orme, Utah, where he said he first learned about Native Americans. He said he read about Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Custer’s Last Stand, and ever since then he has been affiliated with Native Americans.

Now, Lewis works for the American Indian Services, which raises money for college scholarships for Native Americans to continue their education. He said he has been working with the association for close to 10 years, and it is an organization that has received help from other former NFL players like Steve Young.

For more than 10 years now, Lewis has been putting on camps across the country on reservations, with several of the camps in Arizona and New Mexico. The most recent camp was the first he has put on in Zuni, though he has been to the town for a youth conference two years ago. For one day, about 60 athletes that attended the free camp, including three girls, got a chance to get advice from a former pro tight end on different drills to run and plays to try.

“I thought it was a great morning,” Lewis said of the camp. I was surprised that that many kids showed up.”
Lewis said all of the players were all ready to learn at the camp.

“Their attitudes alone made me what to go back,” he said. “It was an excellent camp. The kids were very helpful and enthusiastic, and gracious.”

After the initial stretching, and some conditioning, Lewis had the players work on a few drills to help them catch the ball and a few distraction drills, where they had to catch the ball with distractions.

“I made them work,” Lewis said. “But there were no complaints.”

After lunch, Lewis said he talked to the players and left the athletes with one message.

“I told them if they forgot everything I taught them, If they forgot everything about football and everything else, to remember one thing,” he said. “Surround yourself with greatness. Listen to good music, watch good movies and have friends that will encourage you and build you up.”

The other thing he said was important was to stay away from the opposite.

Vurlene Bowetaky, who was at the camp and works for the Indian Services in Zuni, said she was very pleased with the turnout at the camp.

“I was amazed at how well the boys and ladies listened,” she said. “He really focused on getting a good education. He seemed to touch on everything, and every part of the camp was very encouraging.”

She said she was a little worried about the turnout, but several of the players waited until Friday to sign up for the camp.

“He said to show pride in wearing the uniform,” he said. “He said to be a positive influence at the school.”

Bowetaky said having people like Lewis come to towns like Zuni can help get all the negative things about the towns out of the news, and for once get something positive in.

“These type of things help prevent the negative things from happening,” she said.

Lewis played for nine years in the NFL, starting his career in 1997 for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1998-99 Lewis played for the St. Louis Rams before returning to the Eagles to finish his career. He finished with 229 receptions for 23,612 yards and 23 touchdowns.