See all our photos from the camp here.

The way Brock Osweiler sees it, summer isn’t just about lakes and baseball.

So for the third straight year he returned to Legends Stadium, joining several dozen future high school gridders for the Flathead Braves’ Win the Day Football Camp on Wednesday.  

He wouldn’t miss it. 

“What’s not to like,” Osweiler, a Flathead High graduate who went on to play quarterback at Arizona State and in the NFL for three teams, said. “You get to come back to the beautiful Flathead Valley in the summer and rekindle so many great memories from your childhood. 

“My first memory of playing football is coming to the Flathead Brave football camp when Bob Applegate was the coach.” 

Osweiler isn’t sure how long ago it was. Twenty years? Twenty-five?  

“Maybe second grade, third grade,” said the 34-year-old. “Whatever it was, I was young, and at the end of camp we got a free ice cream cone from Dairy Queen.” 

Sweet Peaks Ice Cream had the honors Wednesday; a series of Tug-of-War contests helped decide which batch of players got served first. It was enough to send the 7-year NFL veteran back in time. 

“It’s where it all started,” he said. “And having been fortunate enough to experience college football, and professional football, and then to bring it back full circle. ... this is what it’s all about.” 

First-year Flathead coach Mac Roche was pleased: Counting a couple walk-up campers, he had 117 athletes from grades 5-8 on hand. Osweiler showed them passing drills; Roche had staff and current Braves players helping out with rushing and tackling. 

He singled out running backs Nolan Campbell and Brett Chivers in particular for amping up the intensity. 

“I think they lost their voices before I did,” Roche rasped. 

“I wanted as many players out here as I could get,” he added. “I told them, ‘You guys set the tone. I want this to be as high energy as it can, but you guys have to show the kids what it’s all about. Show them what it’s like to be a Brave.’ And I think they crushed it.” 

Osweiler still had his voice, which is good for someone with a burgeoning broadcast career. He is in his fourth season covering college football; he was ESPN analyst for Montana State’s last two games last season — the semifinal win over South Dakota and the championship loss to North Dakota State. 

“When I was done playing (in 2018), I wasn’t done with football,” he said. “I wanted to do something within the sport, but I wanted to have balance so I could still be there for my girls and my family. That was the road that led to broadcasting.” 

He sent audition tapes to ESPN and FOX.  

“I guess the audition wasn’t completely terrible, because they offered me a job and away we went, I got started,” he said. “It’s a work in progress.” 

The tough part is unlike football, where there are hours of practice and drills ahead of a game, “in TV the only place you get to practice is on TV.” 

His coaching career, meanwhile, is confined to the occasional camp with sun-kissed grade-schoolers.  

“You come out and see all these young kids from all over the Valley,” Osweiler said. “They have dreams and goals. And they’re out here to get coached up and learn the fundamentals and get better and have fun.” 

Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 758-4463 or at [email protected].

    Members of the Flathead Braves high school football team assist with drills at the Braves' Win the Day Camp featuring former NFL and Braves quarterback Brock Osweiler at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Wednesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Former NFL and Flathead Braves quarterback Brock Osweiler runs a drill during the Braves' Win the Day Camp at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Wednesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Former NFL and Flathead Braves quarterback Brock Osweiler speaks to campers at the Braves' Win the Day Camp at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Wednesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider