LORMAN &045;&045; The memories couldn’t help but come flooding back for Steve McNair when he entered the Alcorn State football stadium.

There were the wild showdowns against Southern, Jackson State and Grambling. The wild crowd following and media frenzy. And even the decision to play quarterback at a small, historically black school instead of accepting offers from bigger programs to play as a defensive back.

The former Alcorn and current Tennessee Titans star quarterback still smiles when he thinks of those days, and on Saturday at his Steve McNair Football Camp at Alcorn he acknowledged he wouldn’t trade those days for anything.

&uot;I think about it, but I would never question the decisions I made,&uot; said McNair, who wraps up his three-day Elite Fleet camp today at ASU while helping with the free invitation-only camp for youngsters on Saturday. &uot;I would never undo the things I did at Alcorn. If I had it to do again, I would have done it the same. I did what my heart wanted me to do, and I would never second-guess.&uot;’

And there’s no use second-guessing moving the camps to Alcorn for the weekend in what may be the most natural fit imaginable. Folks who follow Alcorn football still talk about McNair as if he completed his eligibility last season, and while he has made periodic returns to the university, Saturday was his first legitimate announced return.

Although marred by rain, the camp still went on Saturday with some 400 participants in the two camps.

&uot;It’s been a good reception here, and we’re coming back to Alcorn,&uot; McNair said. &uot;I’m contributing back to the school, and it’s been going well. It’s been a blessing, and Alcorn has been a big part of that. They went out of their way to make this possible.&uot;

The camp was moved to Alcorn after McNair held it the last five summers at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston. When the opportunity opened up to have it somewhere else following MGCCC’s decision to have construction over the summer, it was sort of a no-brainer to have it back at Alcorn.

McNair, the Mount Olive native, also holds camps in Nashville with the proceeds from his Elite Fleet Camp benefiting the Steve McNair Foundation, an organization the quarterback started to help school-age children.

&uot;Every year I have seen Steve’s stature grow,&uot; said Don Weatherall, camp coordinator who works with McNair’s agent, Bus Cook. &uot;I remember when he first called me to do some. Every year it’s gotten bigger and better.

&uot;Nothing against Mississippi Gulf Coast, but right before the start of camp last year the dean of students said, ‘We’re going to be tearing up our facilities.’ He said, ‘What about Alcorn?’ Steve wanted to have this camp at Alcorn.&uot;

McNair’s return for the camp created excitement as indicated by the number of applications the university received. The camp was free of charge but by invitation only, and athletic officials said the number of applications nearly topped the 1,000 mark.

Only 400 were randomly selected to work out on Saturday, and a number of them braved the rain to go through drills involving footwork, agililty and technique and some 7-on-7 contests.

&uot;We had a bunch of smurfs today, and it was great,&uot; said Alcorn defensive coordinator LaTraia Jones, one of several ASU assistants who helped out along with coaches and players from Co-Lin. &uot;The rain held off just at the right time. It’s a great thing to come out and give back. We’ve got a beautiful stadium, and when they walked in they were ready to see Steve. I liked it for the simple reason you get to work with the little guys.&uot;

That’s the focus of McNair’s foundation, the motivation behind his camp and the recipients of his message following lunch inside the Whitney Complex. The former Alcorn state who finished third in the 1994 Heisman Trophy voting advised youngsters to take responsibility for your actions, make the right choice and get an education.

Entering his 10th season in the NFL, McNair reminded campers that most pro football players don’t make it half that long.

&uot;We’re just trying something new this year,&uot; McNair said. &uot;We’ve got a bunch of coaches coming from all over to work this thing. You have a chance to get better on and off the field. It’s not what you do on the field but off the field..&uot;

McNair’s decision to have the camp at Alcorn certainly was the right one for the university.

&uot;Alcorn has been great,&uot; Weatherall said. &uot;They’ve bent over backwards and rolled out the red carpet all the way from the top.&uot;