Why is the January camp called Camp Cupcake?

Not always the most reliable, but Urban Dictionary has two theories:

The first is that because of the low pressure atmosphere of the camp, players originally attending it would often refer to it as a “Camp Piece of Cake”. Over the years, this eventually got shortened to Camp Cupcake. Many believe it was the Serbian born Preki who inadvertently coined this term in an interview when asked about the January camp. “Everyone is always saying that this camp is easy, that it is a real cupcake, but this is not true”

and

The second theory is that the invitations to the very first Camp Cupcake in 1990, were sent out on December 15th by then National Team coach Bob Gansler. As everyone knows, December 15th is National Cupcake day. To celebrate the occasion Gansler and his wife were baking cupcakes while Bob was about to inform the players who had been selected for the camp, which he had planned to do over the phone. His wife, suggested that instead of calling the players it would be a pleasant surprise for players to receive the news via a letter in the mail, accompanied by a cupcake. Bob agreed, and the first January camp invitees were notified via cupcake.

I always thought it referred to usually trying out younger / inexperience players in regards to National team appearances. And that cupcake was something that kids (young players) love (even though since then cupcakes have gone mainstream). Cupcakes are small and easily sampled, they don't last long when eating, just like the window for these players to get some playing time during January in a national team uniform

In college football, a "cupcake" is a small team that big school schedules early the season to get their team into the groove. I'm assuming Camp Cupcake comes from the college football usage.

I always thought it was cause most of our Euro (and often times, best) players couldn't attend. Thus watered down

It sounds better than Camp Orange Slice.

lol

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