Redskin Players Admonish Students to Focus, Work Hard, In Both Sports and Education.
It’s always a good thing when athletes are active in the community. So it was yesterday, out at FedEx Field, where a few Redskins players addressed 800 youth football players and coaches from various schools around our area for an afternoon of straight talk during the team's 4th and Life Football Forum.
Redskin players Edwin Williams, Will Montgomery, and Marko Mitchell spoke to a group of freshman student-athletes about what it takes to be successful.
The youth learned that the life of a professional football player wasn’t that much different from their own, and that pro athletes struggled with the same issues that many of the assembled students struggle with: Family, making the right choices, getting good grades, sportsmanship, and trying to fit in as an athlete.
The event’s main focus, however, was education. Education helped get players were they are. Marko Mitchell has two degrees (Business and Human Development), while Will Montgomery has a degree in Business Information Technology. Edwin Williams obtained a degree in Communications from the University of Maryland.
"Getting good grades will definitely help you get into college or get a better job", said Montgomery.
Many of the students are also aware that they need a ‘Plan B’ in case their plans for a football career don’t pan out.
“I plan to be either a lawyer, or play football”, said freshman Deandre Blackman who plays quarterback.
“It’s never just about football”, said coach Frederick Glenn of the 7-0 Gwynn Park Yellow Jackets.
“Education can lead you to do anything you want in this world. Sooner or later, [however] whatever sport you’re playing will end, but once you get your college degree, they can never take that away from you.”
The event also featured a Q&A session with the students asking the players real life questions.
Freshman, Danielle Enevez, the second female kicker in two years at Robert E. Lee high school, asked perhaps, the best question of the day when she asked Marko Mitchell if he should be a starting player.
Fans have wondered if the rookie wide receiver will ever see playing time after his two touchdown catches in this year's preseason games.
“That’s a question I can’t answer", said Mitchell. "The only thing I can continue to do is go to practice to get better, and to help make the team get better, as well.”
The forum included schools from neighboring DuVal, Gaithersburg, Wise, and Albemarle high schools and was hosted by Comcast Sports Net’s, Chick Hernandez who shared his own high school story.
The student-athletes also received signed raffled T-shirts of several Redskin players.
After 28 years, Chick’s math teacher revealed that she knew he cheated on his final math test. Hernandez asked how she could have possibly remembered. The teacher replied that Chick answered “I don’t know” as the answer to one of the math questions, while his best friend, Larry, wrote “Me neither.” (Chick cheated? Was he serious?)
See photos here.
Player Factoids
Did you know Marko Mitchell:
**Was a Dallas Cowboy fan before being a Redskin? “As a six or seven year old the first player I ever saw was Emmit Smith of the Dallas Cowboys, and they were my team”, Mitchell tells DC UrbanSports.
**The first in his family to attend and graduate from college?
**Played basketball in high school and was an MVP?
**Wants to be a youth counselor and work with youth?
**Listens to Young Jeezy, T.I., and Lil’ Wayne before football games?
Did you know Will Montgomery:
**Was a three-year starter at Virginia Tech?
**Has been cut three times in his NFL career?
**Didn’t think about going pro?
**Says grades and being clean-cut matters?
**Ran a 4.5 forty-yard dash
Did you know Edwin Williams:
**Won the Wilma Rudolph student-athlete award?
**Was a two-time academic ACC player?
**Was involved in community service, even during college?
**Ran a 5.2 forty-yard dash
Other Redskin Players in the Community
Andre Carter at Harris Teeter in Reston, VA; Reed Doughty at the DC Department of Parks and Recreation teaming up with Aetna to fight youth obesity with the Redskins Youth Fitness Zone to encourage students to get at least 60 minutes of exercise daily; Derrick Dockery on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke lobbying on behalf of breast cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The Redskins prepare to take on the Philly Eagles this Monday at home. In Monday’s game, Jason Campbell will be the starting quarterback. Campbell was replaced by backup QB, Todd Collins during last Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Skins recently acquired offensive lineman, Levi Jones. Other roster changes have included the release of Anthony Alridge, the acquisition of running back Quinton Ganther, and the resigning of Renaldo Wynn. Washington released running backs Anthony Alridge and Marcus Mason, and punter Glenn Pakulak.
Sherman Lewis starts his duties as Washington’s play caller after head coach Jim Zorn was relieved of the duties after the 14-6 loss against the former winless Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s always a good thing when athletes are active in the community. So it was yesterday, out at FedEx Field, where a few Redskins players addressed 800 youth football players and coaches from various schools around our area for an afternoon of straight talk during the team's 4th and Life Football Forum.
Redskin players Edwin Williams, Will Montgomery, and Marko Mitchell spoke to a group of freshman student-athletes about what it takes to be successful.
The youth learned that the life of a professional football player wasn’t that much different from their own, and that pro athletes struggled with the same issues that many of the assembled students struggle with: Family, making the right choices, getting good grades, sportsmanship, and trying to fit in as an athlete.
The event’s main focus, however, was education. Education helped get players were they are. Marko Mitchell has two degrees (Business and Human Development), while Will Montgomery has a degree in Business Information Technology. Edwin Williams obtained a degree in Communications from the University of Maryland."Getting good grades will definitely help you get into college or get a better job", said Montgomery.
Many of the students are also aware that they need a ‘Plan B’ in case their plans for a football career don’t pan out.
“I plan to be either a lawyer, or play football”, said freshman Deandre Blackman who plays quarterback.
“It’s never just about football”, said coach Frederick Glenn of the 7-0 Gwynn Park Yellow Jackets.
“Education can lead you to do anything you want in this world. Sooner or later, [however] whatever sport you’re playing will end, but once you get your college degree, they can never take that away from you.”
The event also featured a Q&A session with the students asking the players real life questions.
Freshman, Danielle Enevez, the second female kicker in two years at Robert E. Lee high school, asked perhaps, the best question of the day when she asked Marko Mitchell if he should be a starting player.
Fans have wondered if the rookie wide receiver will ever see playing time after his two touchdown catches in this year's preseason games.
“That’s a question I can’t answer", said Mitchell. "The only thing I can continue to do is go to practice to get better, and to help make the team get better, as well.”
The forum included schools from neighboring DuVal, Gaithersburg, Wise, and Albemarle high schools and was hosted by Comcast Sports Net’s, Chick Hernandez who shared his own high school story.
The student-athletes also received signed raffled T-shirts of several Redskin players.
After 28 years, Chick’s math teacher revealed that she knew he cheated on his final math test. Hernandez asked how she could have possibly remembered. The teacher replied that Chick answered “I don’t know” as the answer to one of the math questions, while his best friend, Larry, wrote “Me neither.” (Chick cheated? Was he serious?)
See photos here.
Player Factoids
Did you know Marko Mitchell:**Was a Dallas Cowboy fan before being a Redskin? “As a six or seven year old the first player I ever saw was Emmit Smith of the Dallas Cowboys, and they were my team”, Mitchell tells DC UrbanSports.
**The first in his family to attend and graduate from college?
**Played basketball in high school and was an MVP?
**Wants to be a youth counselor and work with youth?
**Listens to Young Jeezy, T.I., and Lil’ Wayne before football games?
Did you know Will Montgomery:
**Was a three-year starter at Virginia Tech?
**Has been cut three times in his NFL career?
**Didn’t think about going pro?
**Says grades and being clean-cut matters?
**Ran a 4.5 forty-yard dash
Did you know Edwin Williams:
**Won the Wilma Rudolph student-athlete award?
**Was a two-time academic ACC player?
**Was involved in community service, even during college?
**Ran a 5.2 forty-yard dash
Other Redskin Players in the Community
Andre Carter at Harris Teeter in Reston, VA; Reed Doughty at the DC Department of Parks and Recreation teaming up with Aetna to fight youth obesity with the Redskins Youth Fitness Zone to encourage students to get at least 60 minutes of exercise daily; Derrick Dockery on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke lobbying on behalf of breast cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The Redskins prepare to take on the Philly Eagles this Monday at home. In Monday’s game, Jason Campbell will be the starting quarterback. Campbell was replaced by backup QB, Todd Collins during last Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Skins recently acquired offensive lineman, Levi Jones. Other roster changes have included the release of Anthony Alridge, the acquisition of running back Quinton Ganther, and the resigning of Renaldo Wynn. Washington released running backs Anthony Alridge and Marcus Mason, and punter Glenn Pakulak.
Sherman Lewis starts his duties as Washington’s play caller after head coach Jim Zorn was relieved of the duties after the 14-6 loss against the former winless Kansas City Chiefs.
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