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Last week I wrote about the men who are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the different ways they reach out and give back to communities all across America. This week I want to share with you an exciting way that the Hall of Fame is helping them share their stories of success on and off the field with the youth of this country.

Last year the Hall of Fame's Educational Outreach Program launched a character development series called the "Heart of a Hall of Famer." This program provides students the opportunity to learn first-hand what it took beyond athletic ability for legendary Hall of Famers to achieve great success. The program focuses on the positive character qualities possessed by these men.

Recently, former Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns great Joe DeLamielleure and legendary Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jack Youngblood each connected and engaged with students from across the country through the Hall's distance learning video conference system. In total, the two spoke to more than 1,000 participants from 29 different schools.


Over the past two years the Hall of Fame has put together more than 15 "Heart of a Hall of Famer" programs with five more scheduled to take place before the end of this school year. While many of these, like the DeLamielleure and Youngblood programs, are open to videoconference audiences only we do offer some that are open to both a live and videoconference audiences.

Such was the case last Friday when former San Diego Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow was on hand in Canton to speak with more than 500 live students in our NFL Films Theater. An additional 375 students joined via videoconference. Winslow discussed the importance of education and living life according to the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.


These programs are always extremely entertaining, educational and awe inspiring. Kellen's presentation was no different. He talked about trusting your parents and teachers because they are with you not against you. "They are able to see things in you that you may not be able to see in yourself," he explained.

Winslow also gave words of advice like, "You are only as good as the people around you. Don't let people hang around you that aren't moving in the same direction you're going. If you want to be a good student, hang around kids that get good grades."

And finally what I would say was the theme that carried the day was "when things happen to you in life (and they will), some of which you have no control over, it is not what happened to you that is important but how you respond to the adversity that is a true test of character." Winslow said, "Remain positive, stay confident in yourself and take care of your business."

It was truly an amazing program and opportunity for these students as they begin to mold and develop the person they will be and the character they will have as adults. I'm already looking forward to the next one with former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy on Nov. 16.

If you would like to hear the audio from any of the previous "Heart of the Hall of Famer Series" you can download them for free from ITunes.


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I notice on so many occasions as I save daily information to the Hall of Fame's files inside the Archives & Information Center that pro football players receive so much negative criticism each and every week both on and off the field. Thankfully, these players, both past and present, have been taught to remain optimistic despite facing so much negativity. In doing so, they lift themselves, their team and their community to greater heights. It's amazing to see the countless ways these men make positive contributions to communities across our country each and every day.

And, they keep doing so long after their playing careers end. Look no further for great examples than from what some of the players, coaches and contributors enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame are achieving through charities, foundations and their own good will.

So many of the Hall of Famers support our efforts all year long whether it's returning for the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival or participating in special educational programs we do. We, in turn try to attend a variety of events in which they are giving back to their communities through philanthropic endeavors.

On Wednesday, our Vice President - Merchandise Sales/Licensing Steve Strawbridge participated in the Steve Young/Jerry Rice Bay Area Classic. The golf outing was held at CordeValle Golf Club to raise funds to benefit the 8 to 80 Zones, The Tech Museum, and the Forever Young Foundation. Here's a shot of Young and Rice with Johnny Miller.


In 1993, Forever Young was established to support community projects and non-profit organizations effectively serving the therapeutic and academic needs of seriously ill and underprivileged children. Through Jerry's vision in 1996, Rice and Young teamed up to create the 8 to 80 Multimedia Zone which provides youth living in underserved communities the skills and hope to pursue careers and inspiration to become innovators in the field of technology and media.

Rice and Young aren't alone. Other Hall of Famers who've been busy reaching out include:

Another long-time 49ers star, Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott is giving back to the youth of our country through his All Stars Helping Kids Foundation. They have recently partnered with Winning Plays, a nationally recognized financial education program created by Journalist Stacey Tisdale.

Lott wanted his foundation to include a life-skills program, and Winning Plays was one which appealed to him. The goal of their partnership is to make sure this life-skills and money management program is part of the core studies in as many school systems as possible. Lott was on-hand at Eagle Academy, an all-boys public charter school in the Bronx, earlier this month to help launch its financial literacy and education curriculum.

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The honorable Alan Page also finds himself out in the community quite a bit. His Page Education Foundation is based on the principle that "everyone has the ability and opportunity to make this world a better place."

Since its creation in 1988 (also the year he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame) his foundation has helped nearly 5,000 students in Minnesota pay for higher education. It awards grants to students to pursue their educational or vocational aspirations. "These students are my heroes," he said. "Our goal is to lift people up, not to sort them out." A unique twist to Page's foundation is that every grant recipient who takes the money must return to their communities and volunteer.

This past Monday after speaking with the business community of Spokane, Washington in the morning, Page took some time out of his schedule to stop by North Central High School. While he was there he urged students to embrace their educational opportunities and work to make this world a better place.

Check back next week as I will continue to feature Hall of Famers in the news making a difference in our communities.


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Hank Williams Jr. has been singing the intro to Monday Night Football since 1989. That same year the Detroit Lions selected a Heisman Trophy winning running back out of Oklahoma State with the third overall pick in the first round.

And now that Hank is out and no longer asking the world “Are you ready for some football?” ESPN is out to find something new to feature as the preview. What better person to welcome Detroit back to MNF after a nine-year absence than that very same third overall pick of the 1989 NFL Draft, Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

The league’s third ranked all-time leading rusher probably won’t be bringing down the house with his vocals. But, he has confirmed his appearance through Twitter stating, “Ok, I admit it, I will be at MNF this week and doing the intro.”

As you might recall Sanders was a beast under the lights on Monday Night. In his 10 MNF appearances during his illustrious career he rushed the ball 209 times for 973 yards and 5 touchdowns. Included in that total were five games with 100 yards or more. Sanders also added 20 receptions for 162 yards and a score to those impressive rushing totals.

I’m sure that if the introduction video is anything like Sanders’ play on the field during his 10-year career we will all be hyped, excited and most certainly ready for some football!

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Today marks Christmas in August for millions of people across the country as the much anticipated release of Madden NFL Football 2012 hits retail stores. I am one of those fans who have been eagerly awaiting the delayed release (most years Madden goes on sale the Tuesday after Hall of Fame Weekend). The new Madden has become an annual rite of passage to Kickoff Weekend.

This year I’m more excited than ever because, in honor of "Madden 2003" cover athlete and Class of 2011 Enshrinee Marshall Faulk, EA Sports is offering a limited run of "Madden NFL 12 Hall of Fame Edition" games. There are only 125,000 copies of the "HOF Edition" in stores, and the run will be limited to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, retailing for $89.99.

Each copy of the Hall of Fame Edition includes one of four exclusive Marshall Faulk trading cards, each hand-signed. One solid, 18k gold autographed card has been randomly inserted into one Xbox 360 and one PlayStation 3 copy of the "Hall of Fame Edition." The exclusiveness of these two 18k gold cards is awesome. The lucky recipients will have one of the most valuable cards in Panini history. Not to mention one of the coolest Madden covers ever.

 

Enough writing for now. I can’t wait any longer so I’m taking an early lunch and heading to the nearest store to get my copy.

Happy Madden Day to all.

Faulk, Marshall

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