Heart of a Hall of Famer

For the past several months fans of the National Football League have been inundated with scouting reports about players who ultimately were selected in the recent 2010 NFL Draft. All data was dissected, from a player’s height and weight to his speed in the 40-yard dash to how much he could bench press. But, one immeasurable factor was also the topic of great debate and discussion not only among members of the media but also in the eyes of NFL coaches, scouts, and general managers. Ultimately, each NFL team had to decide if the young player had the character to match his physical talents.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Educational Outreach Program will focus on that very trait as it launches two new initiatives through its interactive videoconferencing titled Heart of a Hall of Famer and Be a Hall of Famer Every Day. Two members of the Pro Football Hall Fame along with a pair of current NFL players will participate in these educational series. The broadcasts give students the opportunity to learn and interact with these football greats about what characteristics beyond physical prowess helps one achieve great success on and off the football field.

These new initiatives offered through the Hall of Fame’s videoconferencing technology will be broadcast to more than 1,500 students representing approximately 40 school districts from across the country. Students from schools in Ohio, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands will take part in the sessions over the next two weeks.

Hall of Fame safety Ken Houston will be broadcasting from Kingwood Middle School in Texas on Tuesday May 4 and Class of 2008 enshrinee Andre Tippett will be connecting from Boston College High School on Friday May 7. Be A Hall of Famer Every Day seminar will feature a pair of current Pittsburgh Steelers players who will connect through the Hall of Fame’s interactive videoconferencing technology to students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools on back-to-back Mondays in early May. Steelers’ safety Ryan Mundy will participate in the program on Monday, May 3 while center Justin Hartwig will appear on May 10.

All of the sessions will be moderated from the Hall of Fame’s videoconferencing studio in Canton by Jerry Csaki, educational programs coordinator at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.