Football players have messages for teen-agers

Cougar sports services

Twenty-one members of the University of Houston football team will spend an hour today and Wednesday speaking to seventh- and eighth-graders at Jackson Middle School as part of continuing community service activities by UH student-athletes.

The players will pair up and engage the students in discussions about self-discipline, motivation, goal-setting and recognizing priorities.

"If there's one thing I want to say to the kids, it's that school education will only take you so far," said junior center Ben Fricke. "You have to get involved outside of school, whether it's reading a book or joining a club, to be ready for the 21st century."

Linebacker Keon Banks said teen-agers must be themselves. "You don't have to be like other people or follow some of these role models that you don't really know," he said. "I want to tell them to be individuals."

Running backs Jermaine Williams and Jay McGuire, linebackers Mike Parker and Vaughn Washington, and linemen Marcus Spriggs, Leonta Rheams and Gary Haynes are among others who will visit with the middle-school students.

Fricke said, "When I was in school, I remember people coming and talking to my classes, and I can definitely say they were influential to me. The only reason I want to do this is for the kids."