Super Bowl MVP pays a visit to the W&M campus
Pep Talk Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers stops by the Colonial All-Pro Camp at Zable Stadium to offer some advice to aspiring football pros. Photo By Pete Clawson
Rodgers to Rodgers Green Bay's starting quarterback throws a pass to a camper sporting his signature jersey and number. Photo by Pete Clawson
Strike a pose Rodgers poses for a quick picture with W&M head football coach Jimmye Laycock after giving a speech to the campers. Photo by Jim Ducibella
Aaron Rodgers, starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and Super Bowl XLV MVP, visited William & Mary’s campus Tuesday to throw some passes and give some pointers to the participants in the College’s annual Colonial All-Pro Camp.
The campers were ecstatic when Rodgers took the field at Zable Stadium, yelling out, “It’s Aaron Rodgers!” They took turns running up to him, giving him high fives, and catching passes from the man who just five months ago led the Packers to their Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rodgers, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, did not receive a single scholarship offer out of high school, and attended junior college for a year before transferring to Cal.
“I didn’t have any expectations when I left high school,” said Rodgers. “I was a realist and I knew that I wasn’t a great player yet. I had a lot of hard work between where I was and where I wanted to be, and where I wanted to be was at a big-time Division I program.”
At 27-years-old, Rodgers is getting ready for his seventh season in the NFL. He is living proof for these kids that even if they do not get scholarships out of high school, or if they get into a university that is known more for academics than its football team, they can still make it to the pros.
“Being around the innocence of those little kids and the dreams and hopes they have made me just hope that I can be some sort of inspiration to them,” said Rodgers. “It shed a great light on the opportunity we have as role models and as professional athletes to make an impact on kids like that.”
Later in the day Rodgers tweeted, “It was great hanging out in Virginia. It was fun to spend time with the William & Mary staff and the kids at the camp were great!”
Rodgers's visit to the Colonial All-Pro Football Camp was the last of three made by professional football players this summer. Rodgers's teammate, linebacker Clay Matthews, and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions were the other NFL players who made appearances from June 26-29.
