BATON ROUGE, La. – Prior to the annual Pro Timing day Monday, scouts from the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets met with members of the LSU Football team at the Cox Communication Academic Center for Student-Athletes for the sixth annual NFL Scout Symposium.
“I think any opportunity we have to deliver a message to these guys is important,” CCASA Director of Academic Affairs Walt Holiday said. “It is great because we are all stakeholder in their development and, we all have a responsibility. It is different to have individuals from the NFL with the message. They are able to come in outside of football about information that is important.
James Liipfert of the Patriots, Dom Green of the Jets, Darrell Moody of the 49ers and Mark Gorscak of the Steelers each brought different messages that ranged issues on the field to off the field and even in the classroom.
Liipfert is in his seventh season as a scout for the Patriots. The former Georgia Tech linebacker stressed the importance of portraying an NFL image and the fact that his job is to find out as much information on players as possible.
Liipfert also talked in particular about the tradition of the No.18 and specifically about Terrence Magee. He told the players that if the coaching staff and support staff in trust in Magee enough to give him the number then it shows to NFL coaches and scouts what kind of person he is.
“I think it is a very smart and effective idea of LSU to allow their young student-athletes access to NFL scouts in this setting,” Liipfert said. “We hope we can give them a small preview into what life is like in our league and the discipline, concentration and maturity it takes to be successful for an extended amount of time”.
Moody spoke to the football players from a background of college coaching and NFL scouting. The former LSU running backs coach spoke to the players about the value of getting their education and that football does not last a lifetime. He spoke to the fact that a majority of players only last three to five years in the league and that an education is something to focus on for after their playing days.
Gorsack, the face of the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, concluded the morning talk with a message about being magical and that is what will take them to the next level whether on the field or in school. He preached about the passion and the soul that the players have and how it will take them far.
Gorsack wrapped up with a Peanuts comic. It specifically talked about the Steelers and that the organization’s goal is to not just making the playoffs but to win the championship and you cannot lose sight of that goal.
“I think you have to give back and that is the main reason why I am here,” Gorsack said. “I just try to help these guys. They have a good life ahead of them whether in football or non-football. They need to know that it takes what is within themselves to do it, whether football or graduating.”
“It was great to have the opportunity to talk to and learn from these guys,” running back Derrius Guice said. “I really enjoyed the last speaker and what he said about being magical. That is something that we can carry over to this next season. Just like the Steelers, we have one goal and that is to win the championship.”