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Bly relays passing formula
Bronco stresses importance of hard work in school pep talk
By Tom McGhee
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 09/24/2008 12:11:04 AM MDT
Denver Broncos cornerback Dre Bly discusses making great choices and the lifelong benefits of staying in school during an assembly at Denver's Place Bridge Academy on Tuesday. (John Leyba, The Denver Post )When it comes to learning, school kids aren't that much different from pro football players, Denver Broncos cornerback Dre Bly told some students Tuesday.
"You have to listen to your teacher. I'm a grown man, but I have a teacher — that's my coach," Bly told the students at Place Bridge Academy, a Denver public school.
Bly, whose Dre Bly Foundation partners with the school, gave the third- through eighth-graders an inspirational pep talk on the importance of hard work, discipline and staying in school.
"A high-profile job is just like any job. You have to be accountable and be responsible."
Students wanted to hear about more than hard work from Bly, who led the Broncos with five interceptions in 2007.
So Bly talked some football, predicting that Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall would someday be the best receiver in the NFL.
How much did he earn, they wanted to know.
"You can't ask how much I get paid, and what kind of car I drive," he told them.
Bly was a hit with the students, who clapped, cheered and sometimes squealed and screamed in response to his comments.
"I think he was really intriguing. He made everybody happy," said Christopher Montgomery, 13, an eighth-grader who wants to be a lawyer.
"He said you have to get good grades," added Christopher, an A student. "You can't just play a sport and think you are going to go through without work. You still have to know stuff."
"It really means a lot to me that he would devote time to make things better for us," said Miguel Hernandez, 12, a sixth-grader who wants to be a forensic firearms examiner.
"He brought a lot of emotion to the crowd. He told us you can't slack off and excel in the job," Miguel said.
Bly began working with the school last year when it was still Place Middle School. Since then, Denver Public Schools closed Fallis and Whiteman elementary schools, consolidating them at Place and adding a magnet program for new immigrants.
Place was renovated and reopened in August with a new name, Place Bridge Academy, and a student body that includes children from 60 countries.
Besides his time, Bly contributes 25 tickets to each Broncos home game.
Last year, he contributed Thanksgiving dinners for all the school's students and their families and arranged a tutoring program.
Bronco stresses importance of hard work in school pep talk
By Tom McGhee
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 09/24/2008 12:11:04 AM MDT
Denver Broncos cornerback Dre Bly discusses making great choices and the lifelong benefits of staying in school during an assembly at Denver's Place Bridge Academy on Tuesday. (John Leyba, The Denver Post )When it comes to learning, school kids aren't that much different from pro football players, Denver Broncos cornerback Dre Bly told some students Tuesday.
"You have to listen to your teacher. I'm a grown man, but I have a teacher — that's my coach," Bly told the students at Place Bridge Academy, a Denver public school.
Bly, whose Dre Bly Foundation partners with the school, gave the third- through eighth-graders an inspirational pep talk on the importance of hard work, discipline and staying in school.
"A high-profile job is just like any job. You have to be accountable and be responsible."
Students wanted to hear about more than hard work from Bly, who led the Broncos with five interceptions in 2007.
So Bly talked some football, predicting that Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall would someday be the best receiver in the NFL.
How much did he earn, they wanted to know.
"You can't ask how much I get paid, and what kind of car I drive," he told them.
Bly was a hit with the students, who clapped, cheered and sometimes squealed and screamed in response to his comments.
"I think he was really intriguing. He made everybody happy," said Christopher Montgomery, 13, an eighth-grader who wants to be a lawyer.
"He said you have to get good grades," added Christopher, an A student. "You can't just play a sport and think you are going to go through without work. You still have to know stuff."
"It really means a lot to me that he would devote time to make things better for us," said Miguel Hernandez, 12, a sixth-grader who wants to be a forensic firearms examiner.
"He brought a lot of emotion to the crowd. He told us you can't slack off and excel in the job," Miguel said.
Bly began working with the school last year when it was still Place Middle School. Since then, Denver Public Schools closed Fallis and Whiteman elementary schools, consolidating them at Place and adding a magnet program for new immigrants.
Place was renovated and reopened in August with a new name, Place Bridge Academy, and a student body that includes children from 60 countries.
Besides his time, Bly contributes 25 tickets to each Broncos home game.
Last year, he contributed Thanksgiving dinners for all the school's students and their families and arranged a tutoring program.
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